20211014 Ver 1_Compiled Comments for MCAS Cherry Point Response_20220126

1Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)From:Twyla Cheatwood - NOAA Federal <[e-mail]>Sent:Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:25 PMTo:Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)Subject:[URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] Re: FW: Public Notice: SAW-2020-01305 (MCAS-Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)Emily,  The NMFS has reviewed additional information provided by the Wilmington District for SAW-2020-01305 (MCAS-Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven). Comments provided to the district include recommendations for offshore still installation to reduce impacts to critical habitats and primary nursery areas located within or nearby the project footprint. The NMFS concurs with guidance provided by NCWRC for the reduction of these impacts and has no additional comments to provide at this time.   Thank you for your continued coordination,  Twyla  On Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 8:15 AM Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> wrote: Good morning Twyla,   I hope you enjoyed the holidays!   I received the attached comments from NCWRC and checking in to see if you have any additional comments you would like to add/emphasize? If you need some time, I understand with the timing around the holidays, just let me know please. I will be initiating expedited informal consultation with PRD for this project.   Sincerely, Emily   
2Emily B. Thompson Regulatory Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office 2407 W. 5th Street Washington, NC 27889 [phone] [e-mail]   We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers. We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/    Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.   From: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)  Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 2:41 PM Subject: Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)   Good afternoon,   I wanted to send you a courtesy copy of the public notice that was published on our website earlier today for SAW-2020-01305 (MCAS-Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven). With deadline requirements for issuing public notices, the comment period is unfortunately during the holidays, so I want to make sure this is on your radar and you have the opportunity to submit comments. The public notice and proposed project plans are found at the following link: 
3  https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Permit-Program/Public-Notices/article-view-display/Article/2850879/saw-2020-01305/   I hope you have a great Thanksgiving holiday! Emily   Emily B. Thompson Regulatory Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office 2407 W. 5th Street Washington, NC 27889 [phone] [e-mail]   We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers. We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/    Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.     
4 ‐‐  Twyla H Cheatwood Fishery Biologist Southeast Region, Habitat Conservation Division NOAA Fisheries Beaufort, NC 28516 Office: [phone] [e-mail]  To help protect yMicrosoft Office pautomatic downlopicture from the I Web www.nmfs.noaa.gov Facebook www.facebook.com/usnoaafisheriesgov Twitter www.twitter.com/noaafisheries YouTube www.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov  
1Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)From:Hammond, John <[e-mail]>Sent:Tuesday, January 11, 2022 11:27 AMTo:Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)Cc:Matthews, Kathryn HSubject:[URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] Re: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW-2020-01305 (MCAS-Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)Hi Emily,  Yes, I'd say these are the USFWS comments for the USACE Wilmington District public notice dated November 22, 2021.  Thanks, John  We are currently teleworking to lessen risk of COVID‐19 transmission.  Email is the best way to reach me.    John S. Hammond U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Biologist Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh, North Carolina 27636‐3726 919‐856‐4520 extension 28 (phone) 919‐856‐4556 (fax) [e-mail] http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/ From: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 8:47 AM To: Hammond, John <[e-mail]> Cc: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail]> Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)    
2Good morning John,   Thank you for the quick response. Covering my bases, are these USFWS comments for the USACE Wilmington District public notice dated November 22, 2021?   https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Permit-Program/Public-Notices/article-view-display/Article/2850879/saw-2020-01305/   Thanks, Emily   Emily B. Thompson Regulatory Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office 2407 W. 5th Street Washington, NC 27889 [phone] [e-mail]   We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers. We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/    Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.   From: Hammond, John <[e-mail]>  Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 8:28 AM To: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> Cc: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail]> Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non‐DoD Source] Re: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)   Good morning, Emily ‐    Here are the comments I provided William Wescott on August 6, 2021:   I have reviewed the April 2021 Environmental Assessment For Construct Living Shoreline At Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and have the following comments.      To generate a complete list of terrestrial federally listed threatened and endangered species for the project, it would be useful to run a shape file of the project through our agency’s online IPaC (Information for Planning and Construction) tool (https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/).  At least two species may need to be added to Table 3‐5: Threatened and Endangered Species and Species Potentially Occurring at MCAS Cherry Point – Northern long‐eared bat and Eastern black rail.    
3https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9045; https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/10477    Northern long‐eared bat is well documented in Craven County, but it is unclear whether the proposed action would have any effect on this species.  MCAS Cherry Point may wish to add more detail to the EA to characterize impacts to NLEB.  While the presence of Eastern black rail in Craven County is more difficult to discern, the proposed action may have more direct impacts – including enhancement on habitat for this species.      The final rule designating federal threatened status for Eastern black rail was published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2020, and went into effect on November 9, 2020.  One of the most important properties for black rail conservation is Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge in Carteret County North Carolina, which is east of MCAS Cherry Point and adjacent to major training lands used/managed by MCAS CP.  It is likely that MCAS Cherry Point may have a key role in conservation and recovery of this species.    West Indian Manatee  The EA points out that the water depths in which the proposed work would take place would generally be less than three feet.  Further, the document states that  “If a manatee is observed during construction, work will cease until the individuals have left the area.”  The Service’s Raleigh Field Office has prepared precautionary measures for avoiding impacts to manatees related to in‐water construction activities:   https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/ManateeGuidelines2017.pdf    You may find this helpful in clarifying instructions for the project for in‐water activities, e.g., shutdown of equipment when a manatee approaches within 50 feet.    I hope you find this information useful, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.    Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the EA.      Thanks, John We are currently teleworking to lessen risk of COVID‐19 transmission.  Email is the best way to reach me.     John S. Hammond U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Biologist Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh, North Carolina 27636‐3726 919‐856‐4520 extension 28 (phone) 
4919‐856‐4556 (fax) [e-mail] http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/ From: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 8:00 AM To: Hammond, John <[e-mail]> Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)    Good morning John,   I sent the courtesy email about the above referenced project to Kathy because she’s usually who I work with, but I understand that you complete the reviews for military installations. I’m compiling the comments for MCAS Cherry Point and want to make sure I didn’t miss anything from you? With the timing around the holidays, I understand, so if you need extra time just let me know please.   Sincerely, Emily   Emily B. Thompson Regulatory Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office 2407 W. 5th Street Washington, NC 27889 [phone] [e-mail]   We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers. We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/    Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.   From: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail]>  Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 3:02 PM To: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> Subject: [Non‐DoD Source] Re: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)   Thanks, Emily,   I forwarded this on to John Hammond ‐ he does the reviews for military installations.   Thanks!   
5Please note that I am teleworking almost exclusively.   Email is the best way to reach me.  Thanks,   Kathy Matthews NC Renewable Energy Coordinator & Fish and Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 551‐F Pylon Drive Raleigh, NC  27606 919‐856‐4520, x. 27   From: Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 2:40 PM Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Notice: SAW‐2020‐01305 (MCAS‐Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven)       This email has been received from outside of DOI ‐ Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding.    Good afternoon,   I wanted to send you a courtesy copy of the public notice that was published on our website earlier today for SAW-2020-01305 (MCAS-Cherry Point Offshore Sill and Living Shoreline Project/Neuse River/Craven). With deadline requirements for issuing public notices, the comment period is unfortunately during the holidays, so I want to make sure this is on your radar and you have the opportunity to submit comments. The public notice and proposed project plans are found at the following link:   https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Permit-Program/Public-Notices/article-view-display/Article/2850879/saw-2020-01305/   I hope you have a great Thanksgiving holiday! Emily   Emily B. Thompson Regulatory Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office 2407 W. 5th Street Washington, NC 27889 [phone] [e-mail]   
6We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers. We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/    Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.   

