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Home My WebLink About20161000 Ver 1_Eco Energy Charlotte - DEQ Response Letter_20161130 November 29, 2016 Consulting Project1515570 Engineers and Scientists Via e-mail: alan.johnson@ncdenr.gov Mr.Alan Johnson Senior Environmental Specialist NCDENR Division of Water Resources 610 East Center Ave., Suite 301 Mooresville, North Carolina28115 Re: Additional InformationRequest-Eco-Energy Charlotte Intermodal Facility Project Dear Mr.Johnson, Thank you for taking the time to meet with us earlier this month. This letterprovidesthe information you requested onsite, including stream and pipe measurements and additional details on the project development.Also, enclosed for your review please find the full site plan set. Stream Measurements Eastern stream: pipe length to be replaced: 60 feet lengthbetween the Transflo culvert (to the north) and the existing culvert onsite: 89 feet length between the Transflo culvert and the proposed culvert onsite: 59 feet Western stream pipe length to be removed: 60 feet Culvert Design Sheet CD3.0 of the enclosed site plan set provides the detail for the proposed culvert structure. The box culvert design is based on the City of Charlotte’s Land Development Standards. This design, which isspecific to the proposed project,has been discussed with the City of Charlotte’s Stormwater and Erosion Control Reviewers. The concrete wingwall with splash pad replaces the need for riprap placement within the stream channel because it provides up-gradient protection. Project Purpose Theoverall intent of the project is to provide a more efficienttransport system for government- mandated alternative fuels that is safer for the general public and local environment. The proposed project will streamline the supply chain for alternative fuels into the City of Charlotte and replace single manifest trucks to tank farm with a direct pipeline. A delivery rate of 1 unit train of ethanol per week will reduce single 8,000-gallon tractor trailer traffic by 18,000 trips per www.geiconsultants.comGEI Consultants, Inc., P.C. 110 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 204 Huntington Station,NY11746 631.760.9300; fax 631.760.9301 Mr. Alan Johnson-2-November 29, 2016 year. The proposed project will provide a safer process for transporting ethanol by introducing a fully contained operation which in turn would; reduce truck traffic in the Charlotte-Mecklenberg area improving roadway safety, limit handling of the product thereby reducing the potential for spills, provide increased safety for workers, and decrease the environmental effects from trucking ethanol into Charlotte. As Charlotte grows and the demand for ethanol increases, the facility would allow for increased volume without added ecological and environmental impacts. Project Planning–Constraints and Efforts to Avoid/Minimize/MitigateImpacts Following a real estate search based on the project site requirements located within the greater Charlotte area, no feasible alternative propertieswere identified.The project site must be zoned for Industrial use and have a pathway to an existing rail line and tank farm. The proposed project site is zoned Industrial and the proposed rail yard will connect to the existing CSX spur track adjacent to an existing Transflo rail yard to the northwest and to the Kinder Morgan tank farm by pipeline.The rail yard must be configured and angled as proposed to connect with theexisting railway to the north. A rail yard receiving a unit train of 96 cars requires an area approximately 1,200 feet long by 300 feet wide. The available space on the property allows the proposed rail yard to be configured on the project site to minimize environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable while maintaining the required alignment to the adjoining rail facility.The project site has three (3) stream segments transecting the property. The project layout has been designed to minimize direct stream impacts and buffer disturbance while accounting for the required rail geometry. The proposed project disturbance is focused along a section of one of the streams that is already piped.Additionally, theproject footprint is adjacent to the industrially developed area to the north leaving a wooded buffer to the south. The proposed project design includes approved storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce surface flow volume and improve water quality. The constructed wet pond will store and treat run off from the proposed rail yard.The proposed project will also include the application of a combination of City of Charlotte Buffer Restoration andBuffer Preservation, as well as Stream Restoration and NC DMS StreamMitigation Credits. Theproposed mitigation techniques and storm water BMPs are measures that will help contribute to the protection of the water quality downstream of the project site. Western Stream Restoration We understand the western stream restoration will require grading of streambanks and buffer plantings after the section of pipe is removed. A stream restoration plan is being developed and will be submitted for your review. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate contact me at 631 479-3509; ebrosnan@geiconsultants.com. Sincerely, GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. Erin Brosnan Ecologist/Restoration Specialist EB:kmh Enclosures c:S.Chambers (CEPA) J.Stynchula, MB Billerman(GEI) I:\\Admin\\Projects\\Ecology\\Chambers Paw Creek Charlotte NC\\Permit Application\\Eco Energy Charlotte -DEQ Response Letter.docx