HomeMy WebLinkAboutU-6018 USFWS Self CertificationOF. rye FMI uM .uE
MHVUnited States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726
Date: June 6, 2019
Self -Certification Letter
Project Name U-6018 NC 62
Dear Applicant:
Thank you for using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Raleigh Ecological
Services online project review process. By printing this letter in conjunction with your
project review package, you are certifying that you have completed the online project
review process for the project named above in accordance with all instructions
provided, using the best available information to reach your conclusions. This letter,
and the enclosed project review package, completes the review of your project in
accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, 87 Stat.
884), as amended (ESA), and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C.
668-668c, 54 Stat. 250), as amended (Eagle Act). This letter also provides
information for your project review under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (P.L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, 83 Stat. 852), as amended. A copy of this
letter and the project review package must be submitted to this office for this
certification to be valid. This letter and the project review package will be maintained
in our records.
The species conclusions table in the enclosed project review package summarizes
your ESA and Eagle Act conclusions. Based on your analysis, mark all the
determinations that apply:
"no effect" determinations for proposed/listed species and/or
proposed/designated critical habitat; and/or
"may affect, not likely to adversely affect" determinations for proposed/listed
species and/or proposed/designated critical habitat; and/or
❑✓ "may affect, likely to adversely affect" determination for the Northern long-
eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and relying on the findings of the January 5,
2016, Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Final 4(d) Rule on the
Northern long-eared bat;
✓❑ "no Eagle Act permit required" determinations for eagles.
Applicant Page 2
We certify that use of the online project review process in strict accordance with the
instructions provided as documented in the enclosed project review package results in
reaching the appropriate determinations. Therefore, we concur with the "no effect" or
"not likely to adversely affect" determinations for proposed and listed species and
proposed and designated critical habitat; the "may affect" determination for Northern
long-eared bat; and/or the "no Eagle Act permit required" determinations for eagles.
Additional coordination with this office is not needed. Candidate species are not
legally protected pursuant to the ESA. However, the Service encourages consideration
of these species by avoiding adverse impacts to them. Please contact this office for
additional coordination if your project action area contains candidate species.
Should project plans change or if additional information on the distribution of
proposed or listed species, proposed or designated critical habitat, or bald eagles
becomes available, this determination may be reconsidered. This certification letter is
valid for 1 year. Information about the online project review process including
instructions, species information, and other information regarding project reviews
within North Carolina is available at our website http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/pp.html.
If you have any questions, you can write to us at Raleigh(cfws.gov or please contact
Leigh Mann of this office at 919-8564520, ext. 10.
Sincerely,
/s/Pete Benjamin
Pete Benjamin
Field Supervisor
Raleigh Ecological Services
Enclosures - project review package
United States Department of the Interior "mM�vw
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
r Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office ` f
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726
Phone (919)856-4520 Fax: (919)856-4556
In Reply Refer To: June 05, 2019
Consultation Code: 04EN2000-2019-SLI-0987
Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
Project Name: U-6018 NC 62 Widening and Intersections
Subject: List of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project
location, and/or may be affected by your proposed project
To Whom It May Concern:
The species list generated pursuant to the information you provided identifies threatened,
endangered, proposed and candidate species, as well as proposed and final designated critical
habitat, that may occur within the boundary of your proposed project and/or may be affected by
your proposed project. The species list fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1531 etseg.).
New information based on updated surveys, changes in the abundance and distribution of
species, changed habitat conditions, or other factors could change this list. Please feel free to
contact us if you need more current information or assistance regarding the potential impacts to
federally proposed, listed, and candidate species and federally designated and proposed critical
habitat. Please note that under 50 CFR 402.12(e) of the regulations implementing section 7 of the
Act, the accuracy of this species list should be verified after 90 days. This verification can be
completed formally or informally as desired. The Service recommends that verification be
completed by visiting the ECOS-IPaC website at regular intervals during project planning and
implementation for updates to species lists and information. An updated list may be requested
through the ECOS-IPaC system by completing the same process used to receive the enclosed list.
