20181416_USFS Mitigation letter to DOT_20140606

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--- Ucpurtrucmnf 8onkz Supervisors Office Asheville NC 28001-1002
Agriculture 828-257-4 00
File Code: 2730
Date: June 8` 3O14
Mo. Beverly Robinson
Project Development Group Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC27899-l54D
Dear Ms. Robinson:
The United States Forest Service (USFS) would like to forinally notify the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) of the resource areas where we are requesting
mitigation fbrT.I.P. project R-2527, NC 24/27, for impacts to the Dp/hmzicNational Forest.
We have been working closely with YJCDOT biologists for the past several years on nudiguhon
for the federally endangered Schweinitz's sunflower(11elianthus schiieinit--ii). lo2Ol3,wc
ootc/cd into oCnllocJino Agreement ni1bNCDOT10 transplant,manage with prescribed fire,
and monitor Scbvvoioi1z^o sunflower on suitable habitat within the Up/bmzicNational Forest.
Transplanting took place in the spring of2Ol3 and 20l4 and the fioa|transplanting iascheduled
for the fall of2Ol4. The agreement calls for monitoring oItbc transplanted 8obweioitz'a
sunflower opcoirnooa for five youza following in the initial kuony|outing. l4CD0Taod the DSPS
occd to develop aplxo to idco{i[v measures to determine if the transplanting project bua been m
success and provides adequate compensation for the potential loss of Sobvvcinitz`osnuflowcr as
result ofR'Z527. This plan needs 10 outline any rccondic¢ioo measures that would berequired if
the transplanting ix not determined to be success based on agreed upon measures.
There are many archeological sites located along the proposed aligo-zooiofNC24/27. We
understand that every effort has been made to avoid archeological sites; however, due 1othe
close proximity of some ofthe sites to one another, it will be impossible (o avoid all aiico. The
entire area of potential effects at all National Rc�is|cz of Historic Places (N6��P) cU�jb|u mkeu
coust6ccon�plctcly excavated audthe data coUcoLcdouduumlyz�dumio� 1ho/uoatup-tn'du<o
coctbmdo arid procedures. The time and fivaoniulco/uznitonenLy needed tnnccoouy|iob this data
recover)' need to be identified and oorccdto byyJCDD?.
NCI]OThas disclosed that it expects 50 acres of the D9vborricl4ubonu| Forest to be impacted by
pc Jco1R'2527. This land currently supports multiple uses including goonc }uoda` tbrox\
mana(Yernent. habitat for the federally endangered Schweinitz's sunflower, and recreation. In
order to compensate for the loss of this land and its value to the public,we request compensation
in the form o[replacement of lands lost a1a minimum mfuo acre for acre basis. Replacement
acres should be equivalent oz superior ecologically {o lands lost onmucb as practicable. We
request that priority bc given to replacement ofthe 13 acres oC longleaf pine habitat and
8cbvvoiubz`u sunflower habitat. TbcDp/haorie [,00d and Resources Management Plan calls ƒb]-
increasing the |oucyloufpine communities on the Forest; \burc±bze, it is essential to rup|noo any
lost longleaf pine habitat onu1 least an acre for acre huaia.
Carino for the Land and Serving People Pruited on Reev
cled Pape,
`

We look forward to working with you on these mitigation measures. Please contact our NCDOT
Liaison, Karen Compton, at 828-257-4230 if you have any questions concerning our mitigation
needs or to initiate fixture discussions on the requested mitigation.
Sincerely,
KRISTIN M.BAIL
Forest Supervisor
cc: Lisa Feller,NCDOT Project Manager-
Deborah Walker,Uwharrie District Ranger
Felix Davila, FHWA