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Home My WebLink About20150068 Ver 2_Application_20160218Transporta tion Mr. Mason Herndon N.C. Division of Water Resources 254 Spruce Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 . •- PAT I'v1cCRORY Governor NICi--IOLAS J. TENNYSC�N Secretary February 18, 2015 Application for a Modification to the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Pembroke Rail Connector, Robeson County, NC TIP P-4900A and B Federal Aid Project No. TCSP-0635(5) NCDWR Project No. 20150068 WBS No. 41099.1.S3 Dear Mason, The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Division (Rail Division) proposes to construct a single-track connector from the existing north-west CSX Railroad (CSX) "A" Line to the existing east-west CSX "SE" Line north and east of the Town of Pembroke in Robeson County, NC (Figure 1). The proposed project also involves construction of a grade- separated road intersection and the relocation of an existing at-grade road crossing of rail line. An approved Section 401 Water Quality Certification for this project was issued on March 3, 2015 and an approved Section 404 Individual Permit for this project was issued on June 22, 2015. Subsequent to permit authorizations, and in preparation for construction, the Rail Division has identified one location in which additional wetland impacts will be necessary for project construction. Information within this package has been prepared to support the application for a modification to the approved Individual Permit (IP) and the associated N.C. Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) General Water Quality Certification. During project planning, the Rail Division has warked to avoid and minimize as many potential impacts to jurisdictional areas as possible. Unavoidable impacts have been identified and mitigation for these areas has been approved. However, in preparation for construction, the Rail Division has identified one location in which additional wetland impacts will be necessary in �`/'Nothing Compares�.� State of North Carolina � Department of Transportation I Project Development and Cnvironmental Analysis 1000 Birch Ridge Dnve � 1548 Mail Scrvice Center I Raleigh, NC 27699-1548 919-707-6000 Mr. Mason Herndon Individual Permit Modification Application Page 2 of 3 TIP P-4900 A and B, Robeson County order to implement project construction. Attached are revised Permit Drawing sheets depicting Permit Site 1 and a revised Wetland Permit Impact Summary sheet reflecting additional wetland impacts at this site. Permit Site 1 entails the construction of a new bridge crossing of Bear Creek swamp adjacent to the east side of the existing crossing of the CSX "A" line. Permanent impacts authorized by the approved Section 404 Individual Permit total 1.41 acres. In addition, the area located between the two proposed abutments will be cleared of vegetation by hand, resulting in 0.02 acre of temporary wetland impacts. Recently identified impacts anticipated at Permit Site 1 involve the placement of a 36-inch Welded Steel Pipe (WSP) within the fill slope of the existing rail. This WSP is intended as a hydraulic equalization pipe for high flow events and is located slightly above ground level. As this is an active rail line, the pipe will be installed by trenchless (jack-and-bore) techniques. In order to prepare the site for the trenchless installation work, the required work area will be mechanically cleared of vegetation. The additional area of permanent wetland impacts resulting from mechanical clearing for trenchless installation activities is anticipated to be 0.05 acre. Mitigation is proposed at a 2:1 ratio to compensate for permanent impacts to this wetland area, resulting in a total of 0.1 acre of additional wetland mitigation credits necessary to compensate for anticipated project impacts. Compensatory mitigation for this project is anticipated from warm-water stream and riparian wetland mitigation credits from the N.C. Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMS, formerly the NCEEP). Based upon agreements stipulated in the "Memorandum of Agreement Among the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District" (MOA), it is understood that the NCDMS will assume responsibility for satisfying the remainder of Clean Water Act compensatory mitigation requirements for this project (0.1 riparian wetland credit). The offsetting mitigation provided by the NCEEP will derive from an inventory of assets already in existence within USGS HU 03040203. Mitigation for original and proposed project impacts will be provided by the NCDMS. Total riparian wetland impacts for the project have increased from 2.19 acres to 2.24 acres in association with this proposed modification. No changes to surface water impacts (423 linear feet) are anticipated in association with this proposed modification. Mr. Mason Herndon Page 3 of 3 Please find attached to this letter the following items. • A revised ENG4345 • Revised P4900AB Permit Drawings for Site 1, Ind.ividual Permit Modification Application TIP P-4900 A and B, Robeson County • A revised P4900AB Wetland Permit Impact Summary sheet, and • A mitigation acceptance letter from the NCDMS. Again, the Rail Division is requesting an addition to the authorized Section 404 jurisdictional area impacts for this project. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important project. If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact the Project Manager, Mr. James Bridges, at 919-707-4716 or at jfbrid�es,�ncdot.�ov. Sincerely, Marc L. Hamel Rail Project Development Manager NCDOT Rail Division Cc. Liz Hair, US Army Corps of Engineers James Bridges, Jr., P.E., C.P.M., NCDOT Rail Division Brad Smythe, P.E., NCD�T Rail Division Scott Davis, Axiom Environmental, Inc.