20051666 All Versions_Other Agency Comments_20020828

28 August 2002
Brook Bertig
URS Corporation
2020 Ardmore Blvd. Room 205
Pittsburgh, PA 15221

Subject: Data request for the proposed Greenbrier Pipeline Project, Rockingham, Caswell,
Person, and Granville Counties, North Carolina. NCWRC No. P.01.11.17.01
Dear Mr./Ms. Bertig:

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have received your
information request. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), North Carolina
Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through 113A-10; I NCAC 25), North Carolina General
Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.), and the North Carolina Administrative Code 15A NCAC 101.0102.
We have received you request for information regarding aquatic species at stream crossings.
We appreciate receiving the additional information regarding the location of the proposed pipeline,
stream crossings, and crossing methods. Approximately 150 stream crossings are proposed.
Streams that will be affected by the project occur within the Roanoke, Neuse, and Tar-Pamlico River
basins. According to the tables that you provided, the primary crossing methods that will be used are
the dam and pump and the flume methods. Also, proposed are the wet trench method for some
crossings and the directional drill method for the crossing of the Dan River. Your inquiry requests
information regarding typical fish species, time of year restrictions, stream-stocking information, and
whether streams are designated warm or cold water streams.
According to the information that you provided, all of the streams are considered warm water
streams. Time of year restrictions for warm water streams are from 15 March through 30 June in
this area, except for streams within the Dan River system, which would be from 1._ February through .
j 30 June-The early date in February includes the spawning time of the Bigeye jumprock
(Scartomyzon ariommus); a state listed threatened species, which occurs in the Dan River system.
We do not generally stock warm water streams that don't support anadromous fishes. Typical fish
species information for the proposed streams can be found in Menhinick (1991) and Jenkins and
Burkhead (1993).
The proposed crossings will impact stream systems that support state or federal and state
listed species. We prefer and recommend the directional bore stream crossing method, and to begin
this crossing outside of the riparian buffer. However, if the applicant chooses to utilize the other
above-mentioned methods, we recommend that aquatic mussel surveys be conducted on perennial
streams 100 meters upstream of the proposed crossing, within the proposed crossing, and 300 meters

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28 August 2002
Greenbrier Pipeline Project
NCWRC No. P.01.11.17.11

downstream from the proposed project crossings. Surveys should be conducted by biologists with
both state and federal endangered species permits. Qualitative mussel sampling should be conducted
by visual (snorkel, SCUBA, or view scope) and tactile surveys and should be conducted during the
period 1 April to 31 October. These surveys should be timed to provide catch-per-unit effort
(CPUE). Specimens should be documented for identification confirmation with color digital
photographs in JPEG format. The resource agencies should be provided a complete compilation of
the results of the survey. If species with federal protection status are encountered, sampling
activities should cease and findings should be immediately reported to Dale Suiter of the US Fish and
Wildlife Service at [phone] and Judy Ratcliffe of the NCWRC at (919) 7734276.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in the early planning stages for this project.
If we can be of further assistance, please contact our office at [phone].

Sincerely,

Danielle R. Pender
Piedmont Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program

cc: Dale Suiter, USFWS
Literature cited:

Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries
Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Menhinick, E. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission, Raleigh.