20170018 Ver 1_Corps of Engineer Correspondence_20151207

7i
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Wilmington District Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Division
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-1343
December 2, 2015
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
SAW -2010 -01825 -Wrightsville Beach CSDRP
Mr. Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor
c/o: Ms. Kathryn Mathews, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
Dear Mr. Benjamin:
Please reference the proposal by New Hanover County for the dredging of approximately of 853,931
cubic yards of beach compatible material from a borrow area located within Masonboro Inlet and a
portion of Banks Channel. Sand placement will occur along the oceanfront shoreline of Wrightsville
Beach (WB). The project encompasses both the inlet borrow area and the beneficial placement location.
The project is located in Masonboro Inlet, Banks Channel, and along the Atlantic Ocean, in Wrightsville
Beach, New Hanover County, North Carolina. The proposed project has been assigned Action ID # SAW -
2010 -01825.
Attached is a Supplemental Biological Assessment (BA) for the Wrightsville Beach Nourishment
Project dated August 2015 that is specific to the nourishment of Wrightsville Beach. This is a supplement
to the Carolina Beach CSDR 2012 BA. Based on an evaluation of the applicant's proposed construction
techniques, conservation measures, adherence to construction moratoriums and specific guidelines
described in the BA and the supplemental BA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has determined
that this project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the following species protected under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA):
Common Name
Latin Name
Listing
Critical Habitat (CH) Designated in
North Carolina
West Indian
Trichechus
Endangered
No
Manatee
manatus
Piping plover
Charadrius
Threatened
11
Yes (not in project area)
melodus
Red knot
Calidris can utus
Threatened
No
ruta
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougalhi
Endangered
No
dou allii
Seabeach
Amaranthus
Threatened
No
amaranth
pumilis
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydas
Endangered
No
Loggerhead sea
Caretta caretta
Threatened
Yes (not in project area)
turtle
Hawksbill sea
I
Eretmochelys
Endangered
No
turtle
imbricata

-2-
Kemp's Ridley sea
Lepidochelys
Endangered
No
turtle
kem i
Leatherback sea
Dermochelys
Endangered
No
turtle
coriacea
By copy of this letter, we request initiation of informal consultation and your concurrence on the
findings in the BA and supplemental BA, pursuant to 50 C.F.R. part 402.12 and 402.13. Furthermore, the
Corps has determined that the project would have no effect on any other federally listed threatened or
endangered species (managed by your agency), and/or modify their designated critical habitat.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Tyler Crumbley at the letterhead
address, by telephone at 910-251-4170 by fax at 910-251-4025, or by email at:
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
J Scott C. McLendon
Chief, Regulatory Division
Enclosure:
August 2015 Supplemental Biological Assessment for Wrightsville Beach
Copies Furnished (w/o enclosure):
Mr. Doug Huggett
Division of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality
400 Commerce Avenue
Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
Ms. Debra Wilson
Division of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Ms. Daren Higgins
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Mr. Chad Coburn
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
NCWRC-NCDEQ Office
Attn: Ms. Maria Dunn, NE Permit Coordinator
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, North Carolina 28479