19910326 Ver 1_Staff Comments_19940720

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Coastal Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
Roger N. Schecter, Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Melba McGee, Office of Policy and Development
FROM: Steve Benton, Division of Coastal Management
Caroline Bellis, Division of Coastal Management
DATE: July 20, 1994
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ID EHNR
REFERENCE: SCH95-0011 Final Environmental Assessment and Scoping I for the Virginia Beach Lake
Gaston Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement
We have reviewed the referenced document and we have attended the Scoping Public Hearing for the proposal, held
in Raleigh on July 14, 1994. The Division commends the decision of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
to require an EIS for the Virginia Beach Lake Gaston pipeline proposal. We hope that the comments below will
be of assistance in the analysis of project impacts and the development of the Environmental Impact Statement.
The study should address all potential impacts, including economic and environmental impacts, of the project on land
or water use or natural resources of the coastal zone. Most areas of concern have already been identified. However,
coastal wetlands have not been addressed by previous environmental documentation. Coastal wetlands are a unique,
sensitive, and vital component of the coastal zone. The integrity of die coasted estuarine system is largely dependant
upon coastal wetlands. These wetlands can be adversely affected by salinity changes, water level changes, and
reduced water quality. Impacts on coastal wetlands, particularly the fresh water marshes which might be adversely
affected by subtle increases in salinity, must be included when these issues are addressed.
North Carolina's coastal counties and a number of towns have developed land use plans under guidelines and the
authority of the NC Coastal Area Management Act of 1974. These plans are formally incorporated into the North
Carolina Coastal Management Program under provisions of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Within these land use plans, local governments identify their special environmental and economic development needs
and goals. Policies concerning these needs and goals are also included in the plans. These needs, goals and policies,
which are updated every five years, should be considered in the evaluation of the Virginia Beach Lake Gaston
pipeline project. Copies of the most recent land use plans from counties and municipalities likely to be impacted
by the project are being forwarded along with these comments.
Although the actual project is located on the boarder of central North Carolina and Virginia, the project is likely to
have significant long term and cumulative effects both up and down river from Lake Gaston, which will ultimately
affect land or water use or natural resources of the coastal zone. We encourage the Federal Energy Commission to
fully assess the need for the project and to evaluate project impacts on the people and the natural resources of North
Carolina.
cc: Terry Moore, NC Division of Coastal Management, Washington
David Griffin, NC Division of Coastal Management, Elizabeth City
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
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