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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071780 Ver 1_USACE Correspondence_20071022 a.-rF o~--~80 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILMINGTON DISTRICT Action Id. SAW-2007-2236 County: Brunswick U.S.G.S. Quad: NOTIFICATION OF JURISDICTIONAL DETERMIT n ~~~Od~ U SEP 1 3 2001 e each TJ~-'~LQ --~ `~~ ~ v 1 Property Owner/Agent: Stello Developers, Inc. Address: c/o Victor Stello, HI p ~ ~ ~ ~~] PO Box 7014 V Wilmington, NC 28406 Telephone No.: (843) 280-5870 (~~ (` j ~? ~? 2~~7 Property description: DENR-WATER QUALITY Size (acres) 7.61 Nearest Town Shallotte 11yETLANpSANDSTDRMyyA~RgRANCN Nearest Waterway UT to Shallotte River River Basin Cape Fear USGS HUC 03030005 Coordinates N 33.94213 W 78.35841 Location description The parcel intended to be Monogram Creek subdivision is located off Shell Point Road, near Holden Beach, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Indicate Which of the Following Apply: A. Preliminary Determination _ Based on preliminary information, there maybe wetlands on the above described property. We strongly suggest you have this property inspected to determine the extent of Department of the Army (DA) jurisdiction. To be considered final, a jurisdictional determination must be verified by the Corps. This preliminary determination is not an appealable action under the Regulatory Program Administrative Appeal Process (Reference 33 CFR Part 331). B. Approved Determination _ There are Navigable Waters of the United States within the above described property subject to the. permit requirements of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. X There are wetlands on the above described property subject to the permit requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)(33 USC § 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. _ We strongly suggest you have the wetlands on your property delineated. Due to the size of your property and/or our present workload, the Corps may not be able to accomplish this wetland delineation in a timely manner. For a more timely delineation, you may wish to obtain a consultant. To be considered final, any delineation must be verified by the Corps. _X The wetland on your property have been delineated and the delineation has been verified by the Corps. We strongly suggest you have this delineation surveyed. Upon completion, this survey should be reviewed and verified by the Corps. Once verified, this survey will provide an accurate depiction of all areas subject to CWA jurisdiction on your property which, provided there is no change in the law or our published regulations, maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years. _ The wetlands have been delineated and surveyed and are accurately depicted on the plat signed by the Corps Regulatory Official identified below on .Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. _ There are no waters of the U.S., to include wetlands, present on the above described property which are subject to the permit requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. _ The property is located in one of the 20 Coastal Counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area Management Act (LAMA). You should contact the Division of Coastal Management in Washington, NC, at (252) 946-6481 to determine their requirements. Placement of dredged or fill material within waters of the US and/or wetlands without a Department of the Army permit may constitute a violation of Section 301 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1311). If you have any questions regarding this determination and/or the Corps regulatory program, please contact Ms. Kimberly Garvey at (910) 251-4482. C. Basis For Determination The site exhibits wetland criteria as described in the 1987 Corps Wetland Delineation Manual and water bodies with ordinary high water marks. This determination is based on information submitted by The Brigman Company, Inc. Wetlands are abutting an unnamed tributary to Shallotte River, a Traditionally Navigable Waterway. D. Remarks E. Appeals Information (This information applies only to approved jurisdictional determinations as indicated in B. above) This correspondence constitutes an approved jurisdictional determination for the above described site. If you object to this determination, you may request an administrative appeal under Corps regulations at 33 CFR part 331. Enclosed you will fmd a Notification of Appeal Process (NAP) fact sheet and request for appeal (RFA) form. If you request to appeal this determination you must submit a completed RFA form to the following address: District Engineer, Wilmington Regulatory Division Attn: Ms. Kimberly Garvey, Project Manager Wilmington Regulatory Field Office PO Box 1890 Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-1890 In order for an RFA to be accepted by the Corps, the Corps must determine that it is complete, that it meets the criteria for appeal under 33 CFR part 331.5, and that..itl~as been received by the District within 60 days of the date of the NAP. Should you decide to submit an RF ""form, it must be received at the abo address by 7 November 2007. **It is not necessary to submit a RFA correspondence.** ~~~ ; do roof object to the determination in this Corps Regulatory Date 7 November 2007 Date 7 The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest-le-veI'of support to the public. To help us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the attached customer Satisfaction Survey or visit http:/~www.saw.usace.army.nuLNVETLANDS/index.hhl~l to complete the survey online. Copy furnished: Joanne Steenhuis, DENR-DWQ, Wilmington Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405 Joseph Floyd, The Brigman Company, Inc., PO Box 1532, Conway, SC 29528 ~. m ~~ ~_ ,~ ~° ,o ~ ~~ o ~„~ i Q ~.cc .au Q]G K ~ ~ ~~~n I~ Road Crossing 1 TYPICAL ROAD CROSS-SECTION ~e 0 8,- .~ N. T.S 0.554 Acres of ~ Wetland to be ~nfia Preserved Road Crossing 2 ,. ,~ rn~ ~~ c~ f~ , 0 o~ ~H/ Total Wetlands: 0.641 Acres Total Wetland Impacts: 0.087 Acres Wetlands to be Preserved: 0.554 Acres Total Site Acreage: 7.610 Acres / Q °~~~~~ 1 ~re~~~. Monogram Creek S/D PROPOSED ACTIVITY: Residential ~ Neighborhood and Regional BRUNSWICK COUNTY rV Roadway Date:5-18-07 APPLICANT:Stello Developers, LLC Date Revised: FicuRE SCALE IN FEET Application No. 4 Z°°' °' 2°°' T~ICAL ROAD CROSS-SECTIONROAD CROSS-SECTION N.T.S ~~ ~u~ U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILMINGTON DISTRICT Action ID. SAW-2007-2236 County: Brunswick USGS Quad: Holden Beach GENERAL PERMIT (REGIONAL AND NATIONWIDE) VERIFICATION Property Owner /Authorized Agent: Victor Stello, III Address: Stello Developers, Inc. PO Box 7014 Wilmington, NC 28406 Telephone No.: (843) 280-5870 Size and location of property (water body, road name/number, town, etc.): The 7.61 acre parcel intended to be Monogram Creek subdivision is located off Shell Point Road, near Holden Beach, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Coordinates N 33.94213, W 78.35841. Description ofprojects area and activity: The proposal includes two road crossings to facilitate access in the development. Crossing 1 will be 0.008 acres of fill. Crossing 2 will be 0.079 acres of fill for culvert and eneray dissipater installation. See attached plans. Applicable Law: ® Section 404 (Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1344) ^ Section 10 (Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 USC 403) Authorization: Regional General Permit Number: Nationwide Permit Number: 29 Your work is authorized by the above referenced permit provided it is accomplished in strict accordance with the attached conditions and your submitted plans. Any violation of the attached conditions or deviation from your submitted plans may subject the permittee to a stop work order, a restoration order and/or appropriate legal action. This verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below unless the nationwide authorization is modified, suspended or revoked. If, prior to the expiration date identified below, the nationwide permit authorization is reissued and/or modified, this verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below, provided it complies with all requirements of the modified nationwide permit. If the nationwide permit authorization expires or is suspended, revoked, or is modified, such that the activity would no longer comply with the terms and conditions of the nationwide permit, activities which have commenced (i.e., are under construction) or are under contract to commence in reliance upon the nationwide permit, will remain authorized provided the activity is completed within twelve months of the date of the nationwide permit's expiration, modification or revocation, unless discretionary authority has been exercised on a case-by-case basis to modify, suspend or revoke the authorization. Activities subject to Section 404 (as indicated above) may also require an individual Section 401 Water Quality Certification. You should contact the NC Division of Water Quality (telephone (919) 733-1786) to determine Section 401 requirements. For activities occurring within the twenty coastal counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), prior to beginning work you must contact the N.C. Division of Coastal Management in Wilmington, NC, at (910) 395-3900. This Department of the Army verifi~atia oes not relieve the permi Qf the responsibility to obtain any other required Federal, State or local approvals/permits :,~-' ~ // If there are any questions regardi g this ifica ' , a f he c dit~ons of the Permit, or the Corps of Engineers regulatory program, please contact Kimberly %~arv a~Y (910~~5 4 or kirn e~Lyfl.garvey@usace.army.xnil. Corps Regulatory Date: September 7, 2007 Expiration Date of Verificatic~n~ Septe~er~'~, ZO10 The Wilmington District is committed to providing the hig st level please complete the attached customer Satisfaction Survey or vis' complete the survey online. support to the public. To help us ensure we continue to do so, ~/ww-w.saw.usace.ai7nv.miUWETLANDS/index.html to Determination of Jurisdiction: ^ Based on preliminary information, there appear to be waters of the US including wetlands within the above described project area. This preliminary determination is not an appealable action under the Regulatory Program Adnunistrative Appeal Process ( Reference 33 CFR Part 331). ^ There are Navigable Waters of the United States within the above described project area subject to the permit requirements of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. ^ There are waters of the US and/or wetlands within the above described project area subject to the permit requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)(33 USC § 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination maybe relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. ® The jurisdictional areas within the above described project area have been identified under a previous action. Please reference jurisdictional determination issued 9/7/2007. Action IDSAW-2007-2236 Basis of Jurisdictional Detern Manual and waterbodies w Bri~man Company, Inc. W. Waterway. ~~ Corps Regulatory Official: Date September 7, 200~~ wetland is Wetl The SURVEY PLATS, FIELD SKETCH, WETLAND DELINEATION RMS, PROJECT PLANS, ETC., MUST BE ATTA~uFn T(~ TNF. FTT.F. COPY OF THIS FORM. IF REO~J` D OR AVAILABLE. Copy Furnished: Joanne Steenhuis, DENR-DWQ, Wilmington Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405 Joseph Floyd, The Brigman Company, Inc., PO Box 1532, Conway, SC 29528 ACTION ID #SAW-2007-2236 SPECIAL CONDITIONS: 1) In order to compensate for impacts to 0.087 acres of riparian wetlands the permittee shall make payment to the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NC EEP) in the amount determined by the NC EEP, sufficient to perform the restoration of 0.087 acres of riparian wetlands in the Cape Fear River Basin, Cataloging Unit 03030005. Construction within jurisdictional areas on the property shall begin only after the permittee has made full payment to the NC EEP and provided a copy of the payment documentation to the Corps, and the NC EEP has provided written confirmation to the Corps that it agrees to accept responsibility for the mitigation work required, in compliance with the MOU between the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, dated November 4, 1998. 