20081231 Ver 1_More Info Received_20080825

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September 26, 2008
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Post Office Box 1890
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-1890
Reference: Additional Information
Nationwide Permit No. 12 Application
PNG Line 59 Replacement
Cumberland County, North Carolina
S&ME Project No. 1357-08-502
Dear Mr. Smith:
*--S&ME
Celebrating 35 Years
1973.2008
OCT ER@Lg0W[9 0
2 2008
DENR - WATER QUALITY
WETLANDS AND STORMWATER BRANCH
This letter is in reference to an August 8, 2008 Nationwide Permit (NWP) No. 12
application submitted to your office on behalf of our client, Piedmont Natural Gas
(PNG), for impacts to waters of the U.S.
The project corridor is generally located west of the intersection of N.C.S.R. 1714 (River
Road) and Beard Road and east of the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The project consists of an approximately 30-foot wide corridor that originates at a
junction with an existing 10-inch natural gas line (35.1217° N, 78.5515° W) and extends
southeast for approximately 5,460 linear feet (if) to its tie-in to an existing four-inch
natural gas line that parallels River Road. The approximate coordinates of the project
terminus are 35.1085° N, 78.8473° W.
As specified in the application, the project is required to replace a segment of existing,
aging line that is too shallow to allow for continued use of portions of the existing
easement as agricultural field due to dangers of plowing over the shallow pipe.
Accordingly, the proposed project will involve replacement of an approximately one-mile
segment of the aging, two-inch natural gas pipeline with a new four-inch pipeline. The
width of the new permanent utility easement will be 10 feet. In addition, a temporary
construction easement (TCE) of 20 feet will be utilized to facilitate construction.
Permanent, project-wide wetland impacts will be 0.02 acre, and permanent, project-wide
impacts to jurisdictional tributaries (perennial RPW) will be 51 If. An additional 0.26
acre of wetland and 2361f of stream will be temporarily impacted.
During an August 28, 2008 telephone conversation with our Joey Lawler, you indicated
that you would prefer that bio-stabilization techniques be employed at stream crossings
rather than riprap, as was proposed in the original permit application. Riprap placed
below the ordinary high water mark is generally used to provide stabilization at crossings
S&ME, INC. / 9751 Southern Pine Boulevard / Charlotte, NC 28273-5560 / p 704.523.4726 f 704.525.3953 / www.smeinc.com
Additional Information S&ME Project No. 1357-08-502
PNG Line 59 Replacement September 26, 2008
where high flows are anticipated. The proposed project will involve four stream
crossings. Streams 1 through 3 are relatively small channels with approximate drainage
areas ranging from 45 acres (Stream 3) to 450 acres (Stream 2). At these crossings, the
use of riprap will be eliminated, and stabilization provided by placement of coir matting
and livestaking on the affected banks.
The drainage area for Stream 4, however, is approximately six square miles. Typical
bankfull discharge associated with streams having a comparable drainage area can exceed
60 cfs. At such volume, it is likely that protection beyond that afforded by matting and
livestaking will be necessary at the proposed Stream 4 crossing. Accordingly, our client
requests that use of riprap be permitted at the Stream 4 crossing location. Placement of
riprap associated with the crossing will be restricted to the stream bottom and banks
below the ordinary high water mark. Riprap will be placed such that de-stabilization of
the stream bed or banks upstream or downstream of the crossing will not result. PNG
will use a native seed mix, which will be distributed with placeholder species to provide
soil stabilization until the permanent seeding germinates and becomes established. This
seed mix will be comprised of native species (with the exception of the placeholder
species, which will consist of annual species to reduce competition with the native seeds).
Cleared areas will be restored with native vegetation within 30 working days of initial
land disturbance as specified by the revised Restoration Plan (attached).
To reflect these proposed modifications, we have amended Figure 6A and our
Restoration Plan (see attached) of the original application to depict typical cross-sections
associated with Streams 1 through 3 (bio-engineering stabilization) and Stream 4 (riprap
stabilization).
We hope that this letter has provided you with the additional information you need to
provide written concurrence with the aforementioned NWP No. 12 application. If we can
answer questions or provide more information, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
S&ME
oe ler, P.W.S.