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: Emily Thompson
Washington Regulatory Field Office
US Army Corps of Engineers

FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division

DATE: December 21, 2021

SUBJECT: Public Notice for the US Marine Corps Air Station (MCSA) Cherry Point Neuse
River Sill Installation, Craven County, North Carolina.
SAW-2020-01305

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the November
22, 2021 public notice with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. 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 Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point has submitted a consistency determination to install
shoreline stabilization measures for 12,036’ of shoreline along the property of MCAS Cherry Point that
interfaces the Neuse River. This shoreline stabilization project along the Neuse River is located between
Slocum Creek and Hancock Creek and includes two sections of a “living shoreline” totaling 9,719’ and
one REPI section totaling 2,317’. The entire project area will include the installation of a granite sill
placed a distance 15’ to 30’ from the normal water line with a 2:1 slope and a 3’ wide crest. All material
is proposed to be set on geogrid fabric and approached from the waterside of the project proposal.
Openings are proposed throughout the length of the sill to provide hydrologic and aquatic connectivity.
Oyster shell is proposed to be placed at the landward toe of the sill within the openings. Spartina
alterniflora plugs are also proposed to be hand planted on the landward side of the sill at a spacing of 18”
on the center of the approximate 8’ to 10’ intertidal zone. No fill is proposed within wetlands, though 6.81
acres of open water will be impacted. The Neuse River at this location is classified SB Sw NSW by the
Page 2