2) The Permittee shall execute and cause to be recorded in the Brunswick County Register of Deeds the Restrictive Covenant Language or similar mechanism (see attached) for the purpose of maintaining the remaining wetlands (approximately 0.554 acres), as shown on the Plan/Section View, and prepared by The Brigman Company (attached), in their natural and/or mitigated state in perpetuity, prior to the sale or conveyance of any portion or all of the 7.61 acre tract. At the time of recordation of the Covenants, the Permittee must also record with the Brunnwick County Register of Deeds, a final survey map of the development, sealed by the licensed surveyor, which clearly depicts the surveyed areas of Conservation and lot/infrastructure layout. These provisions relating to wetlands cannot be amended or modified without the express written consent of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District. *This includes changes as a result of any local government drainage easement requirements*. The permittee shall enforce the terms of the Covenants and, prior to conveyance of the property, shall take no action on the property described in the Covenants inconsistent with the terms thereof. The permittee shall provide a copy of the recorded Covenants and recorded Survey to the Corps of Engineers within 15 c Corps Regulatory J Action ID Number: SAW-2007-2236 County: Brunswick Permittee: Steno Developers, Inc. (c/o Victor Stello, IIn Date Permit Issued: September 7, 2007 Project Manager: Kimberly Garvey Upon completion of the activity authorized by this permit and any mitigation required by the permit, sign this certification and return it to the following address: US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILMINGTON DISTRICT WILMINGTON REGULATORY FIELD OFFICE- POST OFFICE BOX 1890 WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890 Please note that your permitted activity is subject to a compliance inspection by a U. S. Army Corps of Engineers representative. If you fail to comply with this permit you are subject to permit suspension, modification, or revocation. I hereby certify that the work authorized by the above referenced permit has been completed in accordance with the terms and condition of the said permit, and required mitigation was completed in accordance with the permit conditions. Signature of Permittee Date ~~ 0/ s n D w Q i ~ i ~o / ~ I e T f~`` J ti ~~ ~f 0 a i~ Road Crossing 1 TYPICAL ROAD CROSS-SECTION .e .0.13^' S.` N. i.S 0.554 Acres of ' Wetland to be Preserved Road Crossing 2 f9 i~° ±H ~~ x ~w~osckco ~.a~- nx .c ~ e Total Wetlands: Total Wetland Impacts: Wetlands to be Preserved: Total Site Acreage: 0.641 Acres 0.087 Acres 0.554 Acres 7.610 Acres o`~~ Q 1 ~r~\~~. TYPICAL ROAD CROSS-SECTION N.T,S ~~ ~~ Monogram Creek S/D f~ROhosED AcTlv-TY: Res-dentia- BRUNSWICK COUNTY Neighborhood and Regional ~ Roadway Date:5-18-07 AI'I'LICANT:Stello Developers, LLC Date Revised: FicuRE SCALE IN FEET Application No. 4 200' o' zoo' MODEL DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS August, 2003 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY CONSERVATION DECLARATION This DECLARATION of CONSERVATION .COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, and RESTRICTIONS (" ") is made on this day of , 200_, by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF DECLARANT] "Declarant"). RECITALS & CONSERVATION PURPOSES A. Declarant is the sole owner in fee simple of the certain Conservation Property (Property) being approximately acres, more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein [reference to a recorded map showing a survey of the preserved area may be required]; and B. The purpose of this Conservation Declaration is to maintain wetland and/or riparian resources and other natural values of the Property, and prevent the use or development of the Property for any purpose or in any manner that would conflict with the maintenance of the Property in its natural condition. The preservation of the Property in its natural condition is a condition of Department of the Army permit Action ID issued by the Wilmington District Corps of Engineers (Corps), required to mitigate for unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States authorized by that permit, and this Conservation Declaration may therefore be enforced by the United States of America. NOW, THEREFORE the Declarant hereby unconditionally and irrevocably declares that the Property shall be held and subject to the following restrictions, covenants and conditions as set out herein, to run with the subject real property and be binding on all parties that have or shall have any right, title, or interest in said property. ARTICLE L PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the Property inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Declaration is prohibited. The Property shall be maintained in its natural, scenic, and open condition and restricted from any development or use that would impair 1 or interfere with the conservation purposes of this Conservation Declaration set forth above. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited or restricted. A. Disturbance of Natural Features. Any change disturbance, alteration or impairment of the natural features of the Property or any introduction ofnon-native plants and/or animal species is prohibited. B. Construction. There shall be no constructing or placing of any building, mobile home, asphalt or concrete pavement, billboard or other advertising display, antenna, utility pole, tower, conduit, line, pier, landing, dock or any other temporary or permanent structure or facility on or above the Property. C. Industrial, Commercial and Residential Use. Industrial, residential and/or commercial activities, including any right of passage for such purposes are prohibited. D. Agricultural, Grazing and Horticultural Use. Agricultural, grazing, animal husbandry, and horticultural use of the Property are prohibited. E. Vegetation. There shall be no removal, burning, destruction, harming, cutting or mowing of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation on the Property. F. Roads and Trails. There shall be no construction of roads, trails or walkways on the property. G. Signage. No signs shall be permitted on or over the Property, except the posting of no trespassing signs, signs identifying the conservation values of the Property, signs giving directions or proscribing rules and regulations for the use of the Property and/or signs identifying the Grantor as owner of the property. H. Dumping or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery or hazardous substances, or toxic or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or other materials on the Properly is prohibited. I. Excavation, Dredging or Mineral Use. There shall be no grading, filling, excavation, dredging, mining or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other materials, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Property, except to restore natural topography or drainage patterns. J. Water Quality and Drainage Pattern. There shall be no diking, draining, dredging, channeling, filling, leveling, pumping, impounding or related activities, or altering or tampering with water control structures or devices, or disruption or alteration of the restored, enhanced, or created drainage patterns. In addition, diverting or causing 2 or permitting the diversion of surface or underground water into, within or out of the easement area by any means, removal of wetlands, polluting or discharging into waters, springs, seeps, or wetlands, or use of pesticide or biocides is prohibited. K. Development Rights. No development rights that have been encumbered or extinguished by this Conservation Declaration shall be transferred pursuant to a transferable development rights scheme or cluster development arrangement or otherwise. L. Vehicles. The operation of mechanized vehicles, including, but not limited to, motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, cars and trucks is prohibited. M. Other Prohibitions. Any other use of, or activity on, the Property which is or may become inconsistent with the purposes of this grant, the preservation of the Property substantially in its natural condition, or the protection of its environmental systems, is prohibited. ARTICLE II. ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES A. This Declaration is intended to ensure continued compliance with the mitigation condition of authorizations issued by the United States of America, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, and therefore may be enforced by the United States of America. This covenant is to run with the land and shall be binding on all parties and all persons claiming under the Declarant. B. Corps, its employees and agents and its successors and assigns, have the right, with reasonable notice, to enter the Property at reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting the Property to determine whether the Declarant, DeclaranW~~Sjg~ntatives, or assigns are complying with the terms, conditions and restrictions of this- Conservation Declaration. C. Nothing contained in this Conservation Declaration shall be construed to entitle Corps to bring any action against Declarant for any injury or change in the Conservation Property caused by third parties, resulting from causes beyond the DecC~~W~cRn~IncQdiLig, without limitation, fire, flood, storm, and earth movement, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by the Declarant under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to Properly or harm to the Property resulting from such causes. ARTICLE III. PUBLIC ACCESS A. This Conservation Declaration does not convey to the public the right to enter the Property for any purpose whatsoever. 