R-5900, Start of Study

November 28, 2023

Zachary Howard, Project Manager
Division 3
N.C. Department of Transportation
5501 Barbados Boulevard
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

RE: Start of Study, TIP No. R-5900, Intersection Improvements at NC 210, NC 50, and Belt
Road in Pender County.

Dear Mr. Howard:

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) appreciates the opportunity to comment on
the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Start of Study letter dated September 22, 2023,
including the attached Project Data Sheet and maps, for the above referenced project.

DCM has reviewed the information that was provided by NCDOT to determine if there are any
potential Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC’s)
within the project area. Based upon the information received from NCDOT, it appears as though
there are not any CAMA AEC’s within the project area. If a project is in one of the 20 N.C.
coastal counties and it does not propose development in an AEC, but the project is receiving
federal funding or a federal permit and may reasonably affect any coastal resources or use, then
DCM recommends a federal consistency certification be submitted. DCM will then review the
submitted information for conformance with the management objectives and enforceable policies
of Subchapters 7H and 7M of Chapter 7 in Title 15A of the North Carolina Administrative Code.

Please note that DCM reviews Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits issued by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for consistency with the N.C. Coastal Management Program
(NCCMP) on a programmatic basis. Therefore, if a NCDOT project is reviewed by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as a Nationwide Permit or Regional General Permit, then
the USACE permit may include a Special Condition that a federal consistency submission is not
required.

Please note that the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commission (WRC) are commenting agencies for federal consistency reviews. Please
coordinate with DMF and WRC to incorporate fisheries classifications for all waters in the study
area into the project design, as well as any corresponding in-water work moratoriums.

Page 2 of 2, R-5900

Please be aware that the N.C. Natural Heritage Program is a commenting agency for federal
consistency reviews. NCDOT is encouraged to avoid all impacts to the N.C. Natural Heritage
Program Managed Area within the study area, and to coordinate with the N.C. Natural Heritage
Program to address and resolve any comments and concerns.

Please be aware that the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is a commenting agency
for federal consistency reviews. Please note that if there are historic properties and/or
archaeological resources within and/or near the project area, NCDOT is encouraged to
coordinate with SHPO to address and resolve any comments and concerns.

During any federal consistency review, DCM may have additional comments on the project’s
environmental impacts and may place conditions on a federal consistency determination to
minimize environmental impacts. The applicant must also demonstrate that the project is
consistent with all certified CAMA land use plans that are current at the time of the federal
consistency submission. The information provided in this letter shall not preclude DCM from
requesting additional information throughout any federal consistency review process and
following normal procedures.

Thank you for your consideration of the North Carolina Coastal Management Program. Please
contact me or Stephen Lane, DCM Field Representative for Transportation Projects, if you have
any questions or concerns. I can be reached at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail]. Stephen can be reached at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail].

Sincerely,
Cathy Brittingham
Transportation Project Coordinator
N.C. Division of Coastal Management

Cc: Stephen Lane, DCM
Tom Steffens, USACE
Hannah Sprinkle, DWR
Jon Giles, NCDOT
Kim Harding, DMF
Travis Wilson, WRC