20071841 Ver 6_Other Agency Comments_20160303 (2)

Burdette, Jennifer a
From: Price, Zan (George)
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 5:46 PM
To: Burdette, Jennifer a
Subject: Fwd: Action ID SAW -2010-00036 Modification Request - Asheville Airport
Attachments: 11 -261 -Asheville Airport Expansion -Permit Modification Request -Buncombe Co.pdf,
ATT00001.htm
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Begin forwarded message:
From: "Hamstead, Byron" <byron_hamsteadgfws.gov>
Date: March 3, 2016 at 5:00:05 PM EST
To: "Brown, David W SAW" <David.W.Browngusace. army. mil>
Cc: "bowers.toddgepa.gov" <bowers.toddgepa.gov>, "Tompkins, Bryan"
<bryan_tompkins o,fws.gov>, "Higgins, Karen" <karen.hi ins _,ncdenr.gov>, "Price, Zan
(George)" <Zan.Price gncdenr.gov>, "Leslie, Andrea J" <andrea.lesliegncwildlife.org>
Rebekah Reid <rebekahacwenv.com>
Subject: Re: Action ID SAW -2010-00036 Modification Request - Asheville Airport
Hi David,
Attached are the Service's comments for the project referenced above. Please contact me if you
have any questions.
Regards,
Byron
Byron Hamstead
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
USFWS Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa St., Suite B
Asheville, NC, 28801
828-258-3939 ext. 225
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On Tue, Feb 16, 2016 at 11:41 AM, Brown, David W SAW <David. W.Browngusace. army. mil>
wrote:

Action ID SAW -2010-00036
USEPA - Todd Bowers
USFWS - Bryan Tompkins and Byron Hamstead
NCDEQ-DWR - Karen Higgins and Zan Price
NCWRC - Andrea Leslie
All,
The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority has requested a modification to the
Department of Army permit issued (October 2011) for the Runway Rehabilitation, Parallel
Taxiway, and Cargo Hold Expansion project in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The Corps
is required to consult with the resource agencies which provided significant comments during
the issuance process of the original permit on this request since the modification proposes
greater impacts to WoUS. Attached is the submitted modification request with supporting
documents and plans.
Under the issued permit, the Corps authorized impacts to 1,7961f of streams and 0.9 acres of
wetlands. The modification request proposes additional impacts of 1) 901f to streams for
culvert replacement and lengthening; 2) 0.03 acres to wetlands for resizing sediment basin D;
and 3) 1,4301f to streams for stream stabilization.
Due to FAA regulations governing the runway safety area additional impacts are required in the
project area at the south end of the airport. The proposed actions will in include: 1) replacement
of an existing 40 -foot culvert and lengthening it to 130 -foot (901f of new stream impacts); 2)
0.03 acres of new wetland impacts for the proposed resizing of sediment basin D; and 3) 1,430
If of new stream impacts for stream bank stabilization in an effort to protect airport
property/structures and prevent further stream erosion in a reach of active erosion.
Please submit your comments to me by March 17, 2016. If you have any question please
contact me.
Have a good week,
David Brown, PG
Regulatory Specialist/Geologist
828-271-7980, ext. 232
david. w.browngus ace. army. mil
USACE Wilmington District - Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the
public. To help us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction
Survey located at http://coipsmapu.usace.army.mil/cm_apex/Pp=136:4:0

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
March 3, 2016
Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
Dear Mr. Brown:
Subject: Asheville Airport Runway, Taxiway, and Cargo Hold Expansion Permit Modification
Request (SAW -2010-00036); Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina
Log No. 4-2-11-261
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) reviewed the information provided in your letter
received on February 16, 2016. We provide the following comments in accordance with the
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661-667e); the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq.); and section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (Act).
Recent Consultation History
The Service provided comments on this project by letter dated March 9, 2015 wherein we noted
that no federally listed species occur on the site. In that letter, we also expressed our concern
with the proposed use of coal fly ash (known to contain high levels of arsenic, chromium, boron,
iron, and manganese) as fill material, and recommended that a minimum mitigation ratio of 2:1
be used for proposed impacts to wetlands.
Project Description
According to the information provided in your correspondence received on February 16, 2016,
the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority has requested a modification to an issued
Department of Army permit in order to meet Federal Aviation Administration design standards
at the Asheville Airport. The existing permit authorizes impacts to 1,796 linear feet of streams
and 0.9 acres of wetlands. Proposed modifications to the permit would authorize an additional
impacts to 90 linear feet of stream (culvert), 0.03 acres of wetlands (sediment basin resizing),
and 1,430 linear feet of streams (bank stabilization).

