20170938 Ver 1_Mitigation Plan_Appendix I_20170731

Appendix G
Swift Creek - Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
APPENDIX I
ENDANGERED AND PROTECTED SPECIES SEARCH

This Page Intentionally Left Blank

ROY COOPER
1C.
SUSI H. H iILTON
-MKI
Natural and
Culturaf Resources
NCNHDE-3487
May 11, 2017
Julia Tillery
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
5710 Oleander Dr., Ste 110
Wilmington, NC 28403
RE: CSX - Swift Creek - Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan ; 643009004.0010
Dear Julia Tillery:
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) appreciates the opportunity to provide information
about natural heritage resources for the project referenced above.
A query of the NCNHP database indicates that there are records for rare species, important natural
communities, natural areas, or conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary. These
results are presented in the attached `Documented Occurrences' tables and map.
The attached `Potential Occurrences' table summarizes rare species and natural communities that have been
documented within a one -mile radius of the property boundary. The proximity of these records suggests that
these natural heritage elements may potentially be present in the project area if suitable habitat exists and is
included for reference. Tables of natural areas and conservation/managed area within a one -mile radius of the
project area, if any, are also included in this report.
Please note that natural heritage element data are maintained for the purposes of conservation planning, project
review, and scientific research, and are not intended for use as the primary criteria for regulatory decisions.
Information provided by the NCNHP database may not be published without prior written notification to the
NCNHP, and the NCNHP must be credited as an information source in these publications. Maps of NCNHP
data may not be redistributed without permission.
Also please note that the NC Natural Heritage Program may follow this letter with additional correspondence if a
Dedicated Nature Preserve (DNP), Registered Heritage Area (RHA), Clean Water Management Trust Fund
(CWMTF) easement, or an occurrence of a Federally -listed species is documented near the project area.
If you have questions regarding the information provided in this letter or need additional assistance, please
contact Rodney A. Butler at rodney.butler&ncdcr.gov or 919.707.8603.
Sincerely,
NC Natural Heritage Program
—5 -`Nothing Compares =
Stats cf North Carolina I department of Natural and cultural Resources I Natura I Heritage Program
121 W. Jones Street I Raleigh, NC 37663
1651 Mall Service Center I Raleigh,NC 27699-1651..
www_ncnhp,org 1919-707-6107

Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Intersecting the Project Area
CSX - Swift Creek — Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan
Project No. 643009004.0010
May 11, 2017
NCNHDE-3487
Element Occurrences Documented Within Project Area
Taxonomic EO ID Scientific Name
Common Name Last Element Accuracy
Federal
State
Global State
Group
Observation Occurrence
Status
Status
Rank Rank
Date Rank
Amphibian 3703 Necturus lewisi
Neuse River Waterdog 2014-01-12 E 3 -Medium
Species of
Special
G2 S2
Concern
Concern
Freshwater 14068 Elliptio roanokensis
Roanoke Slabshell 2015-05-07 E 3 -Medium
Species of
Threatened
G3 S3
Bivalve
Concern
Freshwater Fish 14421 Noturus furiosus
Carolina Madtom 2007-08-02 E 3 -Medium
Species of
Threatened
G2 S2
Concern
Natural Areas Documented Within Project Area
Site Name
Representational Rating Collective Rating
TAR/Swift Creek Aquatic Habitat
n/a (Not Applicable) C1 (Exceptional)
No Managed Areas Documented within the Project Area
Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at https://ncnhde.natureserve.org/content/help. Data query generated on May 11, 2017; source: NCNHP, Q1 January 2017. Please resubmit your
information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database.
Page 2 of 4

Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
CSX - Swift Creek — Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan
Project No. 643009004.0010
May 11, 2017
NCNHDE-3487
Element Occurrences Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Taxonomic
EO ID
Scientific Name
Common Name I
Last
Element
Group
Status
Rank
Rank
Observation
Occurrence
Special
G2
S2
Date
Rank
Amphibian
3703
Necturus lewisi
Neuse River Waterdog
2014-01-12
E
Freshwater
1206
Alasmidonta undulata
Triangle Floater
2013-10-16
E
Bivalve
Species of
Threatened
G3
S3
Freshwater
14068
Elliptio roanokensis
Roanoke Slabshell
2015-05-07
E
Bivalve
G1
S1
3 -Medium
---
Threatened
Freshwater
21437
Elliptio steinstansana
Tar River Spinymussel
1991-06-18
H?
Bivalve
Concern
Freshwater
15257
Lampsilis radiata
Eastern Lampmussel
1991-06-18
H?
Bivalve
Freshwater Fish
14421
Noturus furiosus
Carolina Madtom
2007-08-02
E
Accuracy
Federal
State
Global
State
Status
Status
Rank
Rank
3 -Medium
Species of
Special
G2
S2
Concern
Concern
3 -Medium
Species of
Threatened
G4
S3
Concern
3 -Medium
Species of
Threatened
G3
S3
Concern
3 -Medium
Endangered
Endangered
G1
S1
3 -Medium
---
Threatened
G5
S3
3 -Medium
Species of
Threatened
G2
S2
Concern
Natural Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Site Name Representational Rating Collective Rating
TAR/Swift Creek Aquatic Habitat n/a (Not Applicable) C1 (Exceptional)
Managed Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Managed Area Name Owner � Owner Type
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Easement NC Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil State
and Water Conservation
Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at https:Hncnhde.natureserve.org/content/help. Data query generated on May 11, 2017; source: NCNHP, Q1 January 2017. Please resubmit your
information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database.
Page 3 of 4

