20170364 Ver 1_Bridge 145 Yancey cover letter_20170329

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPAR'I'MEN'T OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
March 28, 2017
Ms. Lori Beckwith
US Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
Subject: Nationwide Permit #14
Bridge 990145, SR 1340 McKinney Branch Road
State Project No. 17BP.13.R.80
Yancey CounTy, NC
Dear Ms. Beckwith:
JAMES H. "IitoGDON, III
SECREiAAY
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 1340 McKinney Branch Road, Yancey County, NC.
We propose to replace the existing 16' 3" timber bridge with a single barrel reinforced concrete
box culvert (12' wide x 5' high x 57' long). Stream slope at the site is 3.8%. Alternating sills
and bailes will be installed to maintain channel dimension and profile. Culvert installation will
result in permanent impact to 57 linear feet (LF) of McKinney Branch with an additional 45 LF
of floodplain bench/bank stabilization. Two 48" corrugated steel pipes will carry the stream for
a 29' long detour. Temporary impacts to 125 LF of the sheam are necessary for
dewatering/diversion during construction. The stream is approximately 3' wide and 6" with a
predominately sand, gravel, and cobble substrate with scattered small boulders. McKinney
Branch is classified as Class C, Trout.
Existing channel morphology will be maintained upstream and downsUeam 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
streams.
This project may impact potentially suitable northern long-eared bat (Myotis septenlrionalis)
(NLEB) summer roosting habitat via tree cleazing. Following the SLOPES from NWP Regional
Condition 3.13, the project is located outside of a red HtJC. The underside of the bridge could
not be surveyed for evidence of bat presence/usage due to its height; it was only 2.5' above the
creek. No trees will be cleared for the project. No effect on the remaining Yancey County list of
federally protected species (threatened or endangered) or designated critical habitat will occur.
Marella 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.
MailingAddress: Te%phone: (828)251L171 Location:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTA770N Fac: [phone] 55 ORANGE STREEf
DIVISION"f'f�t7'EEN CuammerService: 1-877d68�t968 AS}IEW.LE,NC 28801-2340
POST OFFICE BOX 3279

Lori Beckwith
Page —2 Bridge 990145, Yancey County
March 28, 2017
As a part of the 401 Certification process, the project was processed through the DOT
Programmatic Ageement for Minor Project as required 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 Marla Chambers, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission Western Region Coordinator, to comment directly to the Corps conceming the
permit request.
By copy of this letter, we are asking the Area Roadside Field Operations Engineer, to comment
on the above project. McKinney Branch is classified as Class C, Trout.. The project will not
require a trout buffer vaziance.
By copy of this letter, I am forwarding 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 Office for review and wmment. Please charge the
application fee of $240.00 to WBS element # 17BP.13.R.80. Please forward 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,
Q�?�. �1 ��.'
Roger D. Bryan
Division 13 Environmental Officer
Enclosures
cc: J.J. Swain, Jr., P.E.
Chris Medlin, P.E.
Reid Whitehead, P.E, CPESC
Kevin Barnett
Marla Chambers
Kristi Lynn Carpenter
Mazella Buncick