20190661_Credit Release Task 5 partial_20230501

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARI) E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 1, 2023
Wildlands Holdings III, LLC DWR Project #: 2019-0661
Attn: Shawn Wilkerson Johnston County
(via electronic mail: [e-mail] )
Re: Sassarixa Swamp II Nutrient Offset & Buffer Mitigation Banking Instrument
Credit Release Task 5 (partial)
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
On October 17, 2022, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received the Year 2 Monitoring
Report from Wildlands Holdings III, LLC (Wildlands) for the Sassarixa Swamp II site. Results of
the vegetation data showed stem densities less than the required 260 stems/acre throughout portions
of the site. In response to how extensive tree mortality is across this site, Wildlands submitted a
Supplemental Planting Memo to DWR on January 27, 2023. DWR will only issue a partial credit
release of 5% at this time. DWR will issue the remainder 5% of this credit release upon receiving
confirmation that Wildlands has fully implemented the supplemental planting efforts documented in
the Supplemental Planting Memo. Photo documentation, supporting maps, figures and a summary
narrative will be required to be reviewed and approved by DWR prior to the issuance of the
remaining credit release.
DWR received a continuation certificate for performance bond (#107501181) from Wildlands in the
amount of $80,000 with Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America to cover monitoring
and maintenance at the subject site. The term of this bond ends with the approval of the Year 3
Monitoring Report by DWR. Future credit releases will be dependent on both the renewal of this
performance bond and the annual monitoring reports.
In accordance with the MBI, signed on May 4, 2020 the following Project Milestones have been
partially met and the corresponding credits shall be released:
Task/Milestones
5) Monitoring Report #2 Approved by the
DWR & financial assurance renewed (partial)
Credits
Nitrogen
'Riparian
Coastal HW
Credits
Buffer
Buffer
Credits
Credits
5%
5%
5%
'Credit release percentages exclude the areas adjacent to Coastal HW Stream Mitigation
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NOR1H CAROL Na 919.707.9000

Sassarixa Swamp II
Wildlands
May 1, 2023
By copy of this correspondence, DWR confirms that you have partially satisfied the above
requirements for the above -referenced and the following credits are being released:
• 5% of the Nitrogen nutrient offset credits (0.05 x 33,512.002 lbs-N = 1,675.600 lbs-N)
• 5% of the Neuse riparian buffer enhancement credits (0.05 x 34,287.615 ft2=1,714.381 ft2)
• 5% of the Neuse riparian buffer restoration credits excluding Coastal HW Stream
Restoration (0.05 x 283,752 ft2 = 14,187.60 ft2)
• 5% of the Neuse riparian buffer restoration credits associated with Coastal HW Stream
Restoration (0.05 x 62,329.743 ft2 = 3,116.487 ft2) are now available to sell. (these credits
need to be recorded on the buffer enhancement credit ledger & are not transferrable to
nutrient offsets)
Please note that nutrient offset credits generated at this site must be used for impacts in HUC
03020201 of the Neuse River Basin excluding the Falls Lake Watershed pursuant to 15A NCAC
02B .0703. Additionally, the riparian buffer credits must be used for impacts in the Neuse
River Basin in accordance with guidelines in the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule, 15A
NCAC 02B .0295, which became effective on November 1, 2015.
Please feel free to call Katie Merritt at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this
correspondence.
Sincerely,
EDoocuuSiignedyuby-
OOBD54'3E
Katie Merritt
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
cc:DWR File Copy (Blake Hartshorn)
Camden Brunick (Wildlands) — via electronic mail
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