Federally Protected Species
At this time, the Service has no record of federally protected species at the site. However, please
be aware that obligations under section 7 of the Act must be reconsidered if. (1) new
information reveals impacts of this identified action that may affect listed species or critical
habitat in a manner not previously considered, (2) this action is subsequently modified in a
manner that was not considered in this review, or (3) a new species is listed or critical habitat is
determined that may be affected by the identified action.
Mitigation _
The permittee proposes to pay into the Anderson Farms Stream Mitigation Bank to mitigate for
90 linear feet of new impacts to streams associated with the proposed culvert expansion. The
Asheville area has experience rapid recent growth that is in part, due to an increase in
accessibility via air travel. The Asheville Regional Airport accommodated a record number of
passengers in 2015 and growth of use is expected into the future'. To ensure that the increased
development in the Asheville area is sustainable and responsible, we strongly encourage the
permittee to mitigate for proposed impacts to streams and wetlands at a minimum ratio of 2:1.
We offer the following comments in the interest of protecting fish and wildlife resources:
Stream Crossings
Bridges or spanning structures should be used for all permanent crossings of streams and
wetlands. Structures should span the channel and the floodplain to minimize impacts to aquatic
resources, allow for the movement of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and eliminate the need to
place fill in streams and floodplains.
Bridges should be designed and constructed so that no piers or bents are placed in the stream,
approaches and abutments do not constrict the stream channel, and the crossing is perpendicular
to the stream. Spanning some or all of the floodplain allows the stream to access its floodplain
and dissipate energy during high flows and also provides for terrestrial wildlife passage. When
bank stabilization is necessary, we recommend that the use of riprap be minimized and that a
riprap-free buffer zone be maintained under the bridge to allow for wildlife movement. If fill in
the floodplain is necessary, floodplain culverts should be added through the fill to allow the
stream access to the floodplain during high flows.
If bridges are not possible and culverts are the only option, we suggest using bottomless culverts.
Bottomless culverts preserve the natural stream substrate, create less disturbance during
construction and provide a more natural post construction channel. Culverts should be
sufficiently sized to mimic natural stream functions and habitats located at the crossing site;
allow for water depth, volume (flow), and velocity levels that will permit aquatic organism
passage; and accommodate the movement of debris and bed material during bank -full events.
Widening the stream channel must be avoided.
In the event that a traditional culvert is the only option, the culvert design should provide for a
minimum water depth in the structure during low-flow/dry periods. Sufficient water depth
should be maintained in all flow regimes to accommodate both the upstream and downstream
' http://flyavl.com/avl-announces-another-record-year-of-passenger-service/

movement of aquatic species. Water depth inside the culvert must be adequate for fish to be
completely immersed and all other aquatic life to move freely. The culvert should be designed
and installed at the same slope as the stream grade to maintain an acceptable water velocity for
aquatic life passage and for stream substrate characteristics to be retained within the culvert.
Where feasible, we recommend the use of multiple barrels in addition to the low flow barrel to
accommodate flood flows. Floodplain barrels should be placed on or near stream bank -full or
floodplain bench elevation and discharge on to floodplain benches. Where appropriate, install
sills on the upstream end of floodplain barrels to restrict or divert flow the base stream flow to a
single barrel. If the culvert is longer than 40 linear feet, alternating or notched baffles should be
installed in a manner that mimics the existing stream pattern. This will enhance the passage of
aquatic life by; (1) depositing and retaining sediment in the barrel, (2) maintaining channel depth
and flow regimes, and (3) providing resting places for fish and other aquatic organisms.
Measures to control sediment and erosion should be installed before any ground -disturbing
activities occur. Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and existing native vegetation
should be retained (if possible) to maintain riparian cover for fish and wildlife. Disturbed areas
should be revegetated with native grass and tree species as soon as the project is completed.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to review this project. Please contact Mr. Byron
Hamstead of our staff at 828/258-3939, Ext. 225, if you have any questions. In any future
correspondence concerning this project, please reference our Log Number 4-2-11-261.
Sincerely,
- - OrTigincrl signed - -
Janet A. Mizzi
Field Supervisor
ec:
Ms. Rebekah Reid, C1earWater Environmental Consultants
Ms. Andrea Leslie, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Mr. Zan Price, NC Division of Water Resources