20201146 Ver 1_Newman Ranch Mitigation Initial Evaluation_20220118

Hamilton, Ryan
From:Davis, Erin B
Sent:Wednesday, September 7, 2022 1:57 PM
To:Hamilton, Ryan
Subject:FW: \[External\] FW: SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Initial Evaluation
Attachments:SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mit Bank Initial Evaluation Letter.pdf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
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Laserfiche Upload: Email & Attachment
DWR#: 20201798 v.1
Doc Date: 8/18/22
Doc Type: Mitigation Evaluation
Doc Name: Same as email subject

-----Original Message-----
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 11:45 AM
To: Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[External\] FW: SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Project Question

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:[e-mail]>

Kim (Browning) Isenhour
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers l 919.946.5107

-----Original Message-----
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 11:41 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: FW: SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Project Question

Kim (Browning) Isenhour
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers l 919.946.5107

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Deangelo <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 11:34 AM
To: Sugg, Mickey T CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bradley Breslow <[e-mail]>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Jamey Mceachran <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[URL Verdict: Neutral\]\[Non-DoD Source\] SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Project Question

Mickey,
1

This is Matt DeAngelo from RES. I am the lead ecologist for the Newman Ranch Mitigation Project and am working
closely with Brad Breslow on this project. We are planning to submit the Draft mitigation plan in a few weeks, but I do
still have some lingering questions...I know that you were recently handed this project from Jordan Jessop, so I wanted
to make sure nothing was getting lost in the weeds.

We received the initial evaluation letter (see attached) from Jordan in February 2022, but there were no attachments or
subsequent comment letters from any other agencies. Therefore we are asking if the Corps received any such letters,
and if not, do we need to go through with a consultation with USFWS and reach out to WRC and SHPO? We know that
there are present populations of red-cockaded woodpecker within a mile of our Project and we have mature pines
onsite, so we want to be sure we are in compliance with USFWS. Additionally, according to NCNHP, there are some state
species of interest that I would have suspected WRC would have at least been interested in. Further, there is an
abandoned NASCAR speedway that exists on the property (not within easement) that I also thought would have caught
the eye of SHPO even though it is not listed in their database.

I suppose in general that I am surprised not to see any comments from agencies, so I want to make sure that we have
done our due diligence and if we need to do anything else, we would like to do so ASAP.

Regardless, we do plan to submit the Draft mitigation plan in September.

Thank you,

Matt DeAngelo

Ecologist III

RES | res.us <Blockedhttp://www.res.us/>

M: 757.202.4471

2

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343

February 11, 2022

Regulatory Division

Action ID. SAW-2020-01123

Res Aster, LLC
3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27612

Dear Ms. Webber:

This letter confirms the initial Interagency Review Team’s (IRT) evaluation and
comments received during the Public Notice of your prospectus detailing the creation of
the RES Cape Fear 04 Umbrella Mitigation Bank, with the first site being the wetland
and stream mitigation site, known as the Newman Ranch Mitigation Site. The proposed
easement area is an approximately 418-acres tract across four parcels. The project
area is located in the Anderson Creek Township, north of Shady Grove Road, east of
NC-210, approximately 9.5 miles northeast of Spring Lake, Harnett County, North
Carolina. The project coordinates are 35.234°, -78.908°.

Pursuant to 33 CFR Part 332.8(d)(5) Compensatory Mitigation For Losses of Aquatic
Resources, our office is providing our initial evaluation as to the potential of your
proposed Bank modification, or site addition, for providing appropriate compensatory
mitigation for activities authorized by Department of the Army (DA) permits.

Based on our review, coordination with the IRT, and the onsite inspection, it is our
position that the proposed Bank has potential for appropriately providing compensatory
mitigation for DA authorizations. Consequently, our office confirms proceeding with the
development of a mitigation plan and the Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI). This
mitigation plan and MBI must be approved prior to the release of any credits. As
discussed onsite concerns are as follows:

1) Please provide additional information on the size of the drainage areas for each
stream restoration segment proposed.
2) Please provide any available well data and field observations to demonstrate
drainage effects and potential for hydrological uplift.
3) Please identify reference wetlands to monitor, which you indicated you have on-
site.

-2-

4) Please identify reference headwater stream systems with similar soils and
drainage areas.
5) Please provide information on the proposed long term steward
6) Section 4.1.3 Monitoring indicates a blanket 12% hydroperiod as a performance
standard, this should be specific to each wetland soil type and landscape setting,
please refer to district guidance.
7) Please provide the full NCWAM and NCSAM forms.

7) Are there any concerns over the stability of the stream channel in the old pond
bed? Is the material present suitable and stable?
8) Where appropriate, please make sure the 2016 success criteria for zero-order
systems area incorporated into the proposal.
10) Please clarify the areas where vegetation restoration work is proposed.

11) Please integrate the 2016 tree vigor performance standards into the proposal.

12) Please provide additional information and analysis to address concerns about
potential future development outside and around the bank area (e.g. road
widening), and how you propose to address these concerns.

13) Are there any plans to remove or improve the culvert leading into MF4B?

14) Please provide additional details about which roads on-site will be kept intact
and to what extent.

15) What is the status of Buddy Barefoot Road? Have there been any developments
on the possibility of it becoming a private road?

Other components were also covered during the on-site IRT meeting and all
discussed topics should be considered and incorporated in your bank planning and
development of the mitigation plan. If you have any questions regarding the banking
process or moving forward with the establishment of your proposal, please do not
hesitate to contact me at the Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone (910) 251-
4810 or [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Jordan Jessop, Project Manager
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office

-3-

Copies furnished via email:

Mr. Brad Breslow, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Katie Webber, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Kasey Carrere, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Kathy Matthews, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, [e-mail]
Mr. Todd Bowers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [e-mail]
Ms. Erin Davis, NC Department of Environmental Quality [e-mail]
Mr. Travis Wilson, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
[e-mail]
Ms. Maria Dunn, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
[e-mail]
Renee Gledhill-Earley, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, State Historic
Preservation Office [e-mail]
Ms. Twyla Cheatwood, Southeast Region, Habitat Conservation Division
[e-mail]