20071134 Ver 1_Close out letter R-2518A & R-2518B, Madison and Yancey Cos_20170616

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ASHEVILLE REGULATORY FIELD OFFICE
151 PATTON AVENUE, ROOM 208
x�PLY To ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28801-5006
ATTENTION OF:
June 16, 2017
Regulatory Division
Action ID: SAW-2007-02197-357/300 (TIP Nos. R-2518A & R-2518B)
Mr. Phillip S. Harris, III, P.E., Unit Head
Environmental Analysis Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1598
Dear Mr. Harris:
I refer to your revised request dated May 25, 2017, concerning agency acknowledgement
that the stream mitigation sites referenced in your letter, and located on the R-2518A & R-2518B
projects in Madison and Yancey Counties, North Carolina, do not require further monitoring.
The stream preservation, enhancement, and restoration activities at these sites were used to
partially offset stream impacts associated with the R-2518A & R-2518B projects, as authorized
by Department of the Army permit number SAW-2007-02197-357/300.
Due to future repairs, Sites I and 7 were not included in your request for close out.
Additionally, Site 12 was not included in your request due to the need to establish right-of-way
and install a fence.
I also refer to the site visit conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, the North Carolina Division of Water Resources, the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) on May 24, 2017. Based on past monitoring reports and site inspections, to include the
inspection on May 24, 2017, we concur that you have completed the requirements to monitor the
sites that were listed in your revised letter of May 25, 2017, and no further monitoring of these
sites is required.
As discussed previously, and during the office meeting of May 23, 2017, due to utility
impacts that occurred at a number of mitigation sites in the R-2518A project area, these areas did
not produce the anticipated amount of compensatory mitigation. To address this deficiency,
NCDOT has agreed to provide additional mitigation to offset the outstanding 155 linear feet of
compensatory mitigation at a 2:1 ratio. NCDOT expects to update the agencies in July or August
of this year as to the feasibility of providing this outstanding compensatory mitigation via a
segment of the Grassy Creek site in Spruce Pine.

-2-
If you determine that you will not be able to update the team regarding the feasibility of the
Grassy Creek Site by September 11, 2017, or if you determine that the Grassy Creek site is not
feasible for providing the outstanding compensatory mitigation, please submit an acceptance
letter from the North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMS) for the remaining
amount of outstanding compensatory mitigation by September 15, 2017. Note that if no NCDMS
mitigation credits are available in the 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code of the impacts, the required
mitigation ratio will be higher than 2:1.
Please contact me at [phone], ext. 4223 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Digitally signed by
BECKWITH.LORETT DN:Kc--WUS,oOU.S Go emment ou� DoD,
A.ANN.1173452264 �n=6ECKWl HS ORETfA.ANN.1173452264
Date: 2017.06.16 17:31:23 -04'00'
Lori Beckwith
Regulatory Project Manager
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Copies furnished via email:
Mr. Monte Matthews (USACE)
Ms. Marella Buncick, USFWS
Ms. Amy Chapman, NCDWR
Ms. Virginia Baker, NCDWR
Mr. Kevin Barnett, NCDWR
Ms. Marla Chambers, NCWRC