Natur Resources Project Manager
Lisa J. Beckstro C.W.B., C.E.
Natural Resources Department Manager
Senior Reviewer
Attachment - Figure 6A
Revised Restoration Plan
cc: Ms. Cyndi Karoly, DWQ
Ms. Mara Sikora, PNG
Mr. Bob Hayes, (PNG, Fayetteville)
JoU LJB/cmlfjol SA1357\PROJECTS\200711357-08-502 PNG Line 59 Replacement
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Right of Way
Pipeline J
Pipe Trench
Gravel
Right of Way
Spoil Pile
Mats
Rock Silt Screen
STREAM 4: TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION
"'""` NOT TO SCALE FlGURE NO.
DATE: TYPICAL STREAM CROSSING
07., 0.08 *S&ME 6 A
DRAW BY- DDH PNG Line 59 Replacement
PROJECT NO: WWW.SMEINC.COM Cumberland County, North Carolina
1357-08-502
TYPICAL PLAN VIEW
STREAM S 13: TYPICAL CROSS-=ON
RESTORATION PLAN
PNG Line 59 Replacement
Cumberland County, North Carolina
The following Restoration Plan has been prepared for the Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG)
Line 59 Replacement in Cumberland County, North Carolina. While a majority of
mitigation for the proposed project has been accomplished through avoidance and
minimization of impacts (i.e. - use of the existing, maintained easement), the following
plan shall be implemented to restore those portions of the temporary work space (TWS)
easement that are located in wetlands or streams and temporarily-impacted to facilitate
installation of the new pipeline.
This plan entails restoration of temporarily-disturbed wetland and stream areas to their
original contours and conditions to the degree practicable upon project completion.
Further, disturbed wetland and upland areas will be permanently stabilized with a native
vegetative cover. Measures outlined in the Restoration Activities section of this plan will
be specified in the contract documents prepared for construction of the proposed project.
Restoration Activities
Proposed restoration activities will include the removal of placed fill material and
restoration of bank slopes to original pre-disturbance contours. Excavated material shall
be returned to the trench to the extent possible, and remaining material relocated and
retained on an upland site. Substrate containing roots, rhizomes, seeds, etc., will be kept
viable and replaced at the surface of the excavated site. A restoration seed mix will be
utilized within portions of the corridor comprised of wetlands. This seed mix (Table 1)
will be installed with a temporary groundcover species to provide immediate coverage of
disturbed soil, and will cover the disturbed wetlands from the jurisdictional boundary
extending 10 feet landward.
Table 1: Seed Mix for Wetland/Stream Restoration*
Common Name Scientific Name Percentage of Mix
Annual rye grain Secale cereale 25
Black-eye Susan Rudbeckia hirta 10
Foxtail millet Setaria italica 20
Korean lespedeza Lespedeza stipulacea 15
Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata 10
Plains coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria 5
Slender smartweed Polygonum lapathifolium 5
Virginia wild rye Elymus virginicus 5
Evening primrose Oenotheria biennis 5
Apply seed mix at a rate of 45 lbs./acre.
Restoration Plan SWE Project No. 1357-08-502
PNG Line 59 Replacement September 4. 2008
Additionally, coir matting will be placed on the banks of stream crossings 1 through 3 and
the banks will be revegetated with live stakes such as silky dogwood (Comus amomum),
elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), or silky willow (Cornus amomum); and/or rooted stock
of tag alder (Alnus serrulata). If restoration takes place during the growing season, then
only rooted stock can be used. The restoration seed mix will be applied to the banks of
crossings 1 through 4; however, due to the higher flows anticipated for Stream 4, the lower
banks of this channel will additionally be stabilized with riprap rather than coir matting.
These mitigative measures have been included on the contract drawings prepared for this
project. In addition to these mitigative measures, avoidance and minimization efforts have
been undertaken in the planning process.
Following completion of the restoration work, PNG will notify S&ME, who will then
assess the temporary crossings for compliance with the restoration methods specified
above.
Restoration Plan Prepared By: S&ME, Inc.
9751 Southern Pine Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 29745
704.523.4726
704.525.3593
Contact: Catherine Luckenbaugh, C.E.
[e-mail]
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