Environmental Management Commission, is subject to the NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR)
Neuse Basin Buffer Rules and is designated as Atlantic sturgeon critical habitat by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The NCWRC has reviewed the project proposal and recognizes the significant minimization measures
implemented since the original project proposal. These measures include aligning the sill closer to the
shoreline (normal water line) and removal of fill landward the sill. These measures significantly reduce
the project’s impacts to the Neuse River, Slocum Creek, Hancock Creek, and their associated riparian
wetlands, designated critical habitats, and primary nursery habitats. We also note the statement to include
observers to address interactions with marine mammals and American alligators. Surveys conducted by
the NCWRC show known populations of American alligator within the Neuse River, Slocum Creek, and
Hancock Creek in this location.

The NCWRC provides the following guidance for offshore sill installation:

• Sills should be designed to have 5’ openings for every 100’ of sill. Ideally sills are to be
designed with breaks to allow adequate water flushing and aquatic passage. This is an
especially important component for living shorelines. The design of the structure should
include the entirety of the water column. Sometimes proposals include material, cloth,
bedding stone, and granite stone, that rises above substrate. While this is likely proposed
to minimize wash out areas, this design lends itself to filling in with sediment or even
oyster shells over time, eliminating connectivity with open water and the area landward
the sill. Consideration for a lower drop down, no drop down, or having just the sill with
a natural opening is requested. Areas within the sill and behind can also be protected
with a small rock sill appropriately placed waterward or landward the openings.
Overlaps can also be successful.

• Sill design height is preferred to be no greater than +1’ NWL.

• Sill slope should not exceed 1.5’:1’.

• Sill placement is preferred to be 30’ or less from the NWL of the shore unless the
irregularity of the shore lends itself to have areas with greater distances.

• Sills should not tie into the shore in a manner that exacerbates erosion on an unprotected
shoreline.

• Sills should be marked at the ends and at 50’ intervals with reflective material to
minimize navigation hazards. The posts should be 3’ above NHW.

• The NCWRC prefers no fill be placed in the water landward the sill to facilitate the
planting of coastal wetlands. Coastal wetland species can be planted as appropriate for
their success in existing conditions. Often sediment accretion occurs in time. The
planting of coastal wetlands can occur once the structure and site has equilibrated
without the placement of fill in shallow water habitats. These shallow water areas
provide important habitat areas for numerous aquatic species and should not be filled.

• SAV or shellfish surveys may be necessary within the sill alignment or any fill area
depending on site conditions, sill location and size. SAV surveys should be conducted
during the growing season, April 1 – September 30.

Page 3

• The use of oyster bags should only be considered where oyster recruitment is present
and within lower energy areas. Bags can easily roll during storm events and fill adjacent
coastal marsh. If the project is monitored, the applicant should patrol after large events
and remove from wetlands any dislodge oyster bags.

The MCAS sill proposal follows several of the recommendations provided above. However, the openings
include oyster material fill landward the toe of the sill within the openings. We have concern that due to
sediment transport known in this area, these openings will fill and constrict or prevent adequate water
flow behind the structure. Therefore, we recommend the openings be redesigned to have no fill placed
within the openings or have overlaps with no fill if there are backside of the sill erosion concerns. It is
imperative that hydrologic connectivity and aquatic passage not be impaired and continue to improve
aquatic habitat accessibility and function Riparian wetlands, including the planted Spartina, provide
important forage and rearing habitats as well as water quality benefits within a nutrient sensitive basin.
Consideration should also be given toward the impacts the geogrid fabric may have on the aquatic
environment and whether or not it is needed for the stability of the structure.

The NCWRC also supports statements made by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) and
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect marine resources.

The NCWRC appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on this public notice. If you need
further assistance or additional information, please contact me at [phone] or
[e-mail]

North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
State Historic Preservation Office
Ramona M. Bartos, Administrator
Governor Roy Cooper Office of Archives and History
Secretary D. Reid Wilson Deputy Secretary, Darin J. Waters, Ph.D.