3 ARTICLE IV. DOCUMENTATION AND TITLE A. Conservation Property Condition. The Declarant represents and acknowledges that the Property is currently undeveloped land, with no improvements other than any existing utility lines, Declarations and rights of way. B. Title. The Declarant covenants and represents that the Declarant is the sole owner and is seized of the Property in fee simple and has good right to make the herein Declaration; that there is legal access to the Property, that the Property is free and clear of any and all encumbrances, except Declarations of record. ARTICLE V. MISCELLANEOUS A. Conservation Pumose. (1) Declarant, for itself, its successors and assigns, agrees that this Conservation Property shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. B. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Declaration and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the Conservation Declaration. If any provision is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Declaration, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. C. Recording. Declarant shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion in the official records of County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its rights. D. Environmental Condition of Conservation Property. The Declarant warrants and represents that to the best of its knowledge after appropriate inquiry and investigation: (a) the Property described herein is and at all times hereafter will continue to be in full compliance with all federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, and (b) as of the date hereof there are no hazardous materials, substances, wastes, or environmentally regulated substances (including, without limitation, any materials containing asbestos) located on, in or under the Properly or used in connection therewith, and that there is no environmental condition existing on the Property that may prohibit or impede use of the Property for the purposes set forth in the Recitals. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Declarant has hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year first above written. [Signature of Declarant in proper form) 4 NATIONWIDE PERMIT 29 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FINAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE AND MODIFICATION OF NATIONWIDE PERMTrS FEDERAL REGISTER AUTHORIZED MARCH 19, 2007 Residential Developments. Discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction or expansion of a single residence, a multiple unit residential development, or a residential subdivision. This NWP authorizes the construction of building foundations and building pads and attendant features that are necessary for the use of the residence or residential development. Attendant features may include but are not limited to roads, parking lots, garages, yards, utility lines, storm water management facilities, septic fields, and recreation facilities such as playgrounds, playing fields, and golf courses (provided the golf course is an integral part of the residential development). The discharge must not cause the loss of greater than 1/2-acre of non-tidal waters of the United States, including the loss of no more than 300 linear feet of stream bed, unless for intermittent and ephemeral stream beds this 3001inear foot limit is waived in writing by the district engineer. This NWP does not authorize discharges into non-tidal wetlands adjacent to tidal waters. Subdivisions: For residential subdivisions, the aggregate total loss of waters of United States authorized by this NWP cannot exceed 1/2 acre. This includes any loss of waters of the United States associated with development of individual subdivision lots. Notification: The permittee must submit apre-construction notification to the district engineer prior to commencing the activity. (See general condition 27.) (Sections 10 and 404) t NATIONWIDE PERNIIT CONDITIONS The following General Conditions must be followed in order for any authorization by a NWP to he valid: 1. Novi ag tion. (a) No activity may cause more than a minimal adverse effect on navigation. (b) Any safety lights and signals prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard, through regulations or otherwise, must be installed and maintained at the permittee's expense on authorized facilities in navigable waters of the United States. (c) The permittee understands and agrees that, if future operations by the United States require the removal, relocation, or other alteration, of the structure or work herein authorized, or if, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Army or his authorized representative, said structure or work shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of the navigable waters, the permittee will be required, upon due notice from the Corps of Engineers, to remove, relocate, or alter the structural work or obstructions caused thereby, without expense to the United States. No claim shall be made against the United States on account of any such removal or alteration. 2. Aquatic Life Movements. No activity may substantially disrupt the necessary life cycle movements of those species of aquatic life indigenous to the waterbody, including those species ~. that normally migrate through the area, unless the activity's primary purpose is to impound water. Culverts placed in streams must be installed to maintain low flow conditions. 3. Styawning Areas. Activities in spawning areas during spawning seasons must be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. Activities that result in the physical destruction (e.g., througli excavation, fill, or downstream smothering by substantial turbidity) of an important spawning area are not authorized. 4. Mi rg atory'Bird Breedin Areas. Activities in waters of the United States that~serve as breeding areas for migratory birds must be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. 5. Shellfish Beds. No activity may occur in areas of concentrated shellfish populations, unless the activity is directly related to a shellfish harvesting activity authorized by NWPs 4 and 48. 6. Suitable Material. No activity may use unsuitable material (e.g., trash, debris, car bodies, asphalt, etc.). Material used for construction or discharged must be free from toxic pollutants in toxic amounts (see Section 307 of the Clean Water Act). 7. Water Supply Intakes. No activity may occur in the proximity of a public water supply intake, except where the activity is for the repair or improvement of public water supply intake structures or adjacent bank stabilization. 8. Adverse Effects From Impoundments. If the activity creates an impoundment of water, adverse effects to the aquatic system due to accelerating the passage of water, and/or restricting its flow must be minimized to the maximum extent practicable. 2 9. Management of Water Flows. To the maximum extent practicable, the pre-construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters must be-maintained for each activity, including stream channelization and storm water management activities, except as provided below. The activity must be constructed to withstand expected high flows. The activity must not restrict or impede the passage of normal or high flows, unless the primary purpose of the activity is to impound water or manage high flows. The activity may alter the pre-construction course, condition; capacity, and location of open waters if it benefits the aquatic environment (e.g., stream restoration or relocation activities). 10. Fills Within 100-Year Floodplains. The activity must comply with applicable FEMA- approved state or local floodplain management requirements. 11. Equipment. Heavy equipment working in wetlands or mudflats must be placed on '~ mats, or other measures must be taken to minimize soil disturbance. 12. Soil Erosion and Sediment Controls. Appropriate soil erosion and sediment controls must be used and maintained in effective operating condition during construction, and all exposed soil and other fills, as well as any work below the ordinary high water mark or high tide line, must be permanently stabilized at the .earliest practicable date. Permittees are encouraged to perform work within waters of the United States during periods of low-flow or no-flow. 13. Removal of Temporar,~. Temporary fills must be removed in their entirety and the affected areas returned to pre-construction elevations. The affected areas must be revegetated, as appropriate. 14. Proper Maintenance. Any authorized structure or fill shall be properly maintained, including maintenance to ensure public safety. . i 15. Wild and Scenic Rivers. No activity may occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a "study river" for possible inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status, unless the appropriate Federal agency with direct management responsibility for such river, has determined in writing that the proposed activity will not adversely affect the Wild and Scenic River designation or study status. Information on Wild and Scenic Rivers may be obtained from the appropriate Federal land management agency in the area (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 16. Tribal Rights. No activity or its operation-may impair reserved tribal rights, including, but not limited to, reserved water rights and treaty fishing and hunting rights. 17. Endan eg red Species. (a) No activity is authorized under any NWP which is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered species or a species proposed for such designation, as identified under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), or which wilLdestroy or adversely modify the critical habitat of such species. No activity is authorized under any NWP which "may affect" a listed species or critical habitat, unless Section 7 consultation addressing the effects of the proposed activity has been completed. (b) Federal agencies should follow their own procedures for complying with the requirements of the ESA. Federal permittees must provide the district engineer with the appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with those requirements. (c)Non-federal permittees shall notify the district engineer if any listed species or designated critical habitat might be affected or is in the vicinity of the project, or if the project is located in designated critical habitat, and shall not begin work on the activity until notified by the district engineer that the requirements of the ESA have been satisfied and that the activity is authorized. For activities that might affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or designated critical habitat, the pre-construction notification must include the name(s) of the endangered or threatened species that may be affected by the proposed work or that utilize the designated critical habitat that may be affected by the proposed work. The district engineer will determine. whether the proposed activity "may affect" or will have "no effect" to listed species and designated critical habitat and will notify the non-Federal applicant of the Corps' determination within 45 days of receipt of a complete pre-construction notification. In cases where the non-Federal applicant has identified listed species or critical habitat that might be affected or is in the vicinity of the project, and has so notified the Corps, the applicant shall not begin work until the Corps has provided notification the proposed activities will have "no effect" on listed species or critical habitat, or until Section 7 consultation has been completed. (d) As a result of formal or informal consultation with the FWS or NMFS the district engineer may add species-specific regional endangered species conditions to the NWPs. (e) Authorization of an activity by a NWP does not authorize the "take" of a threatened or endangered species as defined under th'e ESA. In the absence of separate authorization (e.g., an ESA Section 10 Permit, a Biological Opinion with "incidental take" provisions, etc.) from-the U.S. FWS or the NMFS, both lethal and non-lethal "takes" of protected species are in violation of the ESA. Information on the location of threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat can be obtained directly from the offices of the U.S. FWS and NMFS or their world wide Web pages at http://www.fws.gov/ and http://www.noaa.gov/fisheries.html respectively. 