20220885 Ver 1_Narrative Sections_20220628

Permit Narrative Sections
C4i. Describe the overall project in detail, including indirect impacts and the type of
equipment to be used.
The Stewart Creek Pump Station Upgrades project is located in Union County, North Carolina.
The project includes the replacement of approximately 5,200 linear feet of existing 12-inch
diameter force main with 20-inch diameter force main for the City of Monroe. The total
disturbed area of the project will be approximately 4.05 acres primarily within existing 30-ft
wide City of Monroe sewer easements. Sections of the existing easement parallel an upper
tributary to Stewart Creek and may be within 10 of the top of bank in places (Impact Figures,
Sheet C1). Because these conditions exist due to a previously permitted project, this project
should be exempt from the NCDEQ 401 WQC 4276 condition stating that 'Any utility
construction corridor that is parallel to a stream or open water shall not be closer than 10 feet to
the top of bank or ordinary high-water mark'. The project involves two wetland crossings
representing separate and complete projects. The first crossing involves temporary impacts to
0.001 ac of currently maintained, herbaceous wetland (W1) for the purpose of installing a sewer
line via open trench. The trench will be back filled with native sediment and the impacted area
will be restored to original grade. The second crossing involves permanent impacts to 0.005 acre
of forested wetlands due to the clearing and conversion to herbaceous wetlands within the
permanent maintenance easement (W2). It will also involve temporary impacts to 0.015 ac of of
currently maintained, herbaceous wetland for the purpose of installing a sewer line via open
trench (W3). The trench will be back filled with native sediment and the impacted area will be
restored to original grade. The sewer line will cross a piped portion of an upper tributary to
Stewart Creek. The pipe will be temporarily removed to allow for the installation of the sewer
line. A new pipe will be installed after the sewer installation is complete. No impacts to waters
will result.
E1a. Specifically describe measures taken to avoid or minimize the proposed impacts in
designing the project.
The site was delineated prior to design and the sewer alignment was routed to avoid water of
the US to maximum extent possible. No stream impacts are proposed, and permanent impacts
were minimized to well below the NWP 58 mitigation threshold, as only 0.007 ac. of permanent
wetland impacts are proposed. All work will occur within existing maintained City of Monroe
utility easements.
E1b. Specifically describe measures taken to avoid or minimize the proposed impacts
through construction techniques.
All excavated trenches within wetlands will be backfilled with native sediment and stabilized
with herbaceous wetland seedings. The majority of the proposed sewer line will be installed
within previously existing and maintained rights -of -way.