20221350 Ver 1_USFWS Comments_20221215

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To:
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Hammond, John
Beecher, Gary H CIV USARMY CESAW (USAl; Dunn. Maria T.; kathryn matthews(afws.gov; Gledhill-earley,.
Renee; Snider, Holley; Rowland, Kelsey S; Carpenter, John P
Re: [EXTERNAL] Williamson Tract Project in Brunswick County, NC (SAW-2022-02147) Public Comment period
closes on December 18, 2022
Thursday, December 15, 2022 9:55:47 AM
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Good morning, Gary -
We will not be able to get a signed letter to you by Friday. Please see comments below from
Kathy Matthews and meMatthews. Without more specific information on the site's habitats,
we are providing scoping-level comments on the proposed activities. Many of our comments
are based on discussions we had in the field on November 29, 2022. We look forward to
seeing more information as plans progress.
• We appreciate the applicant's commitment (stated by Timmons Group while on site) to
provide a 50-foot buffer around all streams and wetlands on the site (outside of impact
areas). We encourage the applicant to place all buffered streams and wetlands (and
other areas not planned for development) into a conservation easement.
• The Service appreciates the avoidance of existing conservation areas (commitments
made during the permitting process for the Second Bridge to Oak Island and Middleton
Avenue), and the minimization that has already been planned on the site. We
recommend that the boundaries of the conservation areas be more clearly delineated
on maps and in the field, as there appeared to be some confusion, particularly close to
the proposed eastern entry to the development.
• Please note the other commitments made during the permitting process for the Second
Bridge to Oak Island and Middleton Avenue, particularly the commitment for one or
more wildlife crossings to provide access to and through the conservation areas on the
site. Please coordinate with NCWRC and USFWS on plans for a crossing, to ensure
appropriate siting and sizing of wildlife crossings.
• As discussed during the field meeting, there is suitable habitat for red -cockaded
woodpecker (RCW) nesting and foraging on the site. We saw at least two "cat -face"
trees - trees scarred by resin extraction during naval stores industry operations decades
ago. Similar old growth pines may be scattered throughout the property. We
recommend that cavity tree surveys be conducted by a qualified biologist in all areas
proposed for disturbance. Since suitable foraging habitat is available in the project area,
potential use of this foraging habitat by red -cockaded woodpecker groups outside the
project boundaries should be determined. This is accomplished by identifying any

potential nesting habitat within 0.5-mile of the suitable foraging habitat that would be
affected by the project. Surveys need to be conducted with enough time to adjust
construction plans (or conduct formal section 7 consultation) as needed. Please note
that cavity tree surveys will typically be valid for a year, unless the Service agrees
otherwise. If cavity trees are found, then foraging habitat assessments (FHA) will likely
be needed. Protocol for conducting surveys for red -cockaded woodpecker cavity trees
is contained in Appendix 4 of the Recovery Plan for the Red -cockaded woodpecker,
second edition (Recovery Plan): https://www.fws.gov/media/appendix-survey-protocol.
• The Service recommends that as much natural habitat remain undisturbed by
construction as possible, particularly those areas that have a mature pine overstory and
wire -grass understory. We appreciate the phased approach, and further encourage the
applicant to clear parcels only when necessary for construction of buildings and
infrastructure.
• The Service recommends that the applicant consider habitat enhancement in areas not
proposed for construction disturbance, such as prescribed burning or mechanical
removal of mid -story and non-native vegetation. These measures will improve native
wildlife habitat and also remove excess wildfire fuels.
• The Service recommends that all stream and wetland crossings span the waterbody and
buffer to the extent practicable, to allow for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife passage.
• The coastal bald eagle nesting population is expanding and new nests may occur
especially in mature pine stands or clumps of pine trees close to sources of open water.
It would be prudent to conduct surveys for previously undetected bald eagle nests in
forested habitat within at least 660 feet of proposed tree clearing and ground
disturbance. Guidance for assessing the potential effects of construction on nesting
bald eagles may be found at this link: https://www.fws.gov/media/bald-eagle-
monitoring-guidelines-southeastern-us.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Kind regards,
John

Please note that I am teleworking Monday, Thursday and Friday, every week. Email is the best
way to reach me.
John S. Hammond
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
919-856-4520 extension 28 (phone)
919-856-4556 (fax)
[e-mail]
http://www.fws.goviraleigh/
From: Beecher, Gary H CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 7:29 AM
To: Dunn, Maria T. <[e-mail]>; Matthews, Kathryn H
<[e-mail]>; Hammond, John <[e-mail]>; renee.gledhill-
[e-mail] <[e-mail]>; Snider, Holley <[e-mail]>;
[e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Williamson Tract Project in Brunswick County, NC (SAW-2022-02147) Public
Comment period closes on December 18, 2022
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ALCON,
With everybody getting ready for the Holidays,
Just a friendly reminder that the Public notice comment period for the Williamson Tract Project in
Brunswick County closes on December 18, 2022
Thanks for your review and assistance with this project
Respectfully,
Gary

US Army Corp;
of Engineers
W im4ngton Distrld
Gary Beecher
USACE Wilmington Field Office
Regulatory Project Manager
Office [phone]
Cell [phone]
gary.h.beecherPusace.army.mil