20161268_Avoidance and minimization_20130613

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C94FCDE- 7996- 4779- B51C- 4025E1E38CD7
Section 404 /NEPA Interagency Agreement
Concurrence Point No. 4a
Avoidance and Minimization
Project Title and Project Numbers:
Proposed US 17 Hampstead Bypass, New Hanover and Pender Counties, TIP No. R -3300, State Project
No. 40191.1.2, Corps Action ID 2007 1386
LEDPA /Recommended Alternative:
US 17 Hampstead Bypass Alternative E -H
Avoidance and Minimization:
US 17 Hampstead Bypass Alternative E -H minimizes impacts to resources. However, it is not feasible
for the proposed project to completely avoid impacts to the Waters of the US and still meet the purpose
and need of the project. The following avoidance and minimization efforts have been incorporated into
the proposed project:
Section 404 Avoidance and Minimization Measures
■ 3:1 slopes are proposed in wetland areas and adjacent to streams.
■ US 17 Hampstead Bypass was realigned between Station 443 +00 and Station 529 +00 as it
approaches and crosses Harrison Creek Road. Wetland impacts were reduced by 4.77 acres.
Impacts to streams were reduced by 5.93 linear feet.
■ US 17 Hampstead Bypass was realigned in the vicinity of the NC 210 interchange between Station
553 +00 and Station 601 +00. Wetland impacts were reduced by 0.78 acre and stream impacts
were reduced by 258 linear feet.
■ US 17 Hampstead Bypass was realigned in the vicinity of Holiday Drive. between Station 650 +00
and Station 714 +00. Wetland impacts were reduced by 7.99 acres. However, the shift results in
additional impacts to streams of 332 linear feet.
Additional Avoidance and Minimization
Red - cockaded Woodpecker
Prior to Concurrence Point 3, the proposed northern US 17 Hampstead Bypass interchange was moved
from its location north of the Topsail School Complex to south of the schools to minimize impacts to
red - cockaded woodpecker (RCW) foraging habitat. At the corridor public hearing, the public was
opposed to the interchange location south of the schools because it limited thru- traffic on existing US 17
north of the schools. In response, a new local interchange is proposed north of the Topsail Schools
Complex (Option 6TR). This additional interchange uses a reduced design to avoid affecting RCW
foraging habitat. If RCW foraging habitat ceases to exist at the northern interchange at the time
NCDOT applies for authorization from the Corps of Engineers to construct the project, the Department
will revisit the original interchange design, known as Alternative E -H ORIG. As currently described,
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C94FCDE- 7996- 4779- B51C- 4025E1E38CD7
TIP Project No. R -3300
Concurrence Point 4A
Alternative E -H ORIG would further minimize wetland impacts compared to Alternative 6TR, which is
NCDOT's preferred.
Water Quality and Erosion Control
■ Old Topsail Creek and Nixons Creek are designated as Commercial Shellfishing, High Quality
Waters (SA; HQW) by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Tributaries of these streams
(NSA, NSF, NDITCHI and ZTRIBI) are designated SA; HQW due to the classification of their
receiving waters. Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds will be implemented for NSA, NSF,
NDITCHI and ZTRIBI during project construction.
Community Impacts and Relocations
In response to public input and concerns over lack of access, an interchange has been added north of
the Topsail Schools Complex to maintain access along existing US 17 (Option 6TR). This
interchange will provide the access requested by the public. It uses reduced design criteria to
minimize impacts to RCW habitat and the Topsail Schools Complex, and avoid a Pender County
water tower. If RCW foraging habitat ceases to exist at the northern interchange at the time
NCDOT applies for authorization from the Corps of Engineers to construct the project, the
Department will revisit the original interchange design, known as Alternative E -H ORIG. As
currently described, Alternative E -H ORIG would further minimize wetland impacts compared to
Alternative 6TR, which is NCDOT's preferred.
Control of access was reduced along the west side of existing US 17 near the project's northern
terminus to minimize impacts to a business and a church. It is expected that design modifications
will result in three fewer residential relocations, four fewer business relocations and one less non-
profit relocation overall.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C94FCDE- 7996- 4779- B51C- 4025E1E38CD7
TIP Project No. R -3300
Concurrence Point 4A
The project team has concurred on the Avoidance and Minimization for the proposed project as
listed above.
Name Agency Date
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06/10/2013
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