Ashe bridge 8 design change request

Wanucha, Dave
From:Hining, Kevin J
Sent:Tuesday, April 12, 2022 5:11 PM
To:[e-mail]; Wanucha, Dave
Subject:Ashe bridge 8 design change request
Attachments:BR-0002 Ashe June 23 2020.pdf; Ashe bridge 8 - proposed change to permit site
1.pdf
Hey Lori and Dave,

We are currently working on a permitted bridge replacement project in Ashe County. I’ve attached the permit package,
titled “BR-0002 Ashe June 23 2020”.

Our staff would like to request a design change to one of the permitted sites – Site 1. This request is not driven by a
construction issue, but more of an environmental/stewardship related request. See “Ashe bridge 8 – proposed change
to permit site 1” pdf to see the original design (page 1) and alteration we are proposing (page 2). The only change is for
permit Site 1.

Currently, there is a small, odd (for lack of a different label) JS feature that makes up permit site 1. I didn’t permit this
site, but I’ve spoken to our Raleigh staff that did, and they said the JS feature at permit site 1 was not considered a JS
above or below the permitted site, so the ditch below the site along the road was not a considered JS. Our staff
reported that this small section of JS was a low flow system that only accessed the ditch/roadside when the water would
pool high enough to flow into it. So, most of the water, most of the time, just dissipates into the ground. However,
there is a pretty big hillside/mountainside that feeds this area, via a manmade ditch on the adjoining property, and the
water from this area runs along the roadside during rain events. As such our NCDOT Hydro decided to give the stream a
roadside ditch to flow through. They assumed that there must have been an old pipe under HWY 194 that filled over the
years that discharged directly to Buffalo Creek, but no pipe at that time was found at either end.

Our fear with the proposed system is that it will result in water running through the project during it’s duration, and
then for ever more right along HWY 194. This presents a possible environmental issue since non-point and point sources
of petroleum products from the road will be continually washing into the ditch and then will enter Buffalo Creek. Our
revision would involve taking this water and turning it directly to a nearby junction box, which would go into an existing
24” CMP and then enter Buffalo Creek. In this way, we can get the water off the project (which will help us in the short
term) and keep it from running along the road (which will help the receiving stream in the long-term). The proposed
ditch along the road would still be built, and would catch runoff from the adjacent cut slope within the project, but the
amount of water it will carry will be greatly diminished.

We have run this proposal by our central permitting staff and hydro group, and they are fine with it, and actually in
support of it. The change we are recommending will require work outside of existing right of way, which is probably
why it wasn’t designed that way in the first place. However, we have spoken to the adjoining landowner and obtained
the necessary agreements with them to make the change. I believe this will be the most environmentally friendly
approach, and will help get the water from permit site 1 (including the stormwater that feeds that permit site) off the
project quickly. I’m hoping our USACE and NCDWR coordinators will agree with the change. I also want to mention that
it appears we have already mitigated for the JS at permit Site 1 (2:1 ratio = 46’ of mitigation). That info is on page 43 of
the attached permit application.

Definitely let me know if you need more information or would like to discuss over the phone. I’m hoping it will be a
fairly straightforward design change that doesn’t require an actual permit modification, but regardless, I’ll be more than
happy to get you whatever you need.
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Thanks!

Kevin

Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Transportation

828-386-7202 cell
[e-mail]

801 Statesville Rd.
PO Box 250
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

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Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
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