20170352 Ver 1_Bridge 99 Yancey cover letter_20170328

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
March 27, 2017
Ms. Lori Beckwith
US Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
Subject: Nationwide Permit #14
Bridge 990099, SR 1355 Bailey Branch Road
State Project No. 17BP.13.R.75
Yancey County, NC
Deaz Ms. Beckwith:
JaMEs H. T[zoGnoN, III
SECRETARY
I have enclosed a set of plans, a PCN application for NWP #14, and a vicinity map relative to the
proposed bridge replacement project on SR 1355 Bailey Branch Road, Yancey County, NC.
We propose to replace the e�cisting 16' long timber bridge with a double barrel box culvert
(2@5'x5'x72') with a low flow barrel. Stream slope at the site is 1.8%. Cross vanes will be
installed to maintain channel dimension and profile. Culvert installation will result in permanent
impact to 72 lineaz feet (LF) of Bailey Branch with an additional 115 LF of floodplain
bench/cross vanes. Temporary impacts to 200 LF of the stream are necessary for
dewatering/diversion during construcrion; an additiona142 LF wili be impacted by a temporary
detour. The stream is appro�cimately 3 feet wide with predominately sand, gravel, and cobble
substrate with scattered small boulders. Bailey Branch is classified as Class C.
Euisting channel morphology will be maintained upstream and downstream of the culvert.
Riparian vegetation will be reestablished along disturbed areas associated with the project.
Stormwater will be diverted through grass-lined ditches or vegetated buffers prior to entering
slreams.
This project may impact potentially suitable northern long-eazed bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
(NLEB) suauner roosting habitat via tree clearing. Following the SLOPES from NWP Regional
Condition 3.13, the project is located outside of a red HiJC. The bridge could not be surveyed
for bat presence/usage due to its pro�cimity to the stream; it was only 2-2.5 feet above the water
level. One tree will be cleazed for the project. No effect on the remaining Yancey County list of
federally protected species (tkueatened or endangered) or designated critical habitat will occur.
Mazella Buncick of the USFWS is be copied on the application since Yancey County tributaries
drain to Designated Critical Habitat stated in NWP Regional Condition 2.1.
MRilingAddress:
NC DEPARTMP.N'1' OF TRANSPORTATION
POST OFFICE BOX 3279
Telephone: (S28)251-6171
Faa: [phone]
Custamer Service: 1-877-368-4968
LacaBon:
55 ORANGE SIREET
ASfIEVII.LE, NC 28801-2340

Lori Beckwith
Page —2 Bridge 990099, Yancey County
March 27, 2017
As a part of the 401 Certification process, the project was processed through the DOT
Programmatic Agreement for Minor Project as requued by Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and GS 121-12(a). No Historic Resources will be affected.
These forms are attached for the Corps file.
By copy of this letter, we request Mazla Chambers, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission Western Region Coordinator, to comment directly to the Corps concerning the
permit request.
By copy of this letter, we are asking the Area Roadside Field Operations Engineer, to comment
on the above project. Bailey Branch is classified as Class C. The project will not require a trout
buffer variance.
By copy of this letter, I am forwazding one electronic copy of the application package to Kristi
Lynn Carpenter, NC Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting Unit with cc to
Kevin Barnett, NC DWR Asheville Regional O�ce for review and comment. Please chazge the
application fee of $240.00 to WBS element # 17BP.13.R.75. Please forwazd comments directly
to the Corps with copy to Division 13 Environmental Officer.
Your earliest consideration for this request would be greatly appreciated if you have any
questions or information needs, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
4� ��
Roger . ryan
Division 13 Environmental O�cer
Enclosures
cc: J.J. Swain, Jr., P.E.
Chris Medlin, P.E.
Reid Whitehead, P.E., CPESC
Kevin Barnett
Marla Chambers
Kristi Lynn Carpenter
Marella Buncick