20240440 Ver 1_Bridge 36 Madison cover letter_20240319

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Roy COOPER
GOVERNOR
March 19, 2024
Ms. Lori Beckwith
US Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
Subject: Regional General Permit 950
Bridge 560036, SR 1515 Buckner Branch Road
State Project No. BP13.R020
Madison County, NC
Dear Ms. Beckwith:
J.R. "JOEY" HOPKINS
SECRETARY
I have enclosed a set of plans, a PCN application for a RGP 950, and a vicinity map relative to a
bridge replacement on SR 1515 Buckner Branch Road, Madison County, NC.
We propose to replace the existing single span 35' long by 21' wide bridge over Middle
Fork Creek with a 55' long by 30' wide, 21" cored slab single span bridge. Permanent
impacts are 124' for the relocation of an unnamed tributary to Middle Fork Creek and
71' of bank stabilization. The relocation is required by the presence of R-2518A Middle
Fork Creek Mitigation Site K north of the bridge; staged construction was shifted to the
south to avoid the mitigation site. Temporary impacts total 52' and are associated with
the stream relocation, bank stabilization installation, and existing abutment removal.
Middle Fork Creek is approximately 12' wide and 34" deep, with a 2-3' deep pool under
the bridge, with a predominantly sand, gravel, and large cobble substrate. It is classified
as WS-II, HQW.
Existing channel morphology will be maintained upstream and downstream of the bridge.
Riparian vegetation will be reestablished along disturbed areas associated with the
project. Stormwater will be diverted through grass -lined ditches or vegetated buffers prior
to enteringstreams.
This project will not affect the gray bat (Myotis grisescens), northern long-eared bat
(Myotis septentrionalis) (NLEB), or the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Three
trees will be removed during the appropriate time of year. The existing bridge is
constructed with steel beams, timber endbents, a creosote timber deck, and timber rails.
A survey of the bridge showed no evidence of bat presence/usage; the bottom of the
bridge is approximately 5' above the stream surface. Please see the included Bat
Questionnaire
Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION THIRTEEN
55 ORANGE STREET
ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968
Website: www.ncdot.gov
Location:
55 ORANGE STREET
ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340

Lori Beckwith
Page —2 Bridge 560036, Madison County
March 19, 2024
We request David McHenry, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Western Region
Coordinator, to comment directly to the Corps concerning the permit request.
As a part of the 401 Certification process, the project was processed through the DOT
Programmatic Agreement for Minor Project as required by Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and GS 121-12(a). No Historic Resources will be
affected.These forms are attached for the Corps file.
Kristi Lynn Carpenter, NC Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting Unit and
Ryan Conchilla, NC DWR Raleigh Central Office will review the project through the electronic
form (https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/Pre-Construction Notification Form). Please
charge the application fee of $767.00 to WBS element 9 BP13.R020. Please forward comments
directly to the Corps with copy to Division 13 Environmental Officer.
Your earliest consideration for this request would be greatly appreciated. If you have any
questions or information needs, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Yates Allen
Environmental Specialist
Enclosures
cc: Tim Anderson, P.E., Division Engineer
Eddie Douglas, Division Bridge Program Manager