HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090120 Ver 3_Decision Email_20220309Strickland, Bev
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Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 2:57 PM
To: kwilliams@Imgroup.net; dougtalbot@landdevelopmentspecialists.com
Cc: Snider, Holley
Subject: Decision for 20090120 Ver 3 The Bluffs on the Cape Fear
The review for this project has been completed and a copy of our decision can be found in the project link
provide below. If you have any questions, contact information is provide below and is included in the decision
letter.
Project Number: 20090120 Version: 3
Reviewer: Holley A Snider - holley.snider@ncdenr.gov
Reviewing Office: Wilmington Regional Office - (910) 796-7215
Project Link: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=1978620
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I.
DocuSign Envelope ID: DEFC74D5-FB8A-4518-9975-1A0DBD778644
ROY COOPER.
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
February 28, 2022
DWR # 20090120v3
Brunswick County
Bluffs Investments, LLC
Attn: Doug Talbot
145 Brookline Drive
Pinehurst Drive, NC 28374
Subject: Approval of Individua1 401 Water Quality Certification
The Bluffs on the Cape Fear River Subdivision
USACE Action ID. No. SAW-2006-32722
Dear Mr. Talbot:
Attached hereto is a copy of Certification No. 004525 issued to Doug Talbot and Bluffs Investments,
LCC, dated February 28, 2022. This approval is for the purpose and design described in your
application. The plans and specifications for this project are incorporated by reference as part of this
Water Quality Certification. If you change your project, you must notify the Division and you may be
required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee. If the property is sold, the
new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and is responsible for complying with all
conditions. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(d)(2)].
This Water Quality Certification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain all
other required Federal, State, or Local approvals before proceeding with the project, including
those required by, but not limited to, Sediment and Erosion Control, Non -Discharge, Water Supply
Watershed, and Trout Buffer regulations.
This Water Quality Certification neither grants nor affirms any property right, license, or privilege
in any lands or waters, or any right of use in any waters. This Water Quality Certification does not
authorize any person to interfere with the riparian rights, littoral rights, or water use rights of any
other person and does not create any prescriptive right or any right of priority regarding any usage
of water. This Water Quality Certification shall not be interposed as a defense in any action
respecting the determination of riparian or littoral rights or other rights to water use. No
consumptive user is deemed by virtue of this Water Quality Certification to possess any
prescriptive or other right of priority with respect to any other consumptive user.
Upon the presentation of proper credentials, the Division may inspect the property.
This Water Quality Certification shall expire on the same day as the expiration date of the
corresponding Section 404 Permit. The conditions shall remain in effect for the life of the project,
regardless of the expiration date of this Water Quality Certification.
NORTH
oeperanent of Environmental Ouaiity
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Wilmington Regional Office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
910.796.7215
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Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth may result in revocation of this
Water Quality Certification for the project and may also result in criminal and/or civil penalties.
If you are unable to comply with any of the conditions of this Water Quality Certification you must
notify the Wilmington Regional Office within 24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or
holiday) from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances.
The permittee shall report to the Wilmington Regional Office any noncompliance with, and/or any
violation of, stream or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200] including but not limited to
sediment impacts to streams or wetlands. Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours (or
the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee became aware of the
non-compliance circumstances.
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested [G.S. 143-215.5].
This Certification can be contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General
Statutes by filing a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing (Petition) with the North Carolina Office of
Administrative Hearings (OAH) within sixty (60) calendar days. Requirements for filing a Petition
are set forth in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes and Title 26 of the North Carolina
Administrative Code. Additional information regarding requirements for filing a Petition and Petition
forms may be accessed at http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the OAH Clerk's Office at (919) 431-
3000.
One (1) copy of the Petition must also be served to the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality:
William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
This letter completes the Division's review under section 401 of the Clean Water Act and 15A NCAC
02H .0500. Please contact Holley Snider at 910-796-7303 or holley.snider@ncdenr.gov if you have
any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
A 14AC7DCez-434
Morelia SanchKing
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
cc: Kim Williams, LMG (via email)
Gary Beecher, USACE Wilmington Regulatory Field Office (via email)
Todd Bowers, EPA, (via email)
EPA Region 4 (401-R4notices@epa.gov )
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch Electronic file
DocuSign Envelope ID: DEFC74D5-FB8A-4518-9975-1A0DBD778644
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NORTH CAROLINA 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
CERTIFICATION #WQC004525 is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401, Public
Laws 92-500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to North Carolina's Regulations in 15 NCAC
02H .0500 and 15A NCAC 02B .0200, to Doug Talbot and Bluffs Investments, LLC, who have
authorization for the impacts listed below, as described within your application received by the N.C.
