20151119 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20151021

Environmental
Quality
MEMORANDUM:
10
Maria Dunn
NCWRC
For WiRO
October 21, 2015
'-7J t ii :i:
PAT MCCRORY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary
4
OCT 2015
FROM: Heather Coats, Assistant Major Permits Coordinator
NCDEQ — Division of Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405 heather. coatsanncdenr.gov
Fax: [phone] (Courier 10-33)
SUBJECT: CAMA Application Review
Applicant: NC State Port Authority 47-87UN
Project Location: 1 Shipyard Blvd., adjacent to the Cape Fear River, in Wilm., New Hanover Co.
Proposed Project: relocation of an existing docking facility and performing of new dredging
Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the proposed project and
reverse this form to Heather Coots at the address above by November 10, 2015. If you
have any questions regarding the proposed project, contact Robb Mairs at [phone]
when appropriate, in-depth comments with supporting data is requested.
REPLY: This agency has no objection to the project as proposed.
/This agency has no comment on the proposed project.
__ZThis agency approves of the project only if the recommended changes
are incorporated. See attached.
This agency objects to the project for reasons described in the attached
comments.
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State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality
1601 Mall Service Center ( Raleigh, North Carolina 276991601 .. .
919-707-8690

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Heather Coats
Division of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
4^.
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation
DATE: November 6, 2015
SUBJECT: CAMA Dredge/Fill Permit Application for NC State Port Authority 47-87MM,
New Hanover County, North Carolina.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the permit
application with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. The project site is located at 1 Shipyard
Blvd, adjacent the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, 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.).
The NC State Port Authority (NCSPA) proposes to relocate an existing docking facility and perform new
dredging to accommodate larger ships. To increase the turning basin area, approximately 200' of an
existing concrete pier and platform would be removed along with relocation of associated mooring
dolphins and breasting cells. Once the structures are removed a new 56' by 50' loading platform would be
constructed from an existing pier to create an "L-shaped" configuration. An area 1000' by 320' would be
excavated to -44' MLLW, removing approximately 300,000 CY of material and impacting 320,000 R2 of
shallow water habitat. The proposed dredge footprint would increase the timing basin from 1,200' to
1,400'. Adjacent, authorized dredge depths within the shipyard are -42' MLLW with a -2' overdredge.
The application states excavated material would be placed within the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) Eagle Island Cell # 1. The Cape Fear River at this location is classified SC by the
Environmental Management Commission and is designated a primary nursery area (PNA) by the NC
Division of Marine Fisheries. To mitigate for impacts to the PNA, the NCSPA proposes to convey a
conservation easement on 13.4 acres of coastal marsh on NCSPA property adjacent the Brunswick River
Mailing Address: Division of inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center o Raleigh, NC 27699-1 W-CEIVE..D
Telephone: [phone] a Fax: [phone] DCM WILMINGT ON, NO

CMD _NCSPA Paget November6,2015
and contribute a payment of $750,000 toward the planning, permitting, and designing of the Lock and
Dam 2 fish passage on the Cape Fear River,
The NCWRC has reviewed the permit application and understands the project as proposed will have an
impact on marine PNA resources. In general we do not support prcjccts that significantly impact PNA
resources due to the importance of these areas to spawning adults, egg, larvae, andjuvenile aquatic
species. However, we understand the importance of the State Port and inability of the Port to serve the
larger sized vessels that now use the expanded Panama Canal. Although we believe aquatic resources may
be adversely affected, we would not object to the project moving forward through the appropriate
permitting processes provided the proposed impacts and mitigation are acceptable to the state and federal
marine resource agencies.
We appreciate the opportunity to review and continent on this permit application. If you need further
assistance or additional information, please contact me at [phone] or at
maria.dunn tt.newildlife.org
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