20230465 Ver 1_Hampstead_DEQResponse_Letter_20230622

Booth &Associates
June 21, 2023
VIA EMAIL
Attn: Sue Homewood
Environmental Specialist II
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Subject: Hampstead POD, Pender County
DWR 9 20230465
To Sue Homewood:
Booth & Associates, LLC submits the following point by point responses based on
comments received from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - Division of
Water Resources dated 05/19/2023. Responses to NCDEQ comments are shown below in blue:
1) If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests a response to any comments received as a result
of the Public Notice, please provide the Division with a copy of your response to the USACE.
Currently awaiting the U.S Army Corps of Engineers response. Will provide a copy once
received.
2) Please clarify if the existing substation will be abandoned as a result of this project. If it will
be abandoned the Division recommends that you strongly consider restoration of the site.
No existing substation on project site.
The proposed project is to construct a new electrical Point of Delivery (POD) and substation
that will tap and be located adjacent to an existing transmission line and an existing distribution
line to improve electrical delivery reliability in the area of Pender County, North Carolina.
Please see updated Section 4 of PCN form for additional information.
3) Based on plan sheets submitted with the application, it appears that the project proposes
temporary impacts to Wetland WB for stockpiling of material that has not been accounted for
in the March 28, 2023 application narrative and plan sheet. Please clarify the discrepancy
between the application narrative and the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan - Phase II sheet
CG203.
Please see updated Section 4 of PCN form for additional information.
2300 Rexwoods Dr. Ste. 300 919.851.8770 office
Raleigh, NC 27607 919.859.5918 facsimile
www.booth-assoc.com

Sue Homewood
June 21, 2023
Page 2
4) Please provide clarification of all the proposed impacts. Narrative portions of the ePCN list
impact amounts that do not match the impact table. In addition, the impact table provided in
the ePCN indicates that all of the impacts are for dewatering, however the project proposes fill
for access road and the gravel pad. Please provide a detailed impact table that lists impacts to
each wetland area for permanent fill (road or substation pad), permanent hand clearing,
temporary impacts for erosion control measures and temporary impacts for any stockpiling.
These areas should be clearly called out and shaded or hatched distinctively on the plan sheets
so that the impacts in the table can be clearly matched to the plan sheets. Please also ensure
that all permanent impacts are accurately calculated for mitigation purposes.
The proposed project includes unavoidable temporary and permanent impacts to wetlands as
shown on sheet CG301. Road crossings for the access road at wetland WC (Site 7), Wetland
WD (Site 9), wetland WB (Site 3) will necessitate placement of permanent fill and will
include installation of culverts to maintain hydrologic connectivity. Construction of the
substation pad at wetland WB (Site 2) will also necessitate placement of permanent fill.
Construction of the sediment basin and associated trapezoidal channels will necessitate a
combination of permanent excavation, fill, and drainage at wetland WB (Site 5 and Site 6).
Installation of sediment and erosion control measures will necessitate temporary impacts to
wetlands WB, WC, and WD as shown on CG200 and CG201. Construction of a temporary
soil stockpile and temporary concrete washout basin will necessitate temporary impacts at
wetland WB (Site 4 and Site 6). Temporary impacts will be restored once construction is
completed.
No soil disturbing activities are proposed for the remaining areas of wetlands WB, WC, and
WD; activities will be limited to hand clearing with no stump removal. Once construction is
completed these areas will be maintained in a shrub state with a maximum vegetation height.
See attached excel for updates to table D2.
5) Please provide a wetland restoration plan for all proposed temporary impact areas. The wetland
restoration plan should be specific for the type of temporary impact (sediment basin or
stockpiling, etc) and must include detailed information for proper segregation and stockpiling
of hydric soils, restoration of hydric soils, construction specification and a re -vegetation
planting plan with proposed success criteria.
Temporary impacts will be restored with stockpiled hydric topsoil from the upper 12 inches of
the surface and graded to match the adjacent slopes and contours as present prior to impact.
Temporary impacted areas will be reseeded with a blend of wetland herbaceous species and
inspected, or reseeded as necessary, to insure establishment of stable vegetation.

Sue Homewood
June 21, 2023
Page 3
• Hydric soil excavated from wetland areas will be stockpiled. This soil will be placed
in a separate stockpile with a proper barrier to be reuse during the wetland surface
restoration.
• All temporary structures including any fill utilized will be removed prior to initiating
restoration.
• The site will be ripped to a minimum depth of 12 inches to remove any potential effects
of soil compaction.
• Stockpiled hydric soil will be placed and graded to match the adjacent slopes and
contours prior to seeding the site using an approved wetland seed mix.
• Revegetation efforts will be inspected and additional seeding efforts completed as
described on CG502.
6) The Credit Reservation Letter from the Northeast Cape Fear Umbrella Mitigation Bank
appears to have expired. Please provide an updated Mitigation Acceptance Letter for the
proposed permanent wetland impacts.
Below is new mitigation credit.
Booth will be more than happy to provide clarification needed and looks forward to
discussing these matters with you further. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me
at via phone [phone] ext 125 or email [e-mail].
Sincerely,
BOOTH & ASSOCIATES, LLC
R �! � 4 !
Dolores Hong, P.E.
DH/dmc
me
P.Z943405.5.00