20160199 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20160412

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Emily Greer
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
and
Karen Higgins
NC Division of Water Resources
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division
DATE: April 12, 2016
SUBJECT: Pender County Schools, c/o Kenneth Fuller, K-8 School Construction.
SAW -2016-00507
PCN No. 20160199
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the
public notice and pre -construction notification (PCN) with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife
resources. The preferred project site is an 87.47 acre tract located off Perkins Drive near Surf
City, NC. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Coastal Area
Management Act (G.S. 113A-100 through 113A-128), as amended, Sections 401 and 404 of the
Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
Pender County Schools proposes to impact 8.16 acres of freshwater, forested wetlands and 0.041
acre of isolated wetland for the construction of a K-8 school building with associated facilities.
Information contained within the public notice and PCN included an alternative analysis where
the applicant evaluated the purpose and need with consideration of different tracts of land and
site configurations. Alternatives were not pursued due to various reasons, including but not
limited to accessibility, functionality of the site for the stated purpose, and impacts to natural
resources. For the preferred alternative, the applicant proposes preservation of 48.77 acres of
remaining onsite wetlands to offset impacts to 4.877 acres of wetlands at a 10:1 ratio. The
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Pender County Schools Page 2
SAW -2016-00507
20160199
April 12, 2016
remaining 3.28 acres of impact would be mitigated by purchasing credits at a 2:1 ratio from the
Northeast Cape Fear Mitigation Bank (6.5 acre credits).
The NCWRC has reviewed the available information and is content with the alternative analysis
that was provided. Although avoidance and minimization was demonstrated, considerable
wetland mitigation is still necessary. The proposed ratios are considered acceptable and the 48.77
acres of wetlands remaining onsite will still provide valuable habitat opportunities and contribute
to the overall function of the watershed. Due to the High Quality Waters classification and open
shellfish designation of County Line Branch and Beckys Creek, it is important to mindful of final
site design and construction practices.
We appreciate the opportunity to review and comment on this project and look forward to any
additional information if it becomes available. If you need further assistance or additional
information please contact me at [phone] or at maria.dunn(c�ncwildlife.org