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Home My WebLink AboutSDI-5 (3)DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 69 DARLINGTON AVENUE WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343 REPLY TO ATTENTION OF: January 7, 2016 :) i P1 H 201 Regulatory Division D�¢ E OU L 0,,&1 P.0 _11 Re: Responses to Comments Generated: Shallow Draft Inlet -5 (SDI -5), Towns of Emerald Isle, Topsail Beach, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and New Hanover County; Action ID Numbers SAW -2014-02004, SAW -2004-02005, SAW -2014-02006, SAW -2014-02007, and SAW -2014- 02009 O'Brien and Gere Engineers, Inc. Attn: Mr. Daniel Ramsey 3214 Charles B. Root Wynd, Suite 130 Raleigh, North Carolina 27612 Dear Mr. Ramsey: Please allow this letter to serve as continued communication regarding the response letter received on October 2nd, 2015. Through additional review of your submitted responses, the Corps would like to further address a few of the items from your letter and memorialize the acceptance of your comment response letter. Please find the following items that were addressed: Response to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Comments: Your response stated that the proposed action will not dredge deeper than is currently federally -authorized and that vibracore data have been reviewed by Jonathan Howell of the NCDCM and deemed to be of sufficient recovery depth, frequency and spacing to adequately characterize the beach compatibility is sufficient from the Corps' perspective. It is the Corps perspective that sufficient sediment analyses have been conducted and all concerns will be addressed under State 401 and CZMA conditions will be made part of the DA permit conditions. 2.) Response sufficient. 3.) The BA has been received and the request to initiate consultation was sent to USFWS on October 21, 2015. All required information was included and received and consultation has been initiated. The USFWS expects to provide a batched Biological Opinion no later than March 9, 2013. -2 - Responses to the Corps' Position and Request for Information 1.) The response to maintain the navigable channel along the natural, deepwater channel is acceptable provided the proposed plans, including bathymetric surveys, are submitted to the Corps (Navigation Branch) at least 10 days prior to the pre -construction meeting to allow for review. 2.) The Corps concurs with your response. 3.) The Corps concurs with your response. A memo is currently being drafted eliminating the requirement for a 408 study. 4.) The Corps concurs with your response. A memo is currently being drafted eliminating the requirement for a 408 study. 5.) The Corps concurs with your response. 6.) The Corps concurs with your response and will address these in permit conditions. 7.) The Corps will address this issue in permit conditions. 8.) The Corps concurs with your response. 9.) The Corps request that you provide additional detail regarding the methodology, equipment, and construction sequences that will be utilized when conducting nearshore disposal. Please be advised that any DA authorization for this project will be required to comply with special conditions governing construction moratoria for sea turtles, sturgeon, and shorebirds, dredge operations to include adherence to Dredge Quality Management (DQM) (previously called "Silent Inspector") hopper dredging (if applicable), as well as conditions outlined in the Biological Opinions and other consultation documents to address protection of nesting and marine sea turtles. Additionally, all requirements of the State's Water Quality certification and Coastal Zone Management Consistency Determination will be made conditions of the DA permit. 10.) The Corps has conducted additional correspondence with the SHPO and confirmed that no additional consultation is required. The Corps will address any potential for impacts to unknown cultural resources with permit conditions. 11.) The formal consultation for species managed by the NMFS (PRD) has been withdrawn and the proposal may be conducted under the existing SARBO. Permit conditions will reflect this. Consultation for species managed by the USFWS will be covered under the Biological Opinion currently under consultation. -3 - Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Tyler Crumbley at 910-251-4170. Sincerely, Al " Dale Beter Field Office Chief, Wilmington Field Office Copies Furnished: CESAW-RG/McLendon CESAW-RG/Wicker CESAW-RG-L/Beter CESAW-RG-L/Crumbley CESAW-OP-N/Horton CESAW-ECP-PE/Owens CESAW-OC/McCorcle Ms. Karen Higgins Division of Water Resources North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 Mr. Pete Benjamin U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726 Mr. Fritz Rohde National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Service Pivers Island Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 M Mr. Pace Wilber National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Division 21.9 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, South Carolina 29412-9110 Mr. Todd Allen Bowers US EPA Region 4 Life Scientist Water Protection Division 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, Georigia 30303-8960 Ms. Joanne Steenhuis Division of Water Resources North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 Mr. Chad Coburn Division of Water Resources North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 Ms. Debbie Wilson Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 Ms. Tara MacPherson Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405