20060507 Ver 1_General Correspondence_20080101

Robert J. Goldstein and Associates, Inc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
1221 Corporation Parkway, Suite 100 Since 1985 Tel: [phone] or [phone]
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610 Fax: [phone]
e-mail: rgoldstein(&RJGAcarolina com website: www.rigacarolina.com
03 January 2008
Ms. Amy Chapman
NC Division of Water Quality
2321 Crabtree Blvd. 97
Raleigh, NC 27604
RE: Oxford Road Major and Minor Buffer Variances (DWQ Numbers: 06-0508, and 06-0507).
Dear Ms. Chapman:
On July 24th, and April 19th of 2006, NC DWQ issued both Major and Minor variances for impacts to
protected Neuse River Riparian Area Buffers associated with proposed residential construction along
Oxford Branch, a tributary of Crabtree Creek in Raleigh NC. Cumulative mitigation for the proposed
activities included payment into the NC EEP Program, removal of an existing residential stormwater
discharge, planting of native buffer vegetation, the use of porous concrete or gravel for driveway
construction, prior approval of a stormwater and rain garden design for the property, and the placement of
deed notifications on future owners.
With regard to the riparian buffer planting deadline, most recently extended by you on 27 August 2007
until January 31, 2008, the ongoing drought has resulted in unfavorable planting conditions. The project
owner, Mr. Manasse has spoken with the City or Raleigh Public Utilities Department and requested a
waiver from watering restrictions to irrigate the new plantings. However, his request was denied. Because
of the unlikely survival of many of the proposed plantings, we are once again contacting you with a request
to extend the current deadline. With the uncertainty of the duration of the ongoing drought, we request that
the planting deadline be extended until City of Raleigh water restrictions are lifted, plus a reasonable
timeframe to secure and install the new vegetation. Thank you in advance for any extension you are able to
provide.
Please mail the extension to:
NOTE: Change of address
Ms. Mary Stewart Manasse
2720 Montgomery Street
Durham, NC 27705
Thanks,
Chris Hopper, RJG&A
Christopher D. Hopper, Biologist
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
1221 Corporation Parkway, Suite 100
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
[phone]; fax [phone]
URL: www.rjgaCarolina.coni
email: choppera
,rigaCarolina.coin
JAN 7 2008
DENR ER QUALIT'1 RANCH
j1pt1DS AND ST0VkMWA,ER13
NEPA & SEPA Environmental Assessments •EnvironmentalImpact Studies • Jurisdictional Wetland & Stream Buffer Delineations • 404 - 401 Permits •
GISIGPS Mapping • Water Quality Monitoring •Stream & Wetland Mitigation and Restoration • Endangered Species Surveys & Monitoring
• Biological Assessments & Conservation Plans • Water Intakes & Reservoirs • Water Lines & Treatment Plants • Sewerlines & Wastewater Treatment
• Instream Flow Analyses • Interbasin Transfer Certificates • Lake Management & Watershed Modeling *Archaeological Surveys and Testing • Solid
Waste Landfills •Phase I Environmental Site Assessments 0 Parks & Greenways Planning 0 CWMTF Grant Applications