20230449 Ver 1_01_WestRiver_PCN Cover Letter_rev_20230323

Kimley»>Horn
March 23, 2023
Mr. David Bailey
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587
Ms. Seren Homer
NC Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
RE: Nationwide Permit 51 Application — West River Solar Project (SAW-2017-01527)
McLeansville, Guilford County, North Carolina
Dear Mr. Bailey and Ms. Homer:
On behalf of our client, Pine Gate Renewables, LLC, Kimley-Horn is submitting the attached application for
authorization under Nationwide Permit (NWP) #51 and Individual 401 Water Quality Certification for the
West River Solar Project (the "Project") located in Guilford County, North Carolina. The Project proposes
to construct a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation Facility within an approximately 466-acre tract of land
situated between Stewart Mill Road and McConnell Road (the "Site") to generate renewable energy for the
surrounding electrical grid. The Site occupies portions of six individual property parcels and is composed
of undeveloped forests and agricultural land intersected by a transmission line easement. The permit
applicant, Pine Gate Renewables, LLC, is owner of record of 2 parcels within the Site (under "West River
Solar, LLC') and operating under a lease agreement for the remaining 4 parcels.
Pilot Environmental, Inc. delineated the Site in 2017, 2019, and 2021, and identified a total of 37.07-acres
of wetlands and 24,154 linear feet of streams. A Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination for the Site was
issued by Mr. David Bailey of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on February 8, 2018 and revised
to include additional properties on August 6, 2019, and again on October 1, 2021 (SAW-2017-01527).
Additionally, a Buffer Determination Letter for the Site was issued by Guilford County, as the delegated
local government within the Jordan Lake Watershed.
The Project has avoided and minimized impacts to jurisdictional features and riparian buffers to the extent
practical throughout the Site. The proposed solar arrays and substation have been situated entirely within
upland areas and will utilize existing roads to the extent practicable for access; however, three new road
crossings will be necessary to facilitate access to the substation and to provide connectivity throughout the
proposed array layout.
The proposed road crossing at Impact Site 1 would impact perennial stream S2 to facilitate access to the
proposed array layouts south of stream S2. The proposed crossing would result in 24 linear feet (0.002 ac.)
of permanent stream impacts from the proposed culvert; 57 linear feet (0.005 ac.) of permanent no net loss

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stream impacts from the proposed keyed -in riprap inlet and outlet protection; and 59 linear feet (0.006 ac.)
of temporary stream impact for construction access and pump -around.
The proposed road crossing at Impact Site 2 would impact perennial stream SZ to facilitate access to the
proposed array layouts east of stream SZ. The proposed crossing would result in 29 linear feet (0.003 ac.)
of permanent stream impacts from the proposed culvert; 54 linear feet (0.006 ac.) of permanent no net loss
stream impacts from the proposed keyed -in riprap inlet and outlet protection; and 64 linear feet (0.007 ac.)
of temporary stream impact for construction access and pump -around.
The proposed road crossing at Impact Site 3 would impact perennial stream SC to facilitate access to the
proposed substation and array layouts west of stream SC. The proposed crossing would result in 90 linear
feet (0.01 ac.) of permanent stream impacts from the proposed culvert and 49 linear feet (0.006 ac.) of
temporary stream impact for construction access and pump -around.
Note, proposed impacts to the Jordan Lake Buffer Zones resulting from the Project will be permitted through
Guilford County as the delegated local government within the Jordan Lake Watershed.
Compensatory mitigation has not been proposed as part of this application due to the minimal permanent
stream impacts (<0.02 acre; <150 linear feet) that would result from the proposed Project. Furthermore, the
proposed riprap protection would be keyed into the stream bed and banks to provide long term stability of
the crossings while not impairing aquatic function or resulting in a loss of stream bed.
To assist with the processing of this application, the following information is included:
• ePCN Application Form
• Signed Agent Authorization Form
• Project Figures
• Preliminary Jurisdictional Determinations (SAW-2017-01527)
• Permit Impact Drawings
• Plan Sheets
• NCDWR 401 Application Fee of $570
If there is any additional information you need to assist in the processing of this NWP application, please
do not hesitate to contact me at [phone] or [e-mail].
Sincerely,
k_Tr'
William Sullivan, PWS
Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
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