Section 7 of the Act requires that all federal agencies (or their designated non-federal
representative), in consultation with the Service, insure that any action federally authorized,
funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any
federally -listed endangered or threatened species. A biological assessment or evaluation may be
prepared to fulfill that requirement and in determining whether additional consultation with the
Service is necessary. In addition to the federally -protected species list, information on the
species' life histories and habitats and information on completing a biological assessment or
06/05/2019 Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
evaluation and can be found on our web page at http: 'www.fws.gov raleigh. Please check the
web site often for updated information or changes
If your project contains suitable habitat for any of the federally -listed species known to be
present within the county where your project occurs, the proposed action has the potential to
adversely affect those species. As such, we recommend that surveys be conducted to determine
the species' presence or absence within the project area. The use of North Carolina Natural
Heritage program data should not be substituted for actual field surveys.
If you determine that the proposed action may affect (i.e., likely to adversely affect or not likely
to adversely affect) a federally -protected species, you should notify this office with your
determination, the results of your surveys, survey methodologies, and an analysis of the effects
of the action on listed species, including consideration of direct, indirect, and cumulative effects,
before conducting any activities that might affect the species. If you determine that the proposed
action will have no effect (i.e., no beneficial or adverse, direct or indirect effect) on federally
listed species, then you are not required to contact our office for concurrence (unless an
Environmental Impact Statement is prepared). However, you should maintain a complete record
of the assessment, including steps leading to your determination of effect, the qualified personnel
conducting the assessment, habitat conditions, site photographs, and any other related articles.
Please be aware that bald and golden eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668 et seg.), and projects affecting these species may require
development of an eagle conservation plan (http://www.fws.gov'windenergy,'
eagle_guidance.html). Additionally, wind energy projects should follow the wind energy
guidelines (http://www.fws.gov/windenergyn for minimizing impacts to migratory birds and
bats.
Guidance for minimizing impacts to migratory birds for projects including communications
towers (e.g., cellular, digital television, radio, and emergency broadcast) can be found at. http://
www.fws.gov/migratorybirds CurrentBirdIssues/Hazards: towers/towers.htm; http://
www.towerkill.com; and htt:/Iwww.fws.govimigratQrvbirds/CrrentBirdl_s-su_eslHazards/mower
comtow.html.
Not all Threatened and Endangered Species that occur in North Carolina are subject to section 7
consultation with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, sea
turtles,when in the water, and certain marine mammals are under purview of the National Marine
Fisheries Service. If your project occurs in marine, estuarine, or coastal river systems you should
also contact the National Marine Fisheries Service, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov'
We appreciate your concern for threatened and endangered species. The Service encourages
Federal agencies to include conservation of threatened and endangered species into their project
planning to further the purposes of the Act. Please include the Consultation Tracking Number in
the header of this letter with any request for consultation or correspondence about your project
that you submit to our office. If you have any questions or comments, please contact John Ellis
of this office at john_ellis@fws.gov.
06/05/2019 Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
Attachment(s):
• Official Species List
06/05/2019 Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
Official Species List
This list is provided pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and fulfills the
requirement for Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary of the Interior information whether
any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of a proposed
action".
This species list is provided by:
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726
(919)856-4520
06/0512019 Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257 2
Project Summary
Consultation Code: 04EN2000-2019-SLI-0987
Event Code: 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
Project Name: U-6018 NC 62 Widening and Intersections
Project Type: TRANSPORTATION
Project Description: Guilford and Randolph Counties
Project Location:
Approximate location of the project can be viewed in Google Maps: hJ4?.5://
www.zwgle.com/maps/place/35.92210717635713N79,-93195()3.8250 I W
Counties: Guilford, NC I Randolph, NC
06/05/2019
Event Code. 04EN2000-2019-E-02257
Endangered Species Act Species
There is a total of 2 threatened, endangered, or candidate species on this species list.
Species on this list should be considered in an effects analysis for your project and could include
species that exist in another geographic area. For example, certain fish may appear on the species
list because a project could affect downstream species.
IPaC does not display listed species or critical habitats under the sole jurisdiction of NOAA
Fisheries!, as USFWS does not have the authority to speak on behalf of NOAA and the
Department of Commerce.
