20150998 Ver 1_Other Agency Correspondence_20160121

Burdette, Jennifer a
From: Higgins, Karen
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2016 1:06 PM
To: Burdette, Jennifer a
Subject: FW: Isolated Wetland Determination for SAW -2015-02044
fyi
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-----Original Message -----
From: Bowers, Todd [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2016 11:57 AM
To: Policarpo, John N SAW <John. [e-mail]>
Cc: Hardman, Lisa D SAW<Lisa.D.Hard [e-mail]. miI>; Higgins, Karen
<[e-mail]>; Able, Tony <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Isolated Wetland Determination for SAW -2015-02044
John,
File Description: Isolated JD for Agency Review: Wilmington Field Office; SAW -2015-02044
I have reviewed the Jurisdictional Determination associated with the subject DA Permit #s and the six
isolated wetlands totaling 6.57 acres. I concur with the delineation made on site dated October 30,
2015.
Please alert the applicant and their consultant that three of the wetlands (C, E and D) meet the
individual threshold as well as the project threshold of 1 acre per the recently ratified HB 765
(Section 4.18) that amends 15A NCAC 02H.1305. This threshold applies to basin wetland types (or
bogs) within the coastal plain determined by the applicant's performance of the North Carolina
Wetland Assessment Method. The applicant will need to confirm with the NC DWR that a Section 401
Certification will be needed to impact 6.57 acres of isolated wetlands within the project boundary and
that compensatory mitigation ratios of 1:1 will be needed to replace those impacts. The replacement
amount of isolated wetlands assumes that the entire project boundary will be utilized for landfill
purposes to store CCRs and thus completely destroy the isolated wetlands within. I recommend that
the applicant begin the process of purchasing up to 6.57 units of wetland mitigation credit from a
local mitigation bank within the Lower Cape Fear River (03030005) service area or the NC Division of
Mitigation Services.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the subject JD.
Best Regards,
Todd Bowers
Todd Allen Bowers
Wetlands Regulatory Project Manager - NC Region 4 Water Protection Division US Environmental
Protection Agency

61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.562.9225 office
404.562.9343 fax
[e-mail]
www.epa.gov/region4/water/wetlands
"A thing is right if it tends to preserve the beauty, integrity and stability of the biotic community; it is
wrong when it tends otherwise."
Aldo Leopold, "The Land Ethic," A Sand County Almanac
-----Original Message -----
From: Policarpo, John N SAW [mai lto:John. [e-mail]. mi1]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 4:12 PM
To: Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>
Cc: Hardman, Lisa D SAW <[e-mail]>
Subject: Isolated Wetland Determination for SAW -2015-02044
Hi Todd,
Please find attached a wetland delineation survey for a 150 -acre section of Duke Energy's Sutton
Power Plant, located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The project site is bounded by Sutton Lake Road
and Lake Sutton to the west, sand ridge and excavated ponds to the east, and undeveloped, forested
land to the north and south. The site is predominantly upland sand ridge surrounded by power plant
operations.
The applicant has identified six isolated wetlands within the attached project area. The Corps
verified the wetland delineation conducted by Geosyntec Consultants on October 30, 2015, along
with the consultant and applicant. The six wetland areas range in size from 0.027 -acres to 2.96 -acres
as depicted on the attached survey. The site visit verified that the six wetland areas are truly isolated
with no inflow or outfall to any jurisdictional waters of the US. In addition, the project area does not
fall within the floodplain of the adjacent (to the west) Cape Fear River or its tributaries. The Corps
has made the determination that these six wetland areas are isolated and non jurisdictional.
I have attached a delineation map, wetland survey, and Rapanos form. Please respond to my request
seeking concurrence with my decision.
Thanks
John
John N Policarpo
US Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District
910-251-4487