R-5899, Start of Study DCM comments

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-5899, Intersection Improvements at NC 210 and SR 1560 (Watts
Landing 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 11, 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. Please note that the Environmental
Features Map and the Project Data Sheet incorrectly identify the UT 12 to Virginia Creek
as a NC Public Trust Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) stream. 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.

Page 2 of 2, R-5899

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.

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