Division of Water Resources (Division) on September 3, 2021, subsequent information received on
February 23, 2022 and by Public Notice issued by the Division on September 8, 2021.
The State of North Carolina certifies that this activity will comply with water quality requirements
and the applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and PL
95-217 if conducted in accordance with the application, the supporting documentation, and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
The following impacts are hereby approved. No other impacts are approved, including incidental
impacts. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)]
Type of Impact
Amount Approved
(units) Permanent
Amount Approved (units)
Temporary
404/401 Wetlands
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
0.0185 acres
0.094 acres
0.077 acres
0.045 acres
0.065 acres
0.032 acres
0.05 acre
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Stream
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
105 feet
77 feet
87 feet
N/A
N/A
N/A
This approval requires you to follow the conditions listed in the certification below.
CONDITIONS OF CERTIFICATION [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)]:
1. Appropriate measures should be installed prior to any land clearing activities to protect
wetlands, streams, and/or buffers from turbidity and/ or sedimentation. These measures
should be routinely inspected and properly maintained, and excavated materials should be
contained outside wetland, stream, and/or buffer boundaries. Excessive silt and sediment loads
can have numerous detrimental effects on aquatic resources including destruction of spawning
habitat, suffocation of eggs, and clogging of gills of aquatic species.
Citation:15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(1) and (2)]
2. Deed notifications or similar mechanisms shall be placed on all lots/parcels with retained
jurisdictional wetlands, waters, and state regulated riparian buffers within the project
boundaries in order to assure compliance with NC Water Quality Certification Rules (15A
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NCAC 02H .0500), NC Isolated Wetland Rules (15A NCAC 02H .1300), and/or State
RegulatedRiparian Buffer Rules (15A NCAC 02B .0200). These mechanisms shall be put in
place at the time of recording of the property or individual parcels, whichever is appropriate.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0502(a);15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
3. If this Water Quality Certification is used for utility related impacts, then the following Activity
Specific Conditions shall apply to those impacts.
a. All sewer lines shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with Title
15ANCAC Chapter 02T, applicable Minimum Design Criteria (MDC), and/or Alternative
Design Criteria.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
b. Any utility construction corridor that is parallel to a stream or open water shall not
becloser than 10 feet to the top of bank or ordinary high-water mark.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
c. Where there are temporary or permanent impacts from stream crossings, utility lines
shallcross the stream channel at a near -perpendicular direction (i.e., between 75 degrees
and 105 degrees to the stream bank).
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
d. Construction corridors in wetlands and/or across stream channels shall be minimized
tothe maximum extent practicable and shall not exceed 40 feet wide for utility lines.
For construction corridors in wetlands and across stream channels, stumps shall be
grubbed only as needed to install the utility and remaining stumps shall be cut off
atgrade level. The general stripping of topsoil within wetlands along the
construction corridor is prohibited.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
e. Permanent maintained access corridors in wetlands and across stream channels shall be
restricted to the minimum width practicable and shall not exceed 30 feet wide except at
manhole locations.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
f. For all utility lines constructed within wetlands, an anti -seep collar shall be placed at the
downstream (utility line gradient) wetland boundary and every 150 feet up the gradient
until the utility exits the wetland. Anti -seep collars may be constructed with class B
concrete, compacted clay, PVC pipe, or metal collars. Wetland crossings that are
directionally drilled, and perpendicular wetland crossings that are open cut and less
than150 feet long do not require anti -seep collars. The compacted clay shall have a
specific infiltration of 1 X 10-5 cm/sec or less. A section and plan view diagram is
attached for theanti-seep collars.
The following specifications shall apply to class B concrete:
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g•
i. Minimum cement content, sacks per cubic yard with rounded coarse aggregate 5.0
ii. Minimum cement content, sacks per cubic yard with angular coarse aggregate 5.5
iii. Maximum water -cement ratio gallons per sack 6.8
iv. Slump range 2" to 4"
v. Minimum strength - 28-day psi 2,500
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
The permittee shall have a specific plan for restoring wetland contours to pre -construction
conditions. Any excess material will be removed to a high ground disposal area.
The mixing of topsoil and subsoils within the wetlands along utility corridors shall be
minimized to the greatest extent practical. During excavation, the soils shall be placed
on fabric to minimize impacts whenever possible. Topsoil excavated from utility
trenches will be piled separately from subsoils and will be backfilled into the trench only
after the subsoils have been placed and compacted.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
4. The permittee shall report to the DWR Wilmington Regional Office any noncompliance with,
and/or any violation of, stream or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200], including but not
limited to sediment impacts to streams or wetlands. Information shall be provided orally within
24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee became
aware of the non-compliance circumstances.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
5. No waste, spoil, solids, or fill of any kind shall occur in wetlands or waters beyond the footprint
of the approved impacts (including temporary impacts).
