20190434 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20211207

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

MEMORANDUM

TO: Gregg Bodnar
Division of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division

DATE: December 7, 2021

SUBJECT: CAMA Dredge/Fill Permit Modification for NC Wildlife Resources Commission,
Permit #41-19, Carteret County, North Carolina.

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the
permit application with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. The project site is
located waterward the Slaters Creek Boating Access Area (BAA) within Core Sound near Sea
Level, NC. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Coastal Area
Management Act (G.S. 113A-100 through 113A-128), as amended, Sections 401 and 404 of the
Clean Water Act, as amended, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et
seq.), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712 et seq.).

The applicant proposes to excavate an existing navigation channel to serve the Salters Creek
BAA. The excavation proposal increases the footprint of the navigation channel by extending the
length 150’ to establish a 30’ by 1,796’ channel with a final water depth of -4’ NLW.
Approximately 1,607 CY of material will be removed via bucket to barge and offloaded at the
BAA prior to being transported to an approved high ground disposal area. The Core Sound in
this location is classified SA by the Environmental Management Commission and is designated a
Special Secondary Nursery Area by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

The NCWRC has reviewed the project proposal and is familiar with the project area. We
provided comments (Dunn 25 April 2019) for the original project review and do not believe the
modification request is significantly different than the original proposal. To continue to protect
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aquatic resources, all current permit conditions, including the April 1 – September 30
moratorium, should be upheld.

We appreciate the opportunity to review and comment on this permit modification. If you need
further assistance or additional information, please contact me at [phone] or at
[e-mail]