18. Historic Properties. (a) In cases where the district engineer determines that the activity may affect properties listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places, the activity is not authorized, until the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) have been satisfied. (b) Federal permittees should follow their own procedures for complying with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Federal permittees must provide the district engineer with the appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with those requirements. (c)Non-federal permittees must submit apre-construction notification to the district engineer if the authorized activity may have the potential to cause effects to any historic properties listed, determined to be eligible for listing on, or potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, including previously unidentified properties. For such activities, the pre-construction notification must state which historic properties maybe affected by the proposed work or include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic properties or the potential for the presence of historic properties. Assistance regarding information on the location of or potential for the presence of historic resources can be sought from the State 4 Historic Preservation Officer or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, as appropriate, and the National Register of Historic Places (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)). The district engineer shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to carry out appropriate identification efforts, which may include background research, consultation, oral history interviews, sample field investigation, and field survey. Based on the information submitted and these efforts, the district engineer shall determine whether the proposed activity has the potential to cause an effect on the historic properties. Where the non-Federal applicant has identified historic properties which the activity may have the potential to cause effects and so notified the Corps, the non-Federal applicant shall not begin the activity until notified by the district engineer either that the activity has no potential to cause effects or that consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA has been completed. (d) The district engineer will notify the prospective permittee within 45 days of receipt of a complete pre-construction notification whether NHPA Section 106 consultation is required. Section 106 consultation is not required when the Corps determines that the activity does not have the potential to cause effects on historic properties (see 36 CFR 800.3(a)). If NHPA section 106 consultation is required and will occur, the district engineer will notify the non-Federal applicant that he or she cannot begin work until Section 106 consultation is completed. (e) Prospective permittees should be aware that section 110k of the NHPA (16 U.S.C. 470h-2(k)) prevents the Corps from granting a permit or other assistance to an applicant who, with intent to avoid the requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA, has intentionally significantly adversely affected a historic property to which the permit would relate, or having legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to occur, unless the Corps, after consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), determines that circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted by the applicant. If circumstances justify granting the assistance, the Corps is required to notify the ACHP and provide documentation specifying the circumstances, explaining the degree of damage to the integrity of any historic properties affected, and proposed mitigation. This documentation must include any views obtained from the applicant, SHPO/THPO, appropriate. Indian tribes if the undertaking occurs on or affects historic properties on tribal lands or affects properties of interest to those tribes, and other parties known to have a legitimate interest in the impacts to the permitted activity on historic properties. 19. Designated Critical Resource Waters. Critical resource waters include, NOAA- designated marine sanctuaries, National Estuarine Research Reserves, state natural heritage sites, and outstanding national resource waters or other waters officially designated by a state as having particular environmental or ecological significance and identified by the district engineer after notice and opportunity for public comment. The district engineer may also designate additional critical resource waters after notice and opportunity for comment. (a) Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are not authorized by NWPs 7, 12, 14, 16, 17, 21, 29, 31, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 49, and 50 for any activity within, or directly affecting, critical resource waters, including wetlands adjacent to such waters. (b) For NWPs 3, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 19, 22,.23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36; 37, and 38, notification is required in accordance with general condition 27, for any activity proposed in the designated critical resource waters including wetlands adjacent to those waters. The district engineer may authorize activities under these NWPs only after it is determined that the impacts to the critical resource waters will be no more than minimal. 5 20. Mitigation. The district engineer will consider the following factors when determining appropriate and practicable mitigation necessary to ensure that adverse effects on the aquatic environment are minimal: (a) The activity must be designed and constructed to avoid and minimize adverse effects, both temporary and permanent, to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable at the project site (i.e., on site). (b) Mitigation in all its forms (avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or compensating) will be required to the extent necessary to ensure that the adverse effects to the aquatic environment are minimal. (c) Compensatory mitigation at a minimum one-for-one ratio will be required for all wetland losses that exceed 1/10 acre and require pre-construction notification, unless the district engineer determines in writing that some other form of mitigation would be more environmentally appropriate and provides aproject-specific waiver of this requirement. For wetland losses of 1/10 acre or less that require pre-construction notification, the district engineer may determine on a case-by-case basis that compensatory mitigation is required to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment. Since the likelihood of success is greater and the impacts to potentially valuable uplands are reduced, wetland restoration. should be the first compensatory mitigation option considered. (d) For losses of streams or other open waters that require pre-construction notification, the district engineer may require compensatory mitigation, such as stream restoration; to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment. (e) Compensatory mitigation will not be used to increase the acreage losses allowed by the acreage limits of the NWPs. For example, if an NWP has an acreage limit of 1 /2 acre, it cannot be used to authorize any project resulting in the loss of greater than 1/2 acre of waters of the United States, even if compensatory mitigation is provided that replaces or restores some of the lost waters. However, compensatory mitigation can and should be used, as necessary, to ensure that a project already meeting the established acreage limits also satisfies the minimal impact requirement associated with the NWPs. (f) Compensatory mitigation plans for projects in or near streams or other open waters will normally include a requirement for the establishment, maintenance, and legal protection (e.g., conservation easements) of riparian areas next to open waters. In some cases, riparian areas may be the only compensatory mitigation required. Riparian areas should consist of native species. The width of the required riparian area will address documented water quality or aquatic habitat loss concerns. Normally, the riparian area will be 25 to 50 feet wide on each side of the stream, but the district engineer may require slightly wider riparian areas to address documented water quality or habitat loss concerns. Where both wetlands and open waters exist on the project site, the district engineer will determine the appropriate compensatory mitigation (e.g., riparian areas and/or wetlands compensation) based on what is best for the aquatic environment on a watershed basis. In cases where riparian areas are determined to be the most appropriate form of compensatory mitigation, the district engineer may waive or reduce the requirement to provide wetland compensatory mitigation for wetland losses. (g) Permittees may propose the use of mitigation banks, in-lieu fee arrangements or separate activity-specific compensatory mitigation. In all cases, the mitigation provisions will specify the party responsible for accomplishing and/or complying with the mitigation plan. 6 (h) Where certain functions and services of waters of the United States are permanently adversely affected, such as the conversion of a forested or scrub-shrub wetland to a herbaceous wetland in a permanently maintained utility line right-of--way, mitigation may be required to reduce the adverse effects of the project to the minimal level. 21. Water Quality. Where States and authorized Tribes, or EPA where applicable, have not previously certified compliance of an NWP with CWA Section 401, individua1401 Water Quality Certification must be obtained or waived (see 33 CFR 330.4(c)). The district engineer or State or Tribe may require additional water quality management measures to ensure that the authorized activity does not result in more than minimal degradation of water quality. 22. Coastal Zone Mana ement. In coastal states where an NWP has not previously received a state coastal zone management consistency concurrence, an individual state coastal zone management consistency concurrence must be obtained, or a presumption of concurrence must occur (see 33 CFR 330.4(d)). The district engineer or a State may require additional measures to ensure that the authorized activity is consistent with state coastal zone management requirements. 