NCNHDE-3487: CSX - Swift Creek — Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan
May 11, 2017
Project Boundary
Buffered Project Boundary
E]
NHP Natural Area (NHNA)
E]
Managed Area (MAREA)
Page 4 of 4
1:34,464
0 0.275 0.55 1.1 mi
0 0.45 0.9 1.8 km
Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS,
FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan,
METI, Esri China (Hong Kong),—sstopo, Mapmylndia, © OpenStreetMap
contributors, and the GIS User Community

IPaC: Explore Location
IPaC
IPaC resource list
Page 1 of 9
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
This report is an automatically generated list of species and other resources such as
critical habitat (collectively referred to as trustresources) under the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service's (USFWS) jurisdiction that are known or expected to be on or near the
project area referenced below. The list may also include trust resources that occur
outside of the project area, but that could potentially be directly or indirectly affected
by activities in the project area. However, determining the likelihood and extent of
effects a project may have on trust resources typically requires gathering additional
site-specific (e.g., vegetation/species surveys) and project -specific (e.g., magnitude and
timing of proposed activities) information.
Below is a summary of the project information you provided and contact information
for the USFWS office(s) with jurisdiction in the defined project area. Please read the
introduction to each section that follows (Endangered Species, Migratory Birds,
USFWS Facilities, and NWI Wetlands) for additional information applicable to the trust
resources addressed in that section.
Location
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Local office
L -
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office
t. [phone]
1B [phone]
MAILING ADDRESS
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
551 Pylon Drive, Suite F
Raleigh, NC 27606-1487
Endangered species
Page 2 of 9
This resource list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an
analysis of project level impacts.
The primary information used to generate this list is the known or expected range of
each species. Additional areas of influence (AOI) for species are also considered. An
AOI includes areas outside of the species range if the species could be indirectly
affected by activities in that area (e.g., placing a dam upstream of a fish papulation,
even if that fish does not occur at the dam site, may indirectly impact the species by
reducing or eliminating water flow downstream). Because species can move, and site
conditions can change, the species on this list are not guaranteed t0 be found on or
near the project area. To fully determine any potential effects to species, additional
site-specific and project -specific information is often required.
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires Federal agencies to "request of the
Secretary information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed
may be present in the area of such proposed action" for any project that is conducted,
permitted, funded, or licensed by any Federal agency. A letter from the local office
and a species list which fulfills this requirement can only be obtained by requesting
an official species list from either the Regulatory Review section in IPaC (see directions
below) or from the local field office directly.
For project evaluations that require USFWS concurrence/review, please return to the
IPaC website and request an official species list by doing the following:
1. Draw the project location and click CONTINUE.
2. Click DEFINE PROJECT.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location Page 3 of 9
3. Log in (if directed to do so).
4. Provide a name and description for your project.
5. Click REQUEST SPECIES LIST.
Listed species
'- are managed by the Endangered Species Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
1. Species listed under the Endangered Species Act are threatened or endangered;
IPaC also shows species that are candidates, or proposed, for listing. See the listing
status page for more information.
The following species are potentially affected by activities in this location:
Birds
►,��
Red -cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7614
Clams
Tar River Spinymussel Elliptic) steinstansana
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
htti2s://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1392
Yellow Lance Ellptio lanceolata
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
https://ecos,fws.gov/ecp/species/4511
Critical habitats
STATUS
Endangered
Endangered
Proposed Threatened
Potential effects to critical habitat(s) in this location must be analyzed along with
the endangered species themselves.
THERE ARE NO CRITICAL HABITATS AT THIS LOCATION.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

