Scoping Comments_Bridge 180_Surry County

STATE
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S.BISER
Secretary
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CARouNA
Director Environmental Quality
January 13,2022
MEMORANDUM
To: Jimmy Terry,PE,TGS Engineering on behalf of NCDOT Division 11 [e-mail])
E-P
From: Dave Wanucha,NC Division of Water Resources,Transportation Permitting Branch 1/13/2022
Subject: Scoping comments for proposed Bridge 180 replacement on SR 1953 (West Dodson Mill Road)over
Toms Creek in Surry County
Reference your correspondence dated December 14,2021,in which you requested comments for the referenced
project. Preliminary analysis of the project reveals the potential for multiple impacts to streams and jurisdictional
wetlands in the project area. More specifically,impacts to:
Stream Name River Basin Stream Stream Index 303(d)Listing
Classification(s) Number
Toms Creek Yadkin
a kin Pee C 12-72-14-(4) No
ee
Further investigations at a higher resolution should be undertaken to verify the presence of other streams and/or
jurisdictional wetlands in the area. In the event that any jurisdictional areas are identified,the Division of Water
Resources requests that the applicant consider the following environmental issues for the proposed project:
General Project Comments:
1. Based on the information presented in the document,the magnitude of impacts to wetlands and streams may
require a 404 permit application to the Corps of Engineers and corresponding 401 Water Quality Certification.
Please be advised that a 401 Water Quality Certification requires satisfactory protection of water quality to
ensure that water quality standards are met and no wetland or stream uses are lost. Final permit authorization
will require the submittal of a formal application by the applicant and written concurrence from the NCDWR.
Please be aware that any approval will be contingent on appropriate avoidance and minimization of wetland
and stream impacts to the maximum extent practical,the development of an acceptable stormwater
management plan,and the inclusion of appropriate mitigation plans where appropriate.
2. Future documentation,including the 401 Water Quality Certification Application shall continue to include an
itemized listing of the proposed wetland and stream impacts with corresponding mapping. If mitigation is
necessary as required by 15A NCAC 21-1.0506(h),it is preferable to present a conceptual(if not finalized)
mitigation plan with the environmental documentation. Appropriate mitigation plans will be required prior to
issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification.
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DE��� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH OAR01111A i
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3. The applicant for a 401 Certification is respectfully reminded that they will need to demonstrate the avoidance
and minimization of impacts to wetlands(and streams)to the maximum extent practical. In accordance with
the Environmental Management Commission's Rules(15A NCAC 2H.0506[h]),mitigation will be required for
impacts of greater than 1.0 acre to wetlands. In the event that mitigation is required,the mitigation plan shall
be designed to replace appropriate lost functions and values. North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services
may be available for assistance with wetland mitigation.
4. In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules(15A NCAC 2H.0506[h]),mitigation
will be required for impacts of greater than 300 linear feet to any perennial stream. If mitigation is required,
the mitigation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost functions and values. The North Carolina
Division of Mitigation Services may be available for assistance with stream mitigation.
5. The NCDWR is concerned with sediment and erosion impacts that could result from this project. The
applicant shall address these concerns by describing the potential impacts that may occur to the aquatic
environments and any mitigating factors that would reduce the impacts.
6. The applicant is respectfully reminded that all impacts,including but not limited to,bridging,fill,excavation
and clearing,and rip rap to jurisdictional wetlands,streams,and riparian buffers need to be included in the
final impact calculations. These impacts,in addition to any construction impacts,temporary or otherwise,also
need to be included as part of the 401 Water Quality Certification Application.
7. Where streams must be crossed,the NCDWR prefers bridges be used in lieu of culverts. However,we realize
that economic considerations often require the use of culverts. Please be advised that culverts should be
countersunk to allow unimpeded passage by fish and other aquatic organisms. Moreover,in areas where high
quality wetlands or streams are impacted, a bridge may prove preferable. When applicable,the applicant
should not install the bridge bents in the creek,to the maximum extent practicable.
8. Whenever possible,the NCDWR prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not require work
within the stream or grubbing of the streambanks and do not require stream channel realignment. The
horizontal and vertical clearances provided by bridges shall allow for human and wildlife passage beneath the
structure.Fish passage and navigation by canoeists and boaters shall not be blocked. Bridge supports(bents)
should not be placed in the stream when possible.
9. Sediment and erosion control measures should not be placed in wetlands or streams.
10. Borrow/waste areas should avoid wetlands to the maximum extent practical. Impacts to wetlands in
borrow/waste areas will need to be presented in the 401 Water Quality Certification and could precipitate
compensatory mitigation.
11. The 401 Water Quality Certification application will need to specifically address the proposed methods for
stormwater management. More specifically,stormwater shall not be permitted to discharge directly into
streams or surface waters. Please refer to the most recent version of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation Stormwater Best Management Practices Toolbox manual for approved measures.
12. If concrete is used during construction,a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact between
curing concrete and stream water. Water that inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall not be discharged
to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and fish kills. Concrete shall be
handled in accordance with the NPDES Construction General Permit NCGO10000.
13. If temporary access roads or detours are constructed,the site shall be graded to its preconstruction contours and
elevations. Disturbed areas shall be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and appropriate native woody
species shall be planted. When using temporary structures,the area shall be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing
the area with chain saws,mowers,bush-hogs,or other mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root
mat intact allows the area to re-vegetate naturally and minimizes soil disturbance.

14. Unless otherwise authorized,placement of culverts and other structures in waters and streams shall be placed
below the elevation of the streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches,and 20
percent of the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than 48 inches,to allow low flow passage of
water and aquatic life. Design and placement of culverts and other structures including temporary erosion
control measures shall not be conducted in a manner that may result in dis-equilibrium of wetlands or
streambeds or banks,adjacent to or upstream and downstream of the above structures.The applicant is
required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being maintained if requested in writing by the NCDWR.
If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock or other limiting features encountered during construction,
please contact the NCDWR for guidance on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a permit
modification will be required.
15. All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area. Approved BMP measures from
the most current version of the NCDOT Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as sandbags,
rock berms,cofferdams and other diversion structures shall be used to prevent excavation in flowing water.
16. While the use of National Wetland Inventory(NWI)maps,NC Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland
Significance(NC-CREWS)maps and soil survey maps are useful tools,their inherent inaccuracies require that
qualified personnel perform onsite wetland delineations prior to permit approval.
17. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize
sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This equipment shall be
inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels,lubricants,
hydraulic fluids,or other toxic materials.
18. Riparian vegetation(native trees and shrubs)shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible. Riparian
vegetation must be reestablished within the construction limits of the project by the end of the growing season
following completion of construction.
Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The applicant is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality
Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met,and
designated uses are not degraded or lost.
If you have any questions or require additional information,please contact Dave Wanucha at
dave.wanucha(a-)ncdenr. og_v or 336-403-5655.