20080755 Ver 1_More Info Received_20080602

J8- 0755
y
9 G
H
i\ ? Y.
OO?NT Y. NOPt
May 28, 2008
Metropolitan Sewerage District
OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
NC Division of Water Quality
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Services Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
Subject: Reems Creek Master Plan Interceptor Sewer Extension
Reems Creek [040302, 6-87-(10), C]
Dear Ms. Karoly:
?[R@RBWIRN
JUN 2 2008
DENR WATER 1.1 TY
WETLANDS AND STORMWATER BRANCH
The Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD) is sending this correspondence in response to the letter
from your office dated May 15, 2008 for the referenced project. In that letter, additional information
regarding cumulative impacts as indicated in Section XIV on the Preconstruction Notification (PCN
form) was requested.
The subject area, along Reems Creek in Northern Buncombe County, is currently experiencing
significant residential development and the trend is projected to continue well into the future. With
that being the case, the Town of Weavenrille and Buncombe County have identified this area as
needing public sewer service. MSD is currently designing this public sewer extension, and will own
and maintain it once it is installed.
The purpose of providing the public sewer is to supply proper sanitary sewer service to the entire
area, to protect the public health of the community, and to protect the water quality of Reems
Creek and the surrounding environment. With that being said, it is noted that the area is currently
utilizing septic tanks and drain fields to dispose of waste.
The proposed sewer extension is not intended in any way to manage land development in the area
nor to encourage additional development(s). Any developments in the area would first be subject to
appropriate approvals and guidelines of Buncombe County and the Town of Weaverville's Extra-
Territorial Jurisdiction.
With regards to possible impacts from other developments, please note that the area is already
subject to Buncombe County's Storm-water Ordinance. This ordinance requires developments one
acre in size and larger to obtain a storm-water permit. Included in such permit requirements are
appropriate elements (level spreaders, bio-retention, constructed wetlands and others as
necessary) to manage storm-water runoff. Additionally, Buncombe County also has a Flood Plain
Development Ordinance and a State delegated Erosion Control Program which developments in
the area must comply with. The numerous requirements in each of these Buncombe County
Protecting Our Natural Resources-
2028 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28804 TELEPHONE: [phone] FAX: [phone] WEBSITE: www.msdbc.org
managed programs should provide adequate protection for the water quality of Reems Creek.
Additional information on each of these programs can be found at www.buncombecounty.org.
As you are aware, the subject creek is a hatchery supported trout stream. With that in mind, MSD
has placed the alignment of the proposed sewer outside the 25 feet trout stream buffer in all areas
possible. The topography along this section of Reems Creek, however, will not allow construction
entirely outside the buffer. In those areas where the sewer will be less than 25 feet of the creek
bank, a trout buffer variance is being requested from NC DENR Land Quality Section. Proper
documentation for this request has been submitted to Mr. Mel Nevils, Chief of the Land Quality
Section.
In addition to the above Trout Buffer variance approval, MSD has also secured or is currently
requesting all other needed agency approvals for the subject work. Included in this list of requested
approvals are NC DENR Erosion and Sedimentation Control, US Army Corp of Engineers, and NC
Wildlife Resources Commission. This is pointed out to stress the fact that MSD plans to conform to
all regulations to protect the water quality of Reems Creek.
I trust that the above information sufficiently addresses your concerns regarding possible impacts
to Reems Creek. MSD looks forward to hearing from you regarding DWQ approval of the sewer
extension. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
0 ""-
Michael W. Stamey, P.E.
Project Manager
Cc: Kevin Barnett, NC DENR DWQ Regional Office
Ed Bradford, PE, MSD Capital Improvements Program Director