23. Regional and Case-By-Case Conditions. The activity must comply with any regional conditions that may have been added by the Division Engineer (see 33 CFR 330.4(e)) and with any case specific conditions added by the Corps or by the state, Indian Tribe, or. U.S. EPA in its section 401 Water Quality Certification, or by the state in its Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination. 24. Use of Multiple Nationwide Permits. The use of more than one NWP for a single and complete project is prohibited, except when the acreage loss of waters of the United States authorized by the NWPs does not exceed the acreage limit of the NWP with the highest specified acreage limit. For example, if a road crossing over tidal waters is constructed under NWP 14, with associated bank stabilization authorized by NWP 13, the maximum acreage loss of waters of the United States for the total project cannot exceed 1/3-acre. 25.~Transfer of Nationwide Permit Verifications. If the permittee sells the property associated with a nationwide permit verification, the permittee may transfer the nationwide permit verification to the new owner by submitting a letter to the appropriate Corps district office to validate the transfer. A copy of the nationwide permit verification must be attached to the letter, and the letter must contain the following statement and signature: "When the structures or work authorized by this nationwide permit are still iri existence at the time the property is transferred, the terms and conditions of this nationwide permit, including any special. conditions, will continue to be binding on the new owner(s) of the property. To validate 7 the transfer of this nationwide permit and the associated liabilities associated with compliance with its terms and conditions, have the transferee sign and date below." (Transferee) (Date) 26. Compliance Certification. Each permittee who received an NWP verification from the Corps must submit a signed certification regarding the completed work and any required mitigation. The certification form must be forwarded by the Corps with the NWP verification letter and will include: (a) A statement that the authorized work was done in accordance with the NWP authorization, including any general or specific conditions; (b) A statement that any required mitigation was completed in accordance with the permit conditions; and (c) The signature of the permittee certifying the completion of the work and mitigation. 27. Pre-Construction Notification. (a) Tuning. Where required by the terms of the NWP, the prospective permittee must notify the district engineer by submitting apre-construction notification (PCN) as early as possible. The district engineer must determine if the PCN is complete within 30 calendar days of the date of receipt and, as a general rule, will request additional information necessary to make the PCN complete only once. However, if the prospective permittee does not provide all of the requested information, then the district engineer will notify the prospective permittee that the PCN is still incomplete and the PCN review process will not commence until all of the requested information has been received by the district engineer. The prospective perrriittee shall not begin the activity until either: (1) He or she is notified in writing by the district engineer that the activity may proceed under the NWP with any special conditions imposed by the district or division engineer; or (2) Forty-five calendar days have passed from the district engineer's receipt of the complete PCN and the prospective permittee has not received written notice from the district or division engineer. However, if the permittee was required to notify the Corps pursuant to general condition 17 that listed species or critical habitat might affected or in the vicinity of the project, or to notify the Corps pursuant to general condition 18 that the activity may have the potential to cause effects to historic properties, the permittee cannot begin the activity until receiving written notification from the Corps that is "no effect" on listed species or "no potential to cause effects" on historic properties, or that any consultation required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (see 33 CFR 330.4(f)) and/or Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)) is completed. Also, work cannot begin under NWPs 21, 49, or 50 until the permittee has received written approval from the Corps. If the proposed activity requires a written waiver to exceed specified limits of an NWP, the permittee cannot begin the activity until the district engineer issues the waiver. If the district or division engineer notifies the permittee in writing that an individual permit is required within 45 calendar days of receipt of a complete PCN, the permittee cannot begin the activity until an individual permit has been obtained. 8 Subsequently, the permittee's right to proceed under the NWP may be modified, suspended, or revoked only in accordance with the procedure set forth in 33 CFR 330.5(d)(2). (b) Contents ofPre-Construction Notification: The PCN must be in writing and include the following information: (1) Name, address and telephone numbers of the prospective permittee; (2) Location of the proposed project; (3) A description of the proposed project; the project's purpose; direct and indirect adverse environmental effects the project would cause; any other NWP(s), regional general permit(s), or individual permit(s) used or intended to be used to authorize any part of the proposed project or any related activity. The description should be sufficiently detailed to allow the district engineer to determine that the adverse effects of the project will be minimal and to determine the need for compensatory mitigation. Sketches should be provided when necessary to show that the activity complies with the terms of the NWP. (Sketches usually clarify the project and when provided result in a quicker decision.); (4) The PCN must include a delineation of special aquatic sites and other waters of the United States on the project site. Wetland delineations must be prepared in accordance with the current method required by the Corps. The permittee may ask the Corps to delineate the special aquatic sites and other waters of the United States, but there may be a delay if the Corps does the delineation, especially if the project site is large or contains many waters of the United States. Furthermore, the 45 day, period will not start until the delineation has been submitted to or completed by the Corps, where appropriate; (5) If the proposed activity will result in the loss of greater than 1/10 acre of wetlands and a PCN is required, the prospective permittee must submit a statement describing how the mitigation requirement will be satisfied. As an alternative, the prospective permittee may submit a conceptual or detailed mitigation plan. (6) If any listed species or designated critical habitat might. be affected or is in the vicinity of the project, or if the project is located in designated critical habitat, for non-Federal applicants the- PCN must include the name(s) of those endangered or threatened species that might be affected by the proposed work or utilize the designated critical habitat that may be affected by the proposed work. Federal applicants must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with the Endangered Species Act; and (7) For an activity that may affect a historic property listed on, determined to be eligible for listing on, or potentially eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places, for non-Federal applicants the PCN must state which historic property may be affected by the proposed work or include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic property. Federal applicants must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. (c) Form of Pre-Construction Notification: The standard individual permit application form (Form ENG 4345) may be used, but the completed application form must clearly indicate that it is a PCN and must include all of the information required in paragraphs (b)(1) through (7) of this general condition. A letter containing the required information may also be used. (d) Agency Coordination: (1) The district engineer will consider any comments from Federal and state agencies concerning the proposed activity's compliance with the terms and conditions of the NWPs and the need for mitigation to reduce the project's adverse environmental effects to a minimal level: 9 (2) For all NWP 48 activities requiring pre-construction notification. and for other NWP activities requiring pre-construction notification to the district engineer that result in the loss of greater than 1/2-acre of waters of the United States, the district engineer will immediately provide (e.g., via facsimile transmission, overnight mail, or other expeditious manner) a copy of the PCN to the appropriate Federal or state offices (CT.S. FWS, state natural resource or water quality agency, EPA, State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), and, if appropriate, the. NMFS). With the exception of NWP 37, these agencies will then have 10 calendar days from the date the material is transmitted to telephone or fax the district engineer notice that they intend to provide substantive, site-specific comments. If so contacted by an agency, the district engineer will wait an additional 15 calendar days before making a decision on the pre-construction notification. The district engineer will fully consider agency comments received within the specified time frame, but will provide no response to the resource agency, except as provided below. The district engineer will indicate in the admuustrative record associated with each pre-construction notification that the resource agencies' concerns were considered. For NWP 37, the emergency watershed protection and rehabilitation activity may proceed immediately in cases where there is an unacceptable hazard to life or a significant loss of property or economic hardship will occur. The district engineer will consider any comments received to decide whether the NWP 37 authorization should be modified, suspended, or revoked in accordance with the procedures at 33 CFR 330.5. (3) In cases of where the prospective permittee is not a Federal agency; the district engineer will provide a response to NMFS within 30 calendar days of receipt of any Essential Fish Habitat conservation recommendations, as required by Section 305(b)(4)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. (4) Applicants are encouraged to provide the Corps multiple copies ofpre-construction notifications to expedite agency coordination. (5) For NWP 48 activities that require reporting, the district engineer will provide a copy of each report within 10 calendar days of receipt to the appropriate regional office of the NMFS. (e) District Engineer's Decision: In reviewing the PCN for the proposed activity, the district engineer will determine whether the activity authorized by the NWP will result in more than minimal individual or cumulative adverse environmental effects or may be contrary to the