Location: 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh NC 27601 Mailing Address: 4617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-4617 Telephone/Fax: [phone]-6898

December 10, 2021

Emily Thompson [e-mail]
US Army Corps of Engineers
2407 West Fifth Street
Washington, North Carolina 27889

Re: Assess bulkhead condition & stabilize living shoreline, between Slocum Creek & Hancock Creek,
Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, Onslow County, ER 21-1260

Dear Ms. Thompson:

Thank you for your letter of November 22, 2021, regarding the above-referenced undertaking. We have
reviewed the submission and offer the following comments.

We have conducted a review of the project and are aware of no historic resources which would be affected
by the project. Therefore, we have no comment on the project as proposed.

The above comments are made pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Regulations for Compliance with Section 106 codified at 36
CFR Part 800.

Thank you for your cooperation and consideration. If you have questions concerning the above comment,
contact Renee Gledhill-Earley, environmental review coordinator, at 919-814-6579
or [e-mail]. In all future communication concerning this project, please cite the
above referenced tracking number.

Sincerely,

Ramona Bartos, Deputy
State Historic Preservation Officer

1Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)From:Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>Sent:Friday, December 3, 2021 2:58 PMTo:Thompson, Emily B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)Subject:[Non-DoD Source] RE: US Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice SAW-2020-01305Emily, The EPA Region 4 Ocean, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch has reviewed the subject Individual Permit Public Notice under DA Action ID SAW-2020-01305 dated November 22, 2021. It is our understanding that the applicant, Mr. Dale McFarland at the United States Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point is seeking Department of the Army authorization to discharge 12,321 cubic yards of granite rip rap material and 181 cubic yards of loose oyster shells in the Neuse River associated with the installation of a 12,036 linear foot rip rap sill parallel to the shoreline between the mouth of Slocum Creek and Hancock Creek in Havelock, Craven County, North Carolina. Specifically per the Public Notice: The purpose of this project is to install shoreline stabilization measures along shoreline areas at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Existing estuarine shorelines were eroded from recent hurricane events. The purpose of the proposed work is to provide shoreline stabilization utilizing Living Shoreline techniques that would protect the shoreline areas from further degradation and erosion.   Total proposed discharge within the Neuse River equals 12,321 cubic yards of granite rip rap material and 181 cubic yards of loose oyster shells associated with the installation of a rip rap sill along 12,036 linear feet of shoreline with 129 sill openings. The rip rap sill would be constructed with a 2:1 side slope with a 3-foot-wide flat top. The rip rap would be placed on a geogrid fabric on the natural bottom. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) would be planted by hand within the 8 to 10-foot-wide intertidal zone staggered and spaced at 12 inches on center. The project as proposed will have no impacts on wetlands, streams or other special aquatic sites. No compensatory mitigation is offered. At this time, EPA Region 4 has no site-specific comments or concerns with the project as presented in the Public Notice. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on DA Action ID SAW-2020-01305 to install a 12,036 linear foot rip rap sill parallel to the shoreline between the mouth of Slocum Creek and Hancock Creek in Havelock, Craven County, North Carolina. Best Regards, Todd Bowers
2 Todd Allen Bowers US EPA Region 4 Oceans, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch 61 Forsyth St. SW Atlanta, GA 30303 404.562.9225** [e-mail] **Note: I am currently teleworking and away from the office. Please contact me via email or at 919.523.2637.  “Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.” — Wendell Berry   From: Boone, Robert A II CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>  Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 3:07 PM Subject: US Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice  As you requested, you are hereby notified that Wilmington District, United States Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Public Notice. The text of this document can be found on the Public Notices portion of the Regulatory Division Home Page. Each Public Notice is available in ADOBE ACROBAT (.pdf) format for viewing, printing or download at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram.aspx.   The current notice involves:  Corps Action ID#: SAW-2020-01305  Issue Date: November 22, 2021  Applicant: United States Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point 
3 Expiration Date: December 24, 2021  Point of Contact: Ms. Emily Thompson  Project Description: The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) received an application from Mr. Dale McFarland at the United States Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point seeking Department of the Army authorization to discharge 12,321 cubic yards of granite rip rap material and 181 cubic yards of loose oyster shells in the Neuse River associated with the installation of a 12,036 linear foot rip rap sill parallel to the shoreline between the mouth of Slocum Creek and Hancock Creek in Havelock, Craven County, North Carolina. Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE