20160685 Ver 1_More Info Received_20160901

*;SPY
MG
LAND MANAGEMENT GROUP NG Ajc/ j
Environmental Consultants r
August 30, 2016
TO: Mr. John Policarpo
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
RE: Response to Request for Additional Information 14'
NWP 12 Application; EF Middleton (SR 1105) Water Main Improveme
St. James, NC (Brunswick County)
Action ID# SAW -2016-01384
:)@gu y
0 j 2016
Dear John:
Thank you for your letter dated 7/18/16 in which you request additional information
related to the NWP 12 application we submitted for the above -referenced utility line project in
Brunswick County, NC. Below is a response to each of your comments.
1. The proposed project has not avoided and minimized impacts to wetlands to the maximum
extent practicable. Please indicate why the water line cannot be directionally drilled under
the larger forested/scrub-shrub pocosin wetlands.
The project has been modified to directionally bore under Wetland Pockets F and G. This
reduces total temporary wetland impacts to 0.30 acre.
2. Please indicate if the proposed 20 foot right-of-way (ROW) will be permanently maintained or
if it will be restored to pre -construction vegetation conditions.
The 20 -foot wide ROW will be allowed to revegetate to pre -construction vegetation
conditions.
3. It appears that there are fire hydrants proposed to be constructed within wetlands. The
construction of fire hydrants within wetlands is considered a permanent impact and must be
quantified as such.
All but one of the fire hydrants have been relocated to uplands. The remaining hydrant (in
Wetland H) will permanently impact 1 sf of wetlands (see Site Map 4). Installation of the
hydrant in the wetlands will occur from the construction corridor.

4. Submitted plans indicate that the proposed 12 -inch diameter waterline will be directionally
drilled under EF Middleton Boulevard. Please address the following:
a) Please indicate the entry and exit pits on both sides of the directional drill,
Please see figures C-4 and C-5 for location of entry and exit pits.
b) Please indicate any pipe pullback areas for the proposed directional drill, and,
Please see Site Maps 2 and 3 for location of pipe pullback areas for Wetland F and G.
Note that the pullback area shown for the HDD through F and G is the same length as
the HDD. This is worse -case scenario, assuming they fuse all of the pipe at once and lay
it out. It would be laid on top of the ground during pullback until it all finally gets pulled
underground through F and G. There would be no additional impact on any of the
areas because they would have been cleared and cut already. The applicant is not
cutting any extra areas to allow for the pullback of the HDD pipe.
c) If pipe pullback areas are required on the west side of EF Middleton Boulevard, please
show all temporary construction impacts to wetlands. To minimize impacts to wetlands,
the Corps highly suggests that if pipe pullback areas are necessary, they be located on the
Seafield Drive side of the proposed construction.
As shown on Figure C-5, the pipe pullback area will be located in uplands off of Seafield
Drive.
5. Please describe how the construction of the water line will occur including where construction
materials will be stockpiled and which side of the ROW corridor construction will occur. All
temporary impacts within waters of the U.S., including wetlands, associated with the
construction of the proposed project (i.e., construction mats, pump -around systems, etc.)
should be quantified separately and shown as such on project plans. Please be advised that
stockpiling of material should not occur in wetlands. Please show stockpile areas on revised
plans.
Construction will occur within the 20' -wide construction corridor, as shown on the site
plans. Specific stockpile areas have not been determined yet and are typically chosen by the
contractor. However, the contractor will be instructed to stockpile material in uplands.
6. Per the requirements of Nationwide Permit (NWP)12, please provide a wetland restoration
plan to include grade and vegetation planting.
Attached is the restoration plan.
www.lmgroup.net • [e-mail] • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
3805 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite 15 • Wilmington, NC 28403

10
7. Please provide a breakdown of which wetland impact areas are emergent, forested, or scrub -
shrub.
Wetland pockets A, B, C, and E are mowed and would be considered emergent. Wetland
Pockets D, F, G, and H are forested. As noted above, the project has been revised to
directionally bore under Wetlands F and G. Below is a breakdown of impact by wetland
type. Note that all areas of impact will be allowed to revegetate.
Wetland Pocket
Emergent
Forested
A
2,652
B
2,561
C
4,538
D
379
E
1,570
F
Avoided with DD
G
Avoided with DD
H
1,467 (temp)
Fire Hydrant Impact:
1 sf (perm)
TOTAL IMPACT (sf)
11,321 sf (temp)
1,846 sf (temp)
1 sf (perm)
TOTAL IMPACT (ac)
0.26 ac (temp)
0.04 ac (temp)
1 sf (perm)
8. Per Regional General Condition 4.3.9, mitigation is required for any portion of the ROW
proposed to be permanently maintained through forested wetlands. However, due to the
potential permanent conversion impacts to forested and/or scrub -shrub wetlands, the Corps
has determined that mitigation is required to offset impacts to both habitat types. Please
submit an appropriate mitigation plan to offset permanent conversion impacts.
Approximately 0.04 acre of forested wetlands will be temporarily impacted to install the
proposed water line. However, these areas will be allowed to revegetate. Therefore, no
mitigation is proposed.
hope this response adequately addresses your comments. Please contact me if you
have any additional questions. Thank you for your assistance with this project.
Sincerely,
Digitally signed by Kimberlee Williams
Ki m be rl ee
DN: c iZimberlee Williams, o=LMG, ou,
email=[e-mail], c US
Williams Date: 2016.08.30 08:26:48 -04'00'
Kim Williams
Environmental Scientist
www.lmgroup.net • info@[mgroup.net • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
3805 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite 15 • Wilmington, NC 28403
3

Encl.
Cc: Mr. John Nichols, Brunswick County
Mr. Kevin Plemmons, McKim & Creed
Mr. Chad Coburn, NC DWR—courtesy copy
Ms. Jennifer Burdette, NC DWR — courtesy copy
www.lmgroup.net • [e-mail] • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
3805 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite 15 • Wilmington, NC 28403
4

RESTORATION PLAN
EF Middleton (SR 1105) Water Main Improvements
All work will occur within the 20' -wide construction corridor; as shown on the site plan. No
disturbance of soil or vegetation shall occur beyond this corridor. Where installation of the
utility line will occur by open -trench, material excavated from the trench will be stockpiled in
upland areas on site (specific areas to be determined by contractor). Following the placement
of pipe, the trench shall be immediately backfilled to preconstruction grade/elevations. Within
48 hours after pipe placement, the disturbed area will be seeded with a wetland seed mix and
allowed to revegetate. No vegetative maintenance of this area will occur.