public interest. If the proposed activity requires a PCN and will result in a loss of greater than 1/10 acre of wetlands, the prospective pernuttee should submit a mitigation proposal with the PCN. Applicants may also propose compensatory mitigation for projects with smaller impacts. The district engineer will consider any proposed compensatory mitigation the applicant has included in the proposal in determining whether the net adverse environmental effects to the aquatic environment of the proposed work are minimal. The compensatory mitigation proposal may be either conceptual or detailed. If the district engineer determines that the activity complies with the terms and conditions of the NWP and that the adverse effects on the aquatic environment are minimal, aftex considering mitigation, the district engineer will notify the pernaittee and include any conditions the district engineer deems necessary. The district engineer must approve any compensatory mitigation proposal before the permittee commences work. If the prospective permittee elects to submit a compensatory mitigation plan with the PCN, the district engineer will expeditiously review the proposed compensatory mitigation plan. The district engineer must review the plan within 45 calendar days of receiving a complete PCN and determine whether the proposed mitigation would ensure no more than minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment. If the net adverse effects of the project on the aquatic environment 10 (after consideration of the compensatory mitigation proposal) are determined by the district engineer to be minimal, the district engineer will provide a timely written response to the applicant. The response will state that the project can proceed under the terms and conditions of the NWP. .If the district engineer determines that the adverse effects of the proposed work are more than minimal, then the district engineer will notify the applicant either: (1) That the project does not qualify for authorization under the NWP and instruct the applicant on the procedures to seek authorization under an individual permit; (2) that the project is authorized under the NWP subject to the applicant's submission of a mitigation plan that would reduce the adverse effects on the aquatic environment to the minimal level; or (3) that the project is authorized under the NWP with specific modifications or conditions. Where the district engineer determines that mitigation is required to ensure no more than minimal adverse effects occur to the aquatic environment, the activity will be authorized within the 45-day PCN period. The authorization will include the necessary conceptual or specific mitigation or a requirement that the applicant submit a mitigation plan that would reduce the adverse effects on the aquatic environment to the minimal level. When mitigation is required, no work in waters of the United States may occur until the district engineer has approved a specific mitigation plan. 28. Single and Complete Project. The activity must be a single and complete project. The same NWP cannot be used more than once for the same single and complete project. FURTHER INFORMATION 1. District Engineers have authority to determine if an activity complies with the terms and conditions of an NWP. 2. NWPs do not obviate the need to obtain other federal, state, or local permits, approvals, or authorizations required by law. 3. NWPs do not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges. 4. NWPs do not authorize any injury to the property or rights of others. 5. NWPs do not authorize interference with any existing or proposed Federal project. DEFII~TITIONS Best mana eg ment practices (BMPs,~: Policies, practices, procedures, or structures implemented to mitigate the adverse environmental effects on surface water quality resulting from development. BMPs are categorized as structural or non-structural. ComPensato mitigation: The restoration, establishment (creation), enhancement, or preservation of aquatic resources for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved. Currently serviceable: Useable as is or with some maintenance, but not so degraded as to essentially require reconstruction. Discharge: The term "discharge" means any discharge of dredged or fill material. Enhancement: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of an aquatic resource to heighten, intensify, or improve a specific aquatic resource function(s). Enhancement results in the gain of selected aquatic resource function(s), but may also lead to a 11 decline in other aquatic resource function(s). Enhancement does not result in a gain in aquatic resource area. Ephemeral stream: An ephemeral stream has flowing water only during, and fora short duration after, precipitation events in a typical year. Ephemeral stream beds are located above the water table year-round. Groundwater is not a source of water for the stream. Runoff from rainfall is the primary source of water for stream flow. Establishment (creation: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics present to develop an aquatic resource that did not previously exist at an upland site. Establishment results in a gain in aquatic resource area. Historic Property: Any prehistoric or historic district, site (including archaeological site), building, structure, or other object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. This term includes artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and located within such properties. The term includes properties of traditional religious and cultural importance to an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization and that meet the National Register criteria (36 CFR part 60). Independent utility: A test to determine what constitutes a single and complete project in the Corps regulatory program. A project is considered to have independent utility if it would be constructed absent the construction of other projects in the project area. Portions of a multi-phase project that depend upon other phases of the project do not have independent utility. Phases of a project that would be constructed even if the other phases were not built can be considered as separate single and complete projects with independent utility. Intermittent stream: An intermittent stream has flowing water during certain times of the year, when groundwater provides water for stream flow. During dry periods, intermittent streams may not have flowing water. Runoff from rainfall is a supplemental source of water for stream flow. Loss o, f waters of the United States: Waters of the United States that are permanently adversely affected by filling, flooding, excavation, or drainage because of the regulated activity. Permanent adverse effects include. permanent discharges of dredged or fill material that change an aquatic area to dry land, increase the bottom elevation of a waterbody, or change the use of a waterbody. The acreage of loss of waters of the United States is a threshold measurement of the impact to jurisdictional waters for determining whether a project may qualify for an NWP; it is not a net threshold that is calculated after considering compensatory mitigation that may be used to offset losses of aquatic functions and services. The loss of stream bed includes the linear feet of stream bed that is filled or excavated. Waters of the United States temporarily filled, flooded, excavated, or drained, but restored to pre-construction contours and elevations after construction, are not included in the measurement of loss of waters of the United States. Impacts resulting from activities eligible for exemptions under Section 404(f) of the Clean Water Act are not considered when calculating the loss of waters of the United States. Non-tidal wetland: Anon-tidal wetland is a wetland that is not subject to the ebb and flow of tidal waters. The definition of a wetland can be found at 33 CFR 328.3(b). Non-tidal wetlands contiguous to tidal waters are located landward of the high tide line (i.e., spring high tide line). Open water: For purposes of the NWPs, an open water is any area that in a year with normal patterns of precipitation has water flowing or standing above ground to the extent that an ordinary high water mark can be determined. Aquatic vegetation within the area of standing or 12 flowing water is either non-emergent, sparse, or absent. Vegetated shallows are considered to be open waters. Examples of "open waters" include rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Ordinary High Water Mark: An ordinary high water mark is a line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics, or by other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas (see 33 CFR 328.3(e)). Perennial stream: A perennial stream has flowing water year-round during a typical year. The water table. is located above the stream bed for most of the year. Groundwater is the primary source of water for stream flow. Runoff from rainfall is a supplemental source of water for stream flow. Practicable: Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes. Pre-construction notification: A request submitted by the project proponent to the Corps for confirmation that a particular activity is authorized by nationwide permit. The request may. be a permit application, letter, or similar document that includes information about the proposed work and its anticipated environmental effects. Pre-construction notification may be required by the terms and conditions of a nationwide permit, or by regional conditions. Apre-construction notification may be voluntarily submitted in cases where pre-construction notification is not required and the project proponent wants confirmation that the activity is authorized by nationwide permit. Preservation: The removal of a threat to, or preventing the decline of, aquatic resources by an action in or near those aquatic resources. This term includes activities commonly associated with the protection and maintenance of aquatic resources through the implementation of appropriate legal and physical mechanisms. Preservation does not result in a gain of aquatic resource area or functions. Re-establishment: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning naturaUhistoric functions to a former aquatic resource. Re-establishment results in rebuilding a former aquatic resource and results in a gain in aquatic resource area. Rehabilitation: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of repairing natural/historic functions to a degraded aquatic resource. Rehabilitation results in a gain in aquatic resource function, but does not result in a gain in aquatic resource area. Restoration: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning naturaUhistoric functions to a former or degraded aquatic resource. For the purpose of tracking net gains in aquatic resource area, restoration is divided into two categories: re-establishment and rehabilitation. Riffle and Pool complex: Riffle and pool complexes are special aquatic sites under the 404(b)(1) Guidelines. Riffle and pool complexes sometimes characterize steep gradient sections of streams_ Such stream sections are recognizable by their hydraulic characteristics. The rapid movement of water over a course substrate