20201039ver2

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82EO89BO-6EDB-4D99-9581-94EOCB9A997C
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Mr. Jamie J. Lancaster, PE
Environmental Analysis Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1598
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
January 30, 2023
Subject: 401 Water Quality Certification Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act with
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS for proposed US 70 Broadband Line in the Counties of Wake, Johnston,
Wayne, Lenoir, Jones, Craven and Carteret. TIP R-5777D.
NCDWR Project No. 20201039 ver 2.
Dear Mr. Lancaster:
Attached hereto is a copy of Individual Certification No. 5594 issued to The North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) dated January 30, 2023.
This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application. The plans and specifications for this
project are incorporated by reference as part of this Water Quality Certification. If you change your project, you
must notify the Division and you may be required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee. If
the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and is responsible for complying with
all conditions. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(d)(2)]. This Certification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility
to obtain all other required Federal, State, or Local approvals before proceeding with the project, including those
required by, but not limited to, Sediment and Erosion Control, Non -Discharge, Water Supply Watershed, and Trout
Buffer regulations.
If we can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
LSignedby:
t� 44pYvl 1.
a�9Ragefs, Jr, Director
Division of Water Resources
Attachments
Cc:
Eric Alsmeyer, US Army Corps of Engineers, Raleigh Field Office
Kyle Barnes, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Field Office
Jay Johnson, Division 2 Environmental Officer
Byron Bateman, Division 4 Environmental Officer
Heather Montague, Division 5 Environmental Officer
Jason Dilday, NC Department of Transportation
Stephen Lane, NC Division of Coastal Management
File Copy
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CARCLINA
919.707.9000

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82EO89BO-6EDB-4D99-9581-94EOCB9A997C
401 Water Quality Certification Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water with ADDITIONAL
CONDITIONS
THIS CERTIFICATION is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401 Public Laws 92-500 and
95-217 of the United States and subject to the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) Regulations
in 15 NCAC 2H .0500. This certification authorizes the NCDOT to impact 0.834 acres of jurisdictional wetlands.
The project shall be constructed pursuant to the application dated received January 26, 2023. This Certification
replaces the one issued August 27, 2020. The authorized impacts are as described below:
Wetland Impacts in the Neuse River Basin
HUC
Clear & Grub ac
Trenching ac
Total Wetland Impact ac
03020201
0.004
0.008
0.012
03020202
0
0.098
0.098
03020204
0
0.011
0.011
Total
0.004
0.117
0.121
Total Wetland Impact for Neuse Basin: 0.121 acres.
Wetland Impacts in the White Oak River Basin
HUC
Clear & Grub ac
Trenching ac
Total Wetland Impact ac
03020301
0
0.004
0.004
Total
0
0.004
0.004
Total Wetland Impact for White Oak Basin: 0.004
The application provides adequate assurance that the discharge of fill material into wetlands in conjunction with the
proposed development will not result in a violation of applicable Water Quality Standards and discharge guidelines.
Therefore, the State of North Carolina certifies that this activity will not violate the applicable portions of Sections
301, 302, 303, 306, 307 of PL 92-500 and PL 95-217 if conducted in accordance with the application and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
This approval is only valid for the purpose and design that you submitted in your application renewal request dated
received January 26, 2022. Should your project change, you are required to notify the NCDWR and submit a new
application. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and approval letter, and
is thereby responsible for complying with all the conditions. If any additional wetland impacts, or stream impacts,
for this project (now or in the future) exceed one acre or 150 linear feet, respectively, additional compensatory
mitigation may be required as described in 15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h) (6) and (7).
For this approval to remain valid, you are required to comply with all the conditions listed below. In addition, you
should obtain all other federal, state or local permits before proceeding with your project including (but not limited
to) Sediment and Erosion control, Coastal Stormwater, Non -discharge and Water Supply watershed regulations.
This Certification shall expire on the same day as the expiration date of the corresponding Corps of Engineers
Permit.
This Water Quality Certification neither grants nor affirms any property right, license, or privilege in any lands
or waters, or any right of use in any waters. This Water Quality Certification does not authorize any person to
interfere with the riparian rights, littoral rights, or water use rights of any other person and does not create any
prescriptive right or any right of priority regarding any usage of water. This Water Quality Certification shall not be
interposed as a defense in any action respecting the determination of riparian or littoral rights or other rights to water
use. No consumptive user is deemed by virtue of this Water Quality Certification to possess any prescriptive or
other right of priority with respect to any other consumptive user regardless of the quantity of the withdrawal or the
date on which the withdrawal was initiated or expanded. Upon the presentation of proper credentials, the
Division may inspect the property.
