US 17 Improvements in Bridgeton

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PROGRAM
May 14, 2008
Mr. William Wescott
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Washington Regulatory Field Office
Post Office Box 1000
Washington, North Carolina 27889-1000
Dear Mr. Wescott:
Subject: EEP Mitigation Acceptance Letter:
R-3403AA/AB, US 17 Improvements in Bridgeton, Craven
County; Neuse River Basin (Cataloging Unit 03020204); Southern
Outer Coastal Plain (SOCP) Eco-Region
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Ecosystem Enhancement
Program (EEP) will provide the compensatory stream and riparian wetland mitigation
and the buffer mitigation for the unavoidable impact associated with the above referenced
project. As indicated in the NCDOT's mitigation request dated May 14, 2008, stream
and riparian wetland mitigation from EEP is required for approximately 443 feet of warm
stream impacts and 1.18 acres of riparian wetland impacts.
Also, this project will impact buffers located in CU 03020204 of the Neuse River
Basin. The total buffer impacts are 3,662 square feet in Zone 1 and 4,445 square feet in
Zone 2 with a total buffer mitigation requirement of 17,653.5 square feet. If the buffer
impacts or the amount of mitigation required from EEP increases or decreases for this
project, then this mitigation acceptance letter will no longer be valid and a new mitigation
acceptance letter will be required. All buffer mitigation requests and approvals are
administrated through the Riparian Restoration Buffer Fund (Fund 2982).
The NCDOT will be responsible to ensure that the appropriate compensation for
the buffer mitigation will be provided in the agreed upon method of fund transfer. Upon
receipt of the NCDWQ's Buffer Authorization Certification, EEP will transfer funds
from Fund 2984 (Tri-Party MOA Account) into Fund 2982 and commit to provide the
appropriate buffer mitigation to offset the impacts associated with this project.
FKA,
NCDENR
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 21699-1652 / 919-115-041
6 / www.nceep.net
Stream and riparian wetland mitigation associated with this project will be
provided in accordance with Section X of the Amendment No. 2 to the Memorandum of
Agreement between the N. C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the N.
C. Department of Transportation, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers fully executed
on March 8, 2007 (Tri-Party MOA). EEP commits to implement sufficient stream
mitigation up to 886 stream credits and 2.36 riparian wetland credits to offset the impacts
associated with this project by the end of the MOA year in which this project is
permitted. If the above referenced impact amounts are revised, then this mitigation
acceptance letter will no longer be valid and a new mitigation acceptance letter will be
required from EEP.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Beth
Harmon at 919-715-1929.
Sincerely,
0EEP iam. Gilmore, P.E.
Dire for
cc: Mr. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., NCDOT-PDEA
Mr. Brian Wrenn, Division of Water Quality, Wetlands/401 Unit
File: R-3403AA/AB
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stem
PROGRAM
May 14, 2008
Mr. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
Environmental Management Director
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548
Dear Dr. Thorpe:
Subject: EEP Mitigation Acceptance Letter:
R-3403AA/AB, US 17 Improvements at Bridgeton, Craven
County
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Ecosystem Enhancement
Program (EEP) will provide the compensatory stream and riparian wetland mitigation
and buffer mitigation for the subject project. Based on the information supplied by you
on May 14, 2008, the impacts are located in CU 03020204 of the Neuse River Basin in
the Southern Outer Coastal Plain (SOCP) Eco-Region, and are as follows:
Warm Stream: 443 feet
Riparian Wetland: 1.18 acres
Buffer - Zone 1: 3,662 square feet
Buffer - Zone 2: 4,445 square feet
All buffer mitigation requests and approvals are administrated through the
Riparian Restoration Buffer Fund. The NCDOT will be responsible to ensure that
appropriate compensation for the buffer mitigation will be provided in the agreed upon
method of fund transfer. Upon receipt of the NCDWQ's Buffer Authorization
Certification, EEP will transfer funds from Tri-Party MOA Fund into the Riparian
Restoration Buffer Fund. Upon completion of transfer payment, NCDOT will have
completed its riparian buffer mitigation responsibility for TIP R-3403AA/AB.
WWI
NCDENR
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1652 / 919-715-0476 / www.nceep.net
Subsequently, EEP will conduct a review of current MOA mitigation projects in the river
basin to determine if available buffer mitigation credits exist. If there are buffer
mitigation credits available, then the Riparian Restoration Buffer Fund will purchase the
appropriate amount of buffer mitigation credits from Tri-Party MOA Fund.
EEP commits to implementing sufficient stream and riparian wetland mitigation
credits to offset the impacts associated with this project by the end of the MOA Year in
which this project is permitted, in accordance with Section X of the Amendment No. 2 to
the Memorandum of Agreement between the North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers, fully executed on March 8, 2007. If the above referenced
stream or buffer impact amounts are revised, then this mitigation acceptance letter will no
longer be valid and a new mitigation acceptance letter will be required from EEP.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Beth
Harmon at 919-715-1929.
Sincerely,
illia D. Gilmore,.E.
?&(VEEP D' ector
cc: Mr. William Wescott, USACE - Washington Regulatory Field Office
Mr. Brian Wrenn, Division of Water Quality, Wetlands/401 Unit
File: R-3403AA/AB