in riffles results in a rough flow, a turbulent surface, and high dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Pools are deeper areas associated with riffles. A slower stream velocity, a streaming flow, a smooth surface, and a finer substrate characterize pools. Riparian areas: Riparian areas are lands adjacent to streams, lakes, and estuarine-marine shorelines. Riparian areas are transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, through 13 which surface and subsurface hydrology connects waterbodies with their adjacent uplands. Riparian areas provide a variety of ecological functions and services and help improve or maintain local water quality. (See general condition 20.) Shellfish seeding: The placement of shellfish seed and/or suitable substrate to increase shellfish production. Shellfish seed consists of immature individual shellfish or individual shellfish attached to shells or shell fragments (i.e., spat on shell). Suitable substrate may consist of shellfish shells; shell fragments, or other appropriate materials placed into waters for shellfish habitat. Single and complete proL: The term "single and complete project" is defined at 33 CFR 330.2(1) as the total project proposed or accomplished by one owner/developer or partnership or other association of owners/developers. A single and complete project must have independent utility (see definition). For linear projects, a "single and complete project" is all crossings of a single water of the United States (i.e., a single waterbody) at a specific location. For linear projects crossing a single waterbody several times at separate and distant locations, each crossing is considered a single and complete project. However, individual channels in a braided stream or river, or individual arms of a large, irregularly shaped wetland or lake; etc., are not separate waterbodies, and crossings of such features cannot be considered separately. Stormwater mana eg ment.• Stormwater management is the mechanism for controlling Stormwater runoff for the purposes of reducing downstream erosion, water quality degradation, and flooding and mitigating the adverse effects of changes in land use on the aquatic environment. Stormwater management facilities: Stormwater management facilities are those facilities, including but not limited to, Sormwater retention and detention ponds and best management practices, which retain water for a period of time to control runoff and/or improve the quality (i.e., by reducing the concentration of nutrients, sediments, hazardous substances and other pollutants) of Stormwater runoff. Stream bed: The substrate of the stream channel between the ordinary high water marks. The substrate may be bedrock or inorganic particles that range in size from clay to boulders. Wetlands contiguous to the stream bed, but outside of the ordinary high water marks, are not considered part of the stream bed. Stream channelization: The manipulation of a stream's course, condition, capacity, or location that causes more than minimal interruption of normal stream processes. A channelized stream remains a water of the United States. Structure: An object that is arranged in a defuute pattern of organization. Examples of structures include, without limitation, any pier, boat dock, boat ramp, wharf, dolphin, weir, boom, breakwater, bulkhead, revetment, riprap, jetty, artificial island, artificial reef, permanent mooring structure, power transmission line, permanently moored floating vessel, piling, aid to navigation, or any other manmade obstacle or obstruction. Tidal wetland.• A tidal wetland is a wetland (i.e., water of the United States) that is inundated by tidal waters. The definitions of a wetland and tidal waters can be found at 33 CFR 328.3(b) and 33 CFR 328.3(f), respectively. Tidal waters rise and fall in a predictable and measurable rhythm or cycle due to the gravitational pulls of the moon and sun. Tidal waters end where the rise and fall of the water surface can no longer be practically measured in a predictable rhythm due to masking by other waters, wind, or other effects. Tidal wetlands are located channelward of the high tide line, which is defined at 33 CFR 328.3(d). 14 Vegetated shallows: Vegetated shallows are special aquatic sites under the 404(b)(1) Guidelines. They are areas that are permanently inundated and under normal circumstances have rooted aquatic vegetation, such as seagrasses in marine and estuarine systems and a variety of vascular rooted plants in freshwater systems. Waterbo :For purposes of the NWPs, a waterbody is a jurisdictional water of the United States that, during a year with normal patterns of precipitation, has. water flowing or standing above ground to the extent that an ordinary high water mark (OHWM) or other indicators of jurisdiction can be determined, as well as any wetland area (see 33 CFR 328.3(b)). If a jurisdictional wetland is adjacent--meaning bordering, contiguous, or neighboring--to a jurisdictional waterbody displaying an OHWM or other indicators of jurisdiction, that waterbody and its adjacent wetlands are considered together as a single aquatic unit (see 33 CFR 328.4(c)(2)). Examples of "waterbodies" include streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. 15 REGIONAL CONDITIONS FOR NATIONWIDE PERMITS IN THE WILI\'HNGTON DISTRICT 1.0 Excluded Waters The Corps has identified waters that will be excluded from the use of all NWP's during certain timeframes. These waters are: 1.1. Anadromous Fish Spawning Areas Waters of the United States identified by either the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) or the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) as anadromous fish spawning areas are excluded during the period between February 15 and June 30, without prior written approval from NCDMF or NCWRC and the Corps. 1.2. Trout Waters Moratorium Waters of the United States in the twenty-five designated trout counties of North Carolina are excluded during the period between October 15 and April 15 without prior written approval from the NCWRC. (see Section I. b. 7. for a list of the twenty-five trout counties). 1.3. Sturgeon Spawning Areas Waters of the United States designated as sturgeon spawning areas are excluded during the period between February 1 and June 30, without prior written approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service (N1ViFS). 2.0 Waters Requiring Additional Notification The Corps has identified waters that will be subject to additional notification requirements for activities authorized by all NWP's. These waters are: 2.1. Western NC Counties that Drain to Designated Critical Habitat Waters of the U.S. that requires aPre-Construction Notification pursuant to General Condition 27 (PCN) and located in the sixteen counties listed below, applicants must provide a copy of the PCN to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28805. This PCN must be sent concurrently to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office. Please see General Condition 17 for specific notification requirements related to Federally Endangered Species and the following website for information on the location of designated critical habitat. Counties with tributaries that drain to designated critical habitat that require notification to the Asheville US Fish and Wildlife Service: Avery, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, 16 Henderson, Jackson, Macon Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union and Yancey. Website and office addresses for Endan eg_red Species Act Information: The Wilmington District has developed the following website for applicants which provide guidelines on how to review linked websites and maps in order to fulfill NWP .general condition 17 requirements. http://www.saw.usace.army.miUwetlands/ESA Applicants who do not have Internet access may contact the appropriate US Fish and Wildlife Service offices or the US Army Corps of Engineers office listed below. US Fish and Wildlife Service Asheville Field Office 160 Zillicoa Street Asheville, NC 28801 Telephone: (828) 258-3939 Asheville US Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: All counties west of and including Anson, Stanly, Davidson, Forsyth and Stokes Counties US Fish and Wildlife Service Raleigh Field Office Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh, NC 27636-3726 Telephone: (919) 856-4520 Raleigh US Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: all counties east of and including Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph, Guilford, and Rockingham Counties. 2.2. Special Designation Waters Prior to the use of any NWP in any of the following North Carolina identified waters and contiguous wetlands, applicants must comply with Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). The North Carolina waters and contiguous wetlands that require additional notification requirements are: "Outstanding Resource Waters" (ORW) and "High Quality Waters" (HQW) (as designated by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission), or "Inland Primary Nursery Areas" (IPNA) (as designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission), or "Contiguous Wetlands" (as defined by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission), or "Primary Nursery Areas" (PNA) (as designated by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission). 17 2.3. Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Areas of Environmental Concern Non-Federal applicants for any NWP in a designated "Area of Environmental Concern" (AEC) in the twenty (20) counties of Eastern North Carolina covered by the North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), must also obtain the required CAMA permit. Construction activities for non-Federal projects may not commence until a copy of the approved LAMA permit is furnished to the appropriate Wilmington District Regulatory Field Office (Wilmington Field Office - P.O. Box 1890, Wilmington, NC 28402 or Washington Field Office - P.O. Box 1000, Washington, NC 27889). 2.4. Barrier Islands Prior to the use of any NWP on a barrier island of North Carolina, applicants must comply with Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). 2.5. Mountain or Piedmont Bogs Prior to the use of any NWP in a "Mountain or Piedmont Bog" of North Carolina, applicants shall comply with Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). Note: The following wetland community types identified in the N.C. Natural Heritage Program document, "Classification of Natural communities of North Carolina (Michael P. Schafale and Alan S. Weakley, 1990), are subject to this regional condition. Mountain Bo s Piedmont Bo s Swamp Forest-Bog Complex Upland depression Swamp Forest Swamp Forest-Bog Complex S ruce Sub e Southern Appalachian Bog orthern Sub e Southern Appalachian Bog Southern Sub e Southern A alachian Fen 2.6. Animal Waste Facilities Prior to use of any NWP for construction of animal waste facilities in waters of the US, including wetlands, applicants shall comply with Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). 