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506; 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
6. When applicable, all construction activities shall be performed and maintained in full
compliance with G.S. Chapter 113A Article 4 (Sediment and Pollution Control Act of 1973).
Regardless of applicability of the Sediment and Pollution Control Act, all projects shall
incorporate appropriate Best Management Practices for the control of sediment and erosion so
that no violations of state water quality standards, statutes, or rules occur.
Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sediment and erosion control measures
shall be equal to or exceed the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North
Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or for linear transportation projects, the North
Caroline Department of Transportation Sediment and Erosion Control Manual.
All devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil)
sites, including contractor -owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project. Sufficient
materials required for stabilization and/or repair of erosion control measures and stormwater
routing and treatment shall be on site at all times.
For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures shall be designed, installed,
operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina
Surface Mining Manual. Reclamation measures and implementation shall comply with the
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reclamation in accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act
and the Mining Act of 1971.
If the project occurs in waters or watersheds classified as Primary Nursery Areas (PNAs), SA,
WS-I, WS-II, High Quality Waters (HQW), or Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), then the
sedimentation and erosion control designs shall comply with the requirements set forth in 15A
NCAC 04B .0124, Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c); 15A NCACO2B.0200; 15A NCAC
02B .0231
7. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be installed in wetland or waters except
within the footprint of temporary or permanent impacts otherwise authorized by this
Certification. If placed within authorized impact areas, then placement of such measures shall
not be conducted in a manner that results in dis-equilibrium of any wetlands, streambeds, or
streambanks. Any silt fence installed within wetlands shall be removed from wetlands and the
natural grade restored within two (2) months of the date that DEMLR or locally delegated
program has released the specific area within the project to ensure wetland standards are
maintained upon completion of the project.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B
.0231
8. Erosion control matting that incorporates plastic mesh and/or plastic twine shall not be used
along streambanks or within wetlands.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
9. If the project is covered by NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit Number NCG010000 or
NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit Number NCG250000, full compliance with permit
conditions including the erosion & sedimentation control plan, inspections and maintenance,
self -monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements is required.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC
02B .0231
10. All work in or adjacent to streams shall be conducted so that the flowing stream does not come
in contact with the disturbed area. Approved best management practices from the most current
version of the NC Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or the NC Department of Transportation
Construction and Maintenance Activities Manual, such as sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams, and
other diversion structures shall be used to minimize excavation in flowing water.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200
11. Culverts shall be designed and installed in such a manner that the original stream profiles are
not altered and allow for aquatic life movement during low flows. The dimension, pattern, and
profile of the stream above and below a pipe or culvert shall not be modified by widening the
stream channel or by reducing the depth of the stream in connection with the construction
activity. The width, height, and gradient of a proposed culvert shall be such as to pass the
average historical low flow and spring flow without adversely altering flow velocity. If the
width of the culvert is wider than the stream channel, the culvert shall include multiple
boxes/pipes, baffles, benches and/or sills to maintain the natural width of the stream channel.
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If multiple culverts/pipes/barrels are used, low flows shall be accommodated in one
culvert/pipe and additional culverts/pipes shall be installed such that they receive only flows
above bankfull.
Placement of culverts and other structures in streams shall be below the elevation of the
streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20% of the
culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than or equal to 48 inches, to allow low
flow passage of water and aquatic life. If the culvert outlet is submerged within a pool or scour
hole and designed to provide for aquatic passage, then culvert burial into the streambed is not
required.
For structures less than 72" in diameter/width, and topographic constraints indicate culvert
slopes of greater than 2.5% culvert burial is not required, provided that all alternative options
for flattening the slope have been investigated and aquatic life movement/connectivity has
been provided when possible (e.g. rock ladders, cross -vanes, sills, baffles etc.). Notification,
including supporting documentation to include a location map of the culvert, culvert profile
drawings, and slope calculations, shall be provided to DWR 30 calendar days prior to the
installation of the culvert.
When bedrock is present in culvert locations, culvert burial is not required, provided that there
is sufficient documentation of the presence of bedrock. Notification, including supporting
documentation such as a location map of the culvert, geotechnical reports, photographs, etc.
shall be provided to DWR a minimum of 30 calendar days prior to the installation of the culvert.