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82E089BO-6EDB-4D99-9581-94EOCB9A997C
Conditions of Certification:
1. During the construction of the project, no staging of equipment of any kind is permitted in waters of the U.S., or
protected riparian buffers. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)]
2. The Permittee shall ensure that the final design drawings adhere to the permit and to the permit drawings
submitted for approval. [15A NCAC 02H .0507 (c) and 15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(2) and (c)(2)]
3. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters must be regularly inspected and maintained to prevent
contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials. [15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(3)]
4. Discharging hydroseed mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to surface waters
is prohibited. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)]
5. The permittee and its authorized agents shall conduct its activities in a manner consistent with State water quality
standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance with §303(d) of the Clean Water Act) and any other
appropriate requirements of State and Federal law. If the NCDWR determines that such standards or laws are not being
met (including the failure to sustain a designated or achieved use) or that State or federal law is being violated, or that
further conditions are necessary to assure compliance, the NCDWR may reevaluate and modify this certification. [15A
NCAC 0213.02001
6. A copy of this Water Quality Certification shall be maintained on the construction site at all times. In addition, the
Water Quality Certification and all subsequent modifications, if any, shall be maintained with the Division Engineer and
the on -site project manager. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c) and 15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(2) and (c)(2)]
7. The outside buffer, wetland or water boundary located within the construction corridor approved by this authorization,
including all non-commercial borrow and waste sites associated with the project, shall be clearly marked by highly
visible fencing prior to any land disturbing activities. Impacts to areas within the fencing are prohibited unless otherwise
authorized by this certification. [15A NCAC 02H.0501 and .0502]
8. The issuance of this certification does not exempt the Permittee from complying with any and all statutes, rules,
regulations, or ordinances that may be imposed by other government agencies (i.e. local, state, and federal) having
jurisdiction, including but not limited to applicable buffer rules, stormwater management rules, soil erosion and
sedimentation control requirements, etc.
9. The Permittee shall report any violations of this certification to the Division of Water Resources within 24 hours of
discovery. [15A NCAC 02B.0506(b)(2)]
10. Upon completion of the project (including any impacts at associated borrow or waste sites), the NCDOT Division
Engineer (or whomever is the authorized agent if a non-NCDOT project) shall complete and return the enclosed
"Certification of Completion Form" to notify the NCDWR when all work included in the 401 Certification has been
completed. [15A NCAC 02H.0502(f)]
11. Native riparian vegetation must be reestablished in the riparian areas within the construction limits of the project by
the end of the growing season following completion of construction. [15A NCAC 02B.0506(b)(2)]
12. There shall be no excavation from, or waste disposal into, jurisdictional wetlands or waters associated with this
permit without appropriate modification. Should waste or borrow sites, or access roads to waste or borrow sites, be
located in wetlands or streams, compensatory mitigation will be required since that is a direct impact from road
construction activities. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)]
13. Erosion and sediment control practices must be in full compliance with all specifications governing the proper design,
installation and operation and maintenance of such Best Management Practices in order to protect surface waters
standards [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)]:
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82EO89BO-6EDB-4D99-9581-94EOCB9A997C
a. The erosion and sediment control measures for the project must be designed, installed, operated, and
maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual.
b. The design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion control measures must
be such that they equal, or exceed, the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North
Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. The devices shall be maintained on all construction
sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including contractor -owned or leased borrow pits
associated with the project.
c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures must be designed, installed, operated,
and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining
Manual.
d. The reclamation measures and implementation must comply with the reclamation in accordance with the
requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
14. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or surface waters, or within 5 feet of the top
of bank, without prior approval from DWR. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)]
15. When applicable, all construction activities shall be performed and maintained in full compliance with G.S.
Chapter 113A Article 4 (Sediment and Pollution Control Act of 1973). Regardless of applicability of the Sediment
and Pollution Control Act, all projects shall incorporate appropriate Best Management Practices for the control of
sediment and erosion so that no violations of state water quality standards, statutes, or rules occur. [15A NCAC 02H
.0506 {b)(3) and (c)(3) and 15A NCAC 02B .0200]
16. Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sediment and erosion control measures shall be equal to or
exceed the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control
Manual, or for linear transportation projects, the NCDOT Sediment and Erosion Control Manual.
All devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) sites, including contractor -
owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project. Sufficient materials required for stabilization and/or repair of
erosion control measures and stormwater routing and treatment shall be on site at all times.
For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures shall be designed, installed, operated, and maintained
in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual. Reclamation measures and
implementation shall comply with the reclamation in accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution
Control Act and the Mining Act of 1971.
If the project occurs in waters or watersheds classified as Primary Nursery Areas (PNAs), SA, Trout, WS-1, WS-11,
High Quality Waters (HQW), or Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), then the sedimentation and erosion control
designs shall comply with the requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 04B .0124, Design Standards in Sensitive
Watershed. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)]
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested [G.S. 143-215.5]. Please be aware that
impacting waters without first applying for and securing the issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification violates
Title 15A of the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 2H .0500. Title 15A NCAC 2H .0500 requires
certifications pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act whenever construction or operation of facilities will
result in a discharge into navigable waters, including wetlands, as described in 33 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Part 323. It also states any person desiring issuance of the State certification or coverage under a general
certification required by Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act shall file with the Director of the
North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, these violations and any future violations
are subject to a civil penalty assessment of up to a maximum of $25,000.00 per day for each violation.
This Certification can be contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes by filing a
Petition for a Contested Case Hearing (Petition) with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
within sixty (60) calendar days. Requirements for filing a Petition are set forth in Chapter 150B of the North
Carolina General Statutes and Title 26 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. Additional information regarding
requirements for filing a Petition and Petition forms may be accessed at http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the
OAH Clerk's Office at [phone].
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82E089BO-6EDB-4D99-9581-94EOCB9A997C
A party filing a Petition must serve a copy of the Petition on:
William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
If the party filing the Petition is not the permittee, then the party must also serve the recipient of the Certification in
accordance with N.C.G.S 150B-23(a).
This the 301h Day of January 2023
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
DocuSigned by:
o Caw p�
Ric hs�aagers�4}r,.Director
WQC No. 5594
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
naparMeM of EmironmanW 9uallly