See the "Critical habitats" section below for those critical habitats that lie wholly or partially
within your project area under this office's jurisdiction. Please contact the designated FWS office
if you have questions.
1. NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is an
office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of
Commerce.
Flowering Plants
NAME STATUS
Schweinitz's Sunflower Helianthus schweinitzii Endangered
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
Species profile: h?ps:l.•'ecas,fws gnu snccies3849
Small Whorled Pogonia Isotria medeoloides Threatened
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
Species profile -
Critical habitats
THERE ARE NO CRITICAL HABITATS WITHIN YOUR PROJECT AREA UNDER THIS OFFICE'S
JURISDICTION.
u
/
0
\
k
u
$
k
Ln
\
(N
\
\
m
M
4-
�
LD #
\
3
/
0 7
CLt�
/
U
/
:ƒ$
E
2
CL
3
d, E
2%
z
— z
f
// q/
e
u
E o
oƒ
o
2
m 2
° o o
0
.
\
o
cu
m— +
Z.
§
2/
�cqw.
a k 2
§ 7
k k k/
"
0
o CL--
5
E
§
k /
\ /
/ \
E
0
> c
c c
k U 2 3
0
0
u
k Q
k\
a\
k
41
/
a
w R'
«
3: a\
o
®
2/
E \
o#
0—
0 2
mo
0 m c 2
W_
m
r- C. CC«
a
c
o
$
2
2 S
t% S
S
0-0-0$\
o
2
m
ui m o
o
2
c
U
w�CL
a
CLO
k
2
2
ƒ
1
§
\
<
t
\
$
W
(
2 -0
f
/)
0
t
2
%
<
®
%
CA
@
u
<
k
k
2
cr
k
M
/
k
k
7
K
q
/
/
4-
m
2
c
§
/
c
®
0
®
0)
&
cu
w
CL
E
#
a
w
4
/
41 T
�
3
s
a
-a
3
0
2
2
R
2
-
W 4�
Q) 4�
@
m
b
_cu
m
3
Ln CL
/ CL
2/
\
u
°
m
/0
to
k
u
c
CL
2
w
o
§
U
4-1
7
E
Ln
a
0
o
/
k
k
/
t
Ln
Ln
\
R
k
§
E
\
�
/
k
�
k
(Li
�
m
j
(v
0"
CL
k
$
/ �
E
�
Eƒ
§
m
2
0
m
E
2
/ E
k
f
§
M
/ £
�
f
�
k
§ f
k
ƒ
2
(u 0
$ /
bo 2
�
^
o E
u
«:
VO
I
I
T 4
a
I
!
+ Oak J
I Flo lbw
I Man
I �
fl
H
q 4Byingtvn Ave +
E
A:e v9 f�
Fbmt
{�
x UoNersdy O
Monthou Aviv
� V
6 � �
H I
ChestnutD, High Point
'7 I
�,�am l Ave Green
kusaefl
� O �
ti OlLur
C� J P'rriA
ur 1
Ha rve ll
Park S`
tcq
G
0-
t Fairfield Rd
WFairfiOld kd
4
2 S.SSU g 17$' iz �ti zl
Q.
a r� p
y S�
y Arc
Y �reei
�s Trinity p
r rurnprkp Rti 6
5` I
t.
i
E �y
x
H
N
Country Club
Q Project Study Area
I62�
0 0.5 1
Miles
T
Z
Source: ESRI World Imagery provided
n
t
by USDA FSA, NAIP 2013;
Project Study Area provided by NCDOT.
9
A
Disclaimer: The information depicted on this figure
=
is for informational purposes only and was not
prepared for, and is not suitable for legal or
engineering purposes.
s•e_
i
Q
o rn =
o
0
N
N C)
w
t
� U
� (6 C �
0_ C) C) E
th
C
}r
V Cu
W c
LO
4-0 U
c-,
L
O
Z tb
0- o
M CO
0
�U fj
U Q 0-
0
H
C (U
06
O
N
V
Z