If bedrock is discovered during construction, then DWR shall be notified by phone or email
within 24 hours of discovery.
Installation of culverts in wetlands shall ensure continuity of water movement and be designed
to adequately accommodate high water or flood conditions. When roadways, causeways, or
other fill projects are constructed across FEMA-designated floodways or wetlands, openings
such as culverts or bridges shall be provided to maintain the natural hydrology of the system as
well as prevent constriction of the floodway that may result in destabilization of streams or
wetlands.
The establishment of native woody vegetation and other soft stream bank stabilization
techniques shall be used where practicable instead of rip -rap or other bank hardening methods.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
12. Application of fertilizer to establish planted/seeded vegetation within disturbed riparian areas
and/or wetlands shall be conducted at agronomic rates and shall comply with all other Federal,
State and Local regulations. Fertilizer application shall be accomplished in a manner that
minimizes the risk of contact between the fertilizer and surface waters.
Citation: 15A 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0231
13. If concrete is used during construction, then all necessary measures shall be taken to prevent
direct contact between uncured or curing concrete and waters of the state. Water that
inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall not be discharged to waters of the state.
Citation: 15A 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0231
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14. All proposed and approved temporary fill and culverts shall be removed and the impacted area
shall be returned to natural conditions within 60 calendar days after the temporary impact is no
longer necessary. The impacted areas shall be restored to original grade, including each
stream's original cross -sectional dimensions, planform pattern, and longitudinal bed profile. All
temporarily impacted sites shall be restored and stabilized with native vegetation.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
15. All proposed and approved temporary pipes/culverts/rip-rap pads etc. in streams or wetlands
shall be installed as outlined in the most recent edition of the North Carolina Sediment and
Erosion Control Planning and Design Manual or the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual or the
North Carolina Department of Transportation Best Management Practices for Construction and
Maintenance Activities so as not to restrict stream flow or cause dis-equilibrium during use of
this Certification.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
16. Any rip -rap required for proper culvert placement, stream stabilization, or restoration of
temporarily disturbed areas shall be restricted to the area directly impacted by the approved
construction activity. All rip -rap shall be placed such that the original streambed elevation and
streambank contours are restored and maintained and shall consist of clean rock or masonry
material free of debris or toxic pollutants. Placement of rip -rap or other approved materials
shall not result in de -stabilization of the stream bed or banks upstream or downstream of the
area or be installed in a manner that precludes aquatic life passage.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
17. Any rip -rap used for stream or shoreline stabilization shall be of a size and density to prevent
movement by wave, current action, or stream flows, and shall consist of clean rock or masonry
material free of debris or toxic pollutants. Rip -rap shall not be installed in the streambed except
in specific areas required for velocity control and to ensure structural integrity of bank
stabilization measures.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0201
18. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters shall be inspected and maintained
regularly to prevent contamination of surface waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or
other toxic materials. Construction shall be staged in order to minimize the exposure of
equipment to surface waters to the maximum extent practicable. Fueling, lubrication, and
general equipment maintenance shall be performed in a manner to prevent, to the maximum
extent practicable, contamination of surface waters by fuels and oils.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B
.0231
19. Heavy equipment working in wetlands shall be placed on mats or other measures shall be taken
to minimize soil disturbance and compaction.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0231
20. In accordance with 143-215.85(b), the permittee shall report any petroleum spill of 25 gallons
or more; any spill regardless of amount that causes a sheen on surface waters; any petroleum
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spill regardless of amount occurring within 100 feet of surface waters; and any petroleum spill
less than 25 gallons that cannot be cleaned up within 24 hours.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c); N.C.G.S 143-215.85(b)
21. The permittee and their authorized agents shall conduct all activities in a manner consistent
with State water quality standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance with
§303(d) of the Clean Water Act), and any other appropriate requirements of State and Federal
Law.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
22. The permittee shall require its contractors and/or agents to comply with the terms and
conditions of this permit in the construction and maintenance of this project, and shall provide
each of its contractors and/or agents associated with the construction or maintenance of this
project with a copy of this Water Quality Certification. A copy of this Water Quality Certification
shall be available at the project site during the construction and maintenance of this project.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H.0507(c)
This approval to proceed with your proposed impacts or to conduct impacts to waters as depicted
in your application shall expire upon expiration of the 404 or CAMA Permit. The conditions in
effect on the date of issuance shall remain in effect for the life of the project, regardless of the
expiration date of this Certification. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)]
This, the 28th day of February 2022
DocuSigned by:
�E3ABA14AC7DC434...
Morella Sanchez -King
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section