2.7. Trout Waters Prior to any discharge of dredge or fill material into streams or waterbodies within the twenty- five (25) designated trout counties of North Carolina, the applicant shall comply with 18 Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). The applicant shall also provide a copy of the notification to the appropriate NCWRC office to facilitate the determination of any potential impacts to designated Trout Waters. Notification to the Corps of Engineers will include a statement with the name of the NCWRC biologist contacted, the date of the notification, the location of work, a delineation of wetlands, a discussion of alternatives to working in the mountain trout waters, why alternatives were not selected, and a plan to provide compensatory mitigation for all unavoidable adverse impacts to mountain trout waters. NCWRC and NC Trout Counties Mr. Ron Linville Western Piedmont Region Coordinator Alleghany Caldwell Watauga 3855 Idlewild Road Ashe Mitchell Wilkes Kernersville, NC 27284-9180 Ave Stokes Tele hone: 336 769-9453 Burke S Mr. Dave McHe Mountain Re ion Coordinator Buncombe Henderson Polk 20830 Great Smoky Mtn. Ex resswa Cherokee Jackson Rutherford Wa nesville, NC 28786 Cla Macon Swain Tele hone: 828 452-2546 Graham Madison Trans lvania Fax: 828 452-7772 Ha ood McDowell Yance 3.0 List of Corps Regional Conditions for All Nationwide Permits The following conditions apply to all Nationwide Permits in the Wilmington District: 3.1: Limitation of Loss of Perennial Stream Bed NWPs may not be used for activities that may result in the loss or degradation of greater than 300 total linear feet of perennial streams. The NWPs may not be used for activities that may result in the loss or degradation of greater than 300 total linear feet of ephemeral and intermittent streams that exhibit important aquatic function(s)* Loss of stream includes the linear feet of stream bed that is filled, excavated, or flooded by the proposed activity. The District Commander can waive the 3001inear foot limit for ephemeral and intermittent streams on a case- by-case basis if he determines that the proposed activity will result in minimal individual `and cumulative adverse impacts to the aquatic environment. Waivers for the loss of ephemeral and intermittent streams must be in writing. This waiver only applies to the 300 linear feet threshold for NWPs. Mitigation may still be required for impacts to ephemeral and intermittent streams, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the impacts to the aquatic environment of the proposed project. [*Note: The Corps uses the Stream Quality Assessment Worksheet, located with Permit Information on the Regulatory Program Web Site, to aid in the determination of aquatic function within the intermittent stream channel.] 19 3.2. Mitigation for Loss of Stream Bed Exceeding 150 Feet. For any NWP that results in a loss of more than 150 linear feet of perennial and/or ephemeraUintermittent stream, the applicant shall .provide a mitigation proposal to compensate for the loss of aquatic function associated with the proposed activity. For stream losses less than 1501inear feet, that require a PCN, the District Commander may determine, on a case-by-case basis that compensatory mitigation is required to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effect on the aquatic environment. 3.3. Pre-construction Notification for Loss of Streambed Exceeding 150 Feet. Prior to use of any NWP for any activity which impacts more than 150 total linear feet of perennial stream or ephemeraU intermittent stream, the applicant must comply with Nationwide Permit General Condition 27 (PCN). This applies to NWPs that do not have specific notification requirements. If a NWP has specific notification requirements, the requirements of the NWP should be followed. 3.4. Restriction on Use of Live Concrete For all NWPs which allow the use of concrete as a building material, measures will be taken to prevent live or fresh concrete, including bags of uncured concrete, from coming into contact with waters of the state until the concrete has hardened. 3.5. Requirements for Using Riprap for Bank Stabilization For all NWPs that allow for the use of riprap material for bank stabilization, the following measures shall be applied: 3.5.1. Filter cloth must be placed underneath the riprap as an additional requirement of its use in North Carolina waters. 3.5.2. The placement of riprap shall be limited to the areas depicted on submitted work plan drawings. 3.5.3. The riprap material shall be clean and free from loose dirt or any pollutant except in trace quantities that would not have an adverse environmental effect. 3.5.4..It shall. be of a size sufficient to prevent its movement from the authorized alignment by natuxal forces under normal conditions. 3.5.5. The riprap material shall consist of clean rock or masonry material such as, but not limited to, granite, marl, or broken concrete. 20 3.5.6. A.waiver from the specifications in this Regional Condition may be requested in writing. The waiver will only be issued if it can be demonstrated that the impacts of complying with this Regional condition would result in greater adverse impacts to the aquatic environment. 3.6. Safe Passage Requirements for Culvert Placement For all NWPs that involve the construction/installation of culverts, measures will be included in the construction/installationthat will promote the safe passage of fish and other aquatic organisms. The dimension, pattern, and profile of the stream above and below a pipe or culvert should not be modified by widening the stream channel or by reducing the depth of the stream in connection with the construction activity. The width, height, and gradient of a proposed opening should be such as to pass the average historical low flow and spring flow without adversely altering flow velocity. Spring flow should be determined from gage data, if available. In the absence of such data, bankfull flow can be used as a comparable level. In the twenty (20) counties of North Carolina designated as coastal counties by the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA): All pipe and culvert bottoms shall be buried at least one foot below normal bed elevation when they are placed within the Public Trust Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) and/or the Estuarine Waters AEC as designated by CAMA, and/or all streams appearing as blue lines on United States Geological Survey (USGS) quad sheets. Ptaaudway ~ulv~ert buried ~{4ppra~ach Fill Banlcfull bola~rrstreambed do a~propr~te depth ~ifretluinedJ. Stream Battarn In all other counties: Culverts greater than 48 inches in diameter will be buried at least one foot below the bed of the stream. Culverts 48 inches in diameter or less shall be buried or placed on the stream bed as practicable and appropriate to maintain aquatic passage, and every effort shall be made to maintain the existing channel slope. The bottom of the culvert must be placed at a depth below the natural stream bottom to provide for passage during drought or low flow conditions. Destabilizing the channel and head cutting upstream should be considered in the placement of the culvert. A waiver from the depth specifications in this condition may be requested in writing. The waiver will be issued if it can be demonstrated that the proposal would result in the least impacts to the aquatic environment. All counties: Culverts placed in wetlands do not have to be buried. 21 3.7. Notification to NCDENR Shellfish Sanitation Section Applicants shall notify the NCDENR Shellfish Sanitation Section prior to dredging in or removing sediment from an area closed to shell fishing where the effluent may be released to an area open for shell fishing or s~~imming in order to avoid contamination from the disposal area and cause a temporary shellfish closure to be made. Such notification shall also be provided to the- appropriate Corps of Engineers Regulatory Field Office. Any disposal of sand to the ocean beach should occur between November 1 and Apri130 when recreational usage is low. Only clean sand should be used and no dredged sand from closed shell fishing areas may be used. If beach disposal were to occur at times other than stated above or if sand from a closed shell fishing area is to be used, a swimming advisory shall be posted, and a press release shall be issued. 3.8. Preservation of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Adverse impacts to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) are not authorized by any NWP within any of the twenty coastal counties defined by North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA). 4.0 Additional Regional Conditions Applicable to Specific Nationwide Permits The following regional conditions are required for NWP #29-Residential Developments. 4.1. Discharges in wetlands and in perennial streams for stormwater management facilities are prohibited under this NWP. 4.2. Single-family recreational facilities are not authorized by this NWP. Recreational facilities that are incorporated into serving an entire residential development can be authorized by this NWP. 4.3. Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands, within the floodway, resulting in permanent above-grade fills are not authorized by this NWP. 4.4. Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands, within the mapped FEMA 100-year floodplain, below headwaters (i.e. > five cfs) resulting in permanent above-grade fills are not authorized by this NWP. 4.5. This NWP may not be used to authorize the discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States that have been identified or designated by the State of North Carolina as: Outstanding Resource Waters High Quality Waters. Coastal Wetlands as defined by North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act Wetlands adjacent to these waters 22 NC DIVISION OF WATER. QUALITY -GENERAL CERTIFICATION CONDITIONS For the most recent General Certification conditions, call the NC Division of Water Quality, Wetlands/401 Certification Unit at (919) 733-1786 or access the following website: http•//h2o enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands/certs.html NC DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT -STATE CONSISTENCY In a letter dated May 7, 2007, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management found this NWP consistent with the North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program. Updates on CAMA Consistency for NC can be found on the NC DCM web site at: httR: //dcm2. enr. state.nc.uslPermits/consist.htm EASTERN BAND OF THE CHEROKEE INDIANS TRIBAL WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS In a letter dated May 8, 2007, US EPA, on behalf of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, provided Tribal General Conditions for Nationwide Permits on Cherokee Indian Reservation. These Tribal General Conditions are located on the Corps website at: http-//www saw usace.army.miUWETLANDS/NWP2007/EBCI-certs.html Citations• 2007 Nationwide Permits Public Notice for Final Issue Date: March 15, 2007 Correction Notice for Nationwide Permits, Federal Register /Vol. 72, No. 88 /Tuesday, May 8, 2007 /Notices p.26082 , 2007 SAW Regional Conditions -Authorized June 1, 2007 This and other information can be found on the Corps web site at: htt~//www saw usace army miUWETLANDS/NWP2007/nationwide-permits.html 23 24