20131279 Ver 9_More Info Requested_20231003

ROY COOPER k1j.
GovernorELIZABETH S. BISERSecretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
October 3, 2023
Dare County
Dare County
Attn: Robert Outten
PO Box 1000
Manteo, North Carolina 27954
Subject: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dare County Hatteras Inlet Channel Maintenance Project
USACE Action ID. No. SAW-2023-01122
Dear Mr. Outten:
On August 8, 2023, the Division of Water Resources (Division) received a copy of your CAMA
application requesting a 401 Water Quality Certification from the Division for the subject project.
The applicant, Dare County, is seeking approval to maintain the federal and non-federal
channels around Hatteras Inlet. The proposed project is located within a portion of the Pamlico
Sound in Dare County, North Carolina. Hatteras Inlet is situated between Hyde and Dare County
and consists of various federal and local channels allowing access between the Pamlico Sound
and the Atlantic Ocean for commercial and recreational vessels as well as the US Coast Guard
(USCG). The applicant's proposed project includes the continuation of routine and emergency
maintenance dredging events within federal and non-federal channels associated with the
Hatteras Inlet complex. These channels include portions of the federally authorized portion of
the Rollinson Channel Project known as the "horseshoe route" and a 7,500-foot (ft) dredge
corridor between Cora June Island and the southern terminus of Barney Slough. The proposal
also includes the maintenance dredging of the Hatteras Inlet Ocean Bar channel which is not
federally authorized. Dredging of these channels would include the use of the USACE fleet of
special purpose dredges as well as a small, modified hopper dredge, identified as the Miss Katie
and other private dredges to be determined. Dredging operations would be limited between
October 1 through March 31 to abide by fisheries considerations. Year-round dredging, however,
is proposed within the discrete area defined as "Sloop Channel North" and a segment of the
channel extending from south of Cora June Island to the southern terminus of Barney Slough.
Within federally authorized channels, sidecast dredging operations will be limited to only those
channels for which the USACE has also been authorized to conduct sidecast dredging, which
includes the horseshoe route and the 1,500-ft westernmost portion of the channel connecting
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTHCAROLINAD_E !� 252-946-6481
Depa"mem of Environmental Duali�

Rollinson Channel to the southern terminus of Barney Slough (previously known as the Hatteras -
to -Hatteras Inlet Channel). These actions are described in the USACE's 2014 and 2022 EA/FONSIs
(USACE, 2014; USACE, 2022). In addition, sidecast dredging would be used in the Hatteras Inlet
Ocean Bar Channel Corridor.
Disposal options for the proposed project include the lateral extent of the federally authorized
nearshore placement sites off Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, the sheet pile protection
placement area at the northeast end of Ocracoke Island, two open water placement areas in
the Pamlico Sound, a deep -water placement site in Barney Slough and a deep -water placement
site in proximity to the Hatteras Inlet flood channel.
The Division has determined that your application is incomplete and cannot be processed. The
application is on -hold until the following information is received:
1. The State and Federal Resource agencies have reviewed the proposed maintenance application for the
project above. The proposed project would alter the already approved maintenance permits that have
been issued for the continued maintenance of the channels and disposal corridors within the Hatteras
Inlet Complex. The impacts may remove shallow water habitat areas, SAV habitat, marine resources and
management of bird islands. The resource agencies have requested a comprehensive management plan
of the Hatteras Inlet Complex such that the USACE Civil Works and Dare County is in sync with the
maintenance of these channels and disposal areas. This office agrees with the resource agencies and
requires a comprehensive management plan for the continued maintenance of this complex. Unless
modified, the existing certifications shall stand unless modified when a special needs occurs.
Pursuant to 15A NCAC 2H. 0502 (c) and Title 15A NCAC 02H .0502 (d), the applicant shall furnish
all of the above requested information for the proper consideration of the application. If all of
the requested information is not received in writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of this
letter, the Division will be unable to approve the application and it will be returned. The return
of this project will necessitate reapplication to the Division for approval, including a complete
application package and the appropriate fee.
Please respond in writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of this letter by sending three copies
of all the above requested information to the 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit, 1617 Mail Service
Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.
Please be aware that you have no authorization under the Clean Water Act for this activity and
any work done within waters of the state may be a violation of North Carolina General Statutes
and Administrative Code.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
E Q�1� Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTHCAROLINA - 252-946-6481
oepanmem or Eemmemeemi aeei� /`�

Please contact Robert Tankard at 252-948-3921 or rob ert.tankardPncdenr. oovv if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Plow Tay."
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operation Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Washington Regional Office
cc: Josh Pelletier, USACE Washington Field Office (via e-mail)
Yvonne Carver, DCM (via e-mail)
Heather Coats, DCM (via e-mail)
Curt Weychart, DCM (via e-mail)
Brad Rosov, Coastal Protection Engineering (via e-mail)
DWR Files/Laserfiche
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
D E Q Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTH CAROLINA 252-946-6481
Depa"mem of Envlmnmental � Duality