20160672 Ver 1_20160603_letter_Service to NCDOT_Bridge 670126_20160707

United S�a�es Departmenr of the Inter�ar
�=IS4-I AND WILDL[�E SERVICE
Raleibh �ield O�ce
Pas4 Office Box 33726
Ralei�h, North Carolina 27636-3726
lune 3; 2016
PHi1ip S. Harris IIL P.E._ C.P.M.
North Ca��l��,a Department �f Transportati�n
Pro�ect Deveiopment and Environmen�.al Analysis
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Car�1�Ra 27699-159$
Dear Mr. Harris:
T�is 1�«er i5 in response t� your �etter �f June 2, 2016 whiuh pruvided the U.S. Fisn and w ildlife
Service �5:.��4e� with the bioIogical conclusion af ��e Non� Car�lina DepaRmen� �f T,dnspo� ��ion
(NCDOT) �h�< <he replace��,eu� af Bridge No. 126 on SR 1526 ��er Lick Creek in O��ge County
may affect, but ;5 n�,t likely t� aaversely affl.4t tH� rederaIlr endangered dwarf wedg�rnussel
�Alasmrdonta heterodon�. in addiii�n, NCDOT has de�ermined �ha< <he projec� will have n� �ttect on
�he federally e►�dangered Mi�haun's sumac (Rhus miGh�uxir� and s�,��uth cvneflower �Echirracea
la�vigata). NCDOT proposes t� �:.place Brid�e No. 1�6 wiih a�� fee� 11 inch x 10 fee� 4 inch
aluminum box �ulver�. These commen�s are provided ;n accordance with Section 7 of thG
Endang�red Species Act (ESA} �f 1973, as am�nded (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543�.
According �o inf�r,na�i�n provided, a,«ussel survey was c�nducted at the p��ject site on ]anu�� 21,
20I6. The survey ext�nded 100 meters �patream and 400 meters downsueain af SR 1526. No
s�,ecimens of dwarf wedgemussel wer� abserved. Only „nall ��umbers of �wa ����,m�n species �f
mu�sels were obse� ��d. In additian, pla��t aurveys condu�tLd �n May 17, 20] 6 d�d R�.t identiry any
sp�cimens of Michaux� s aumac or smooth coneflower.
Based on the mu5sel survey resuIts and �ther available i�f�.rmation; the Service concurs wiih yaur
conclusion tna� ine proposec� prvjec� may affect, bu� is no� likely �o adver�ely affec< <he dwarf
wedgemussel. We a15o concur with y�ur c�nclusion that the project wil! have n� effect on
Michaux�s svmac and smoou� coneflower. we believe �ha< <he requiremen�s of Sec4i�n 7(a}(2) of �he
ESA ha�e beer� sa�is�ed. We remind yvv that obligations under Section 7 consuitatiun must be
reconsidered if: {1) n�w information reveaI� ��pacts of this identifiea action zhat may affec� lis�ed
species �r �ri�ical habi�a� in a manner na� previously considc�Gd in �his review; (2) �hi� action is
subsequently modified in a,�,a�,ner that was not c�nsidered in this review; �r �3� a new srecies is
li�ted �,r critical habitat determined ihai may be affe�i�d by �his iden�ified a��ian.
The Service appreciates the �pportunity ta review thia �.ro�ect. 1f yo� have any quesiions regarding
our resp�nse, please conr.ac� Mr. Gary J�rdan a� [phone] (Ex►. 32).
Sincerely.
�Pete Ben,�a in
r�eld Sup�rv�sur

Elec�roni� ��py: David Bailey_ USACE- Wake Fores�, NC
Travis Wils��, NCWRC, Creedmaor, NC
rerry rarker, NCDQT, Greensbor�_ NC
.TeffH�mph�ll, NCDOT, Raleigh, NC