20051764 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20021108

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® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Charles R Fullwood, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Melba McGee
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, DENR
FROM: David Cox, Technical Guidance isor
Habitat Conservation Progr
DATE: November 6, 2002
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Environmental
Assessment (EA) for SR 1158 (Airport Boulevard) widening, from NC 42 to US
• 264, Wilson County, North Carolina. TII' No. U-3823, SCH Project No.
03-E-0106.
Staff biologists with the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission have reviewed the subject
EA and are familiar with habitat values in the project area. The purpose of this review was to
assess project impacts to fish and wildlife resources. Our comments are provided in accordance
with certain provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
NCDOT proposes to widen existing SR 1158 to a multilane facility from NC 42 to US 264.
The project will be a five-lane facility except in the vicinity of Bloomery Swamp, where afour-
lane section is proposed. The project length is approximately 2.0 miles. Impacts to jurisdictional
wetlands and jurisdictional streams vary by alternative and range from 0.004 to 0.734 acres of
wetlands and 87 to 123 linear feet of streams.
We have reviewed the data contained in the EA. The document does an adequate job of
assessing impacts to fish and wildlife and their habitats. We support NCDOT in the decision to
improve existing facilities rather than to construct new highways. Improving existing facilities
minimizes environmental impacts while discouraging secondary development, which quickly
reduces the utility of the new roadway. We remain concerned over the potential impacts to the
high quality wetlands adjacent to Bloomery Swamp. NCDOT studied alternatives that include
both a culvert and bridge crossing of these wetlands. NCWRC supports bridging this wetland
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] exc. 281 • Fax: [phone]

SR 1158 Widening EA 2 November 6, 2002
system. Bridges provide better hydraulic connectivity than culverts, reduce in-channel stress that
causes downstream channel instability, and allow for wildlife movements along the riparian
corridor.
At this time, alternatives that include bridging the Bloomery Swamp crossing are preferred.
We strongly suggest that NCDOT study bridge lengths at this crossing which balance wetland ~~ -
impacts with wetland restoration gained by the additional bridge length. This arrangement would
be more likely to receive a more favorable review from our agency.
We concur with the EA for this project. In the Finding of No significant Impact, NCDOT
should commit to using natural stream channel designs on any stream relocations and to use
NCDOT Best Management practices.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this EA. If we can be of any further
assistance please call me at [phone].
cc: Eric Alsmeyer, USACE, Raleigh
Gary Jordan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh
John Hennessy, DWQ, Raleigh