20040933 Ver 1_Information Letter_19970226

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources / • •
-Division of Water Quality
Ja mes e. Hunt, Jr., G ove mor ~ E H N i=ce
Jonathan B~ Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
February 2t5, 1997
MEMORANDUM
To: Ms. Cindy Sharer, P.E., NCDOT, Planning & Environmental
From: Cyndi Bell, NC Division of Water Quality G~,~
Subject Water Quality Checklist for Bridge Replacement Projects
Reference your correspondence dated February 14, 1997, in which you requested preliminary commence
concerning nine bridge replacxment projects. The Division of Water Quality requests that NCDOT
consider the following generic environmental commitments for design and construction of bridge
replacements:
A. DWQ requests that DOT strictly adhere to North Carolina regulations entitled "Design Standards
in Sensitive Watersheds" (15A NCAC 04B ..0024) throughout design and conswction for this
project in the area that drains to streams having WS (Water Supply), ORW (Outstanding
Resource Water), HQW (High Quality Water), B (Body Contact), SA (Shellfish Water) or Tr
(Trout Water) classifications to protect existing uses.
B. DWQ requests that bridges be replaced on existing location with road closure, when practical. If
an on-site detour is necessary, remediation meastues in accordance with DWQ requirements for
General 401 Certification 2726/Nationwide Permit No. 33 (Temporary Conswction, Access and
Dewatering) must be followed.
C. DWQ requests that hazardous spill etch basins be installed at any bridge crossing a stream
classified as HQW or WS (Water Supply}. The number of catch basins installed should be
determined by the design of the bridge, so that runoff would enter said basin(s) rather than
directly flowing into the stream.
D. To the maximum extent practicable, D07 should not install the bridge bents in the creek.
E. Wetland impacts should be avoided (including sediment and erosion control
swetures/measures) to the maximum extent practical. If this is not possible, alternatives that
minimize wetland impacts should be chosen. Mitigation for unavoidable impacts will be
required by DWQ if impacts exceed one acre. Smaller impacts may require mitigation by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
F. Borrow/waste azeas should not be located in wetlands. It is likely that compensatory mitigation
will be required if wetlattds aze.impacted by waste or borrow.
G. DWQ prefers replacement of bridges with bridges. If the new structure is to be a culvert, it
should be countersunk to allow unimpeded fish passage through the crossing.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX # [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Aftirtnative Action Employer 50% re~cJed/10°k post consumer paper

~,,.
Ms. Cindy Sharer Memo
February 26,1997
Page 2
K If foundation test borings will be nrquited, this should be noted in the document Geotec6rtical
work is approved under General 401 Certification Number 3027/Nationwide Permit No. 6 for
Survey Activities. Written canqurence from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is nyquired in designated mountain trout counties.
I. If this projeU is processed as a Categorical Exclusion, NCDOT is reminded that mitigation will
be required if wetland impacts exceed one acre, in accordance with DWQ Wetland Rules { 15A
NCAC ZH.0506 (h)(2) } .
The attached table has been prepared by DWQ for your assistance in studying the systems involved in
these bridge replacements. This information includes the DWQ Index Number, DWQ Stream
Classification, river basin, and preliminary comments for each crossing. Please note that National
Wetland Inventory (IJWI) map references are not to be replaced by onsite wetland determinations by
qualified biologists.
Thank you for your request for DWQ input DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality
Certification requires satisfaction of water quality concerns, to ensure that water quality standards are met
and designated uses are not lost or degraded. Questions regarding the 401 Certification or other water
quality issues should be directed to Cyndi Bell at [phone] in DWQ's Water Quality Environmental
Sciences Branch.
cc: Michelle Suvetkrubbe
Melba McGee
B2150.DOC

DEHNR Page 1 2/26/97
T.f.P. No. 8rldga Location Protect Stream Name County DWQ Stream DWt] Stream Rlvst Basln Comments
No. Deacrlptlon Index No. Claaslflcatlon
8-2150 32 NC 212 Replace Shelton Laurel Creek Madson I ~ e-112-28 C Tr French Broad NWI maps show no
nretlands In project area.
Mitchell and NWI maps show no
8.2848 143 SR i3o4 Replace North Toe River Yancey 1.7-2-71 C Tr French Broad wetlands wlE~ln project
area.
B-2927 123 US 19123/74 Replace Southern Railroad Buncombe NIA N/A NIA NIA
NWI maps
show no
8-3000 304 SR 1407 Replace MITI Creek and Southem McDowell I a 11-7 C Tr Catawba ,
wetlands within project
Rellroad
area
8-3118 184 SR 1874 Replace Beaver Dam Creek Buncombe 1 a 8-82 C French Broad NWI map show no
wetlands in project stew.
8-3121 52 US 70 Business Replace Hunting Creek Burke I ~ t t-38-(0.7) WS-IV ~~~ (JVY) maps show wetland
pockets in project area.
B-3189 272 SR 1843 Replace Southern Railroad Heywood NIA N/A NIA NIA

DEHNA
Page 2
2/26/97
NWI maps show no
B-3205 30 NC 209 Replace Spring Creek Madson 1.6-119-10 C Tr French Broad wetlands wllhin protect
area.

B•3206
81,92, 75 US 221 business/
Replace Catawba Rlver and
Mclbwetl
I ~ 11-(9)
C
Catawba NWI maps show no
wetlands wflhln
ro)ed
NC 226 OveMows p
area.

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North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
James B. Hunt Jr., Governor
Betty Ray McCain, Secretary
March 3, 1997
MEMORANDUM
TO: H. Franklin Vick, P.E., Manager
Planning and Environmental Branch
Division of Highways
Department of Transportation
FROM: David Brook (.cJ
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
SUBJECT: Bridge Group XII, Bridge #143 on SR 1304
over North Toe River, Mitchell and Yancey
Counties, B-2848, ER 97-8505
Division of Archives and History
kffrey J. Craw, Director
Thank you for your letter of February 10, 1997, concerning the above project.
We have conducted a search of our maps and files and have located the following
structures of historical or architectural importance within the general area of the project:
Robert Griffith House. North side of SR 1304, 0.1 mile east of junction with SR
1320, Huntdale Community. This property was placed on the state study list on
January 8, 1987.
We look forward to meeting with an architectural historian from the North Carolina
Department of Transportation to review the aerial and photographs of the project area so
we can make our survey recommendation.
There are no known archaeological sites within the proposed project area. Based on our
present knowledge of the area, it is unlikely that any archaeological resources which may
be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places will be affected by the
project construction. We, therefore, recommend that no archaeological investigation be
conducted in connection with this project.
The above comments are made pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Regulations for
Compliance with Section 106 codified at 36 CFR Part 800.
Thank you for your cooperation and consideration. If you have questions concerning the
above comment, please contact Renee Gledhill-Earley, environmental review coordinator, at
919/733-4763.
DB:siw
cc: N. Graf
B. Church
T. Padgett
T~n