INC: Explore Location Page 4 of 9
Migratory birds
Certain birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
'- and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act?.
Any activity that results in the take (to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill,
trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct) of migratory
birds or eagles is prohibited unless authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
3. There are no provisions for allowing the take of migratory birds that are
unintentionally killed or injured.
Any person or organization who plans or conducts activities that may result in the
take of migratory birds is responsible for complying with the appropriate regulations
and implementing appropriate conservation measures.
1. The Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918.
2. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.
3. 50 C.F.R. Sec. 10.12 and 16 U.S.C. Sec. 668(a)
Additional information can be found using the following links:
• Birds of Conservation Concern http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-
species/
birds-of-conservation-conce rn. p h p
• Conservation measures for birds http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/project-
assessment-tool s -and -guidance/
conservation- measures. ph p
• Year-round bird occurrence data
0
http://www.birdscanada.org/birdmon/default/datasummaries.isp
The migratory birds species listed below are species of particular conservation
concern (e.g. Birds of Conservation Concern) that may be potentially affected by
activities in this location. it is not a list of every bird species you may find in this
location, nor a guarantee that all of the bird species on this list will be found on or
near this location. Although it is important to try to avoid and minimize impacts to all
birds, special attention should be made to avoid and minimize impacts to birds of
priority concern. To view available data on other bird species that may occur in your
project area, please visit the AKN Histogram Tools and Other Bird Data Resources. To
fully determine any potential effects to species, additional site-specific and project -
specific information is often required.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location
NAM E SEASON(S)
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Wintering
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6582
American Kestrel Falco sparverius paulus Year-round
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Year-round
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1626
Brown -headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla Year-round
Chuck -will's -widow Caprimulgus carolinensis Breeding
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Wintering
Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii Breeding
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3941
Kentucky Warbler Oparornis tormosus Breeding
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Breeding
https://ecos.fvvs.gov/ecp/sl2ecies/6175
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Year-round
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8833
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Wintering
https://ecos.fws-gov/ec�/species/8831
Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor Breeding
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea Breeding
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus Year-round
Page 5 of 9
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Wintering
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis Wintering
Short -eared Owl Asio flammeus Wintering
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9295
Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii Breeding
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Breeding
Worm Eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum Breeding
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis Wintering
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9476
Page 6 of 9
What does IPaC use to generate the list of migratory bird species potentially occurring in my
specified location?
Landbirds:
Migratory birds that are displayed on the IPaC species list are based on ranges in the latest edition
of the National Geographic Guide, Birds of North America (6th Edition, 2011 by Jon L. Dunn, and
Jonathan Alderfer). Although these ranges are coarse in mature, a number of U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service migratory bird biologists agree that these maps are some of the best range maps to date.
These ranges were clipped to a specific Bird Conservation Region (BCR) or USFWS Region/Regions,
if it was indicated in the 2008 list of Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) that a species was a BCC
species only in a particular Region/Regions. Additional modifications have been made to some
ranges based on more local or refined range information and/or information provided by U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service biologists with species expertise. All migratory birds that show in areas on land
in IPaC are those that appear in the 2008 Birds of Conservation Concern report.
Atlantic Seabirds:
Ranges in IPaC for birds off the Atlantic coast are derived from species distribution models
developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAH) National Centers for
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) using the best available seabird survey data for the offshore
Atlantic Coastal region to date. NOAANCCOS assisted USFWS in developing seasonal species
ranges from their models for specific use in IPaC. Some of these birds are not BCC species but
were of interest for inclusion because they may occur in high abundance off the coast at different
times throughout the year, which potentially makes them more susceptible to certain types of
development and activities taking place in that area. For more refined details about the abundance
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location
Page 7 of 9
and richness of bird species within your project area off the Atlantic Coast, see the Northeast
Ocean Data Portal. The Portal also offers data and information about other types of taxa that may
be helpful in your project review.
About the NOAANCCOS models: the models were developed as part of the NOAANCCOS project:
Integrative Statistical Modeling and Predictive Mapping of Marine Bird Distributions and
Abundance on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. The models resulting from this project are
being used in a number of decision-support/mapping products in order to help guide decision-
making on activities off the Atlantic Coast with the goal of reducing impacts to migratory birds. One
such product is the Northeast Ocean Data Portal, which can be used to explore details about the
relative occurrence and abundance of bird species in a particular area off the Atlantic Coast.
All migratory bird range maps within IPaC are continuously being updated as new and better
information becomes available.
Can I get additional information about the levels of occurrence in my project area of specific
birds or groups of birds listed in IPaC?
Landbirds:
The Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) provides a tool currently called the "Histogram Tool", which
draws from the data within the AKN (latest,survey, point count, citizen science datasets) to create a
view of relative abundance of species within a particular location over the course of the year. The
results of the tool depict the frequency of detection of a species in survey events, averaged
between multiple datasets within AKN in a particular week of the year. You may access the
histogram tools through the Migratory Bird Programs AKN Histogram Tools webpage.
The tool is currently available for 4 regions (California, Northeast U.S., Southeast U.S. and Midwest),
which encompasses the following 32 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North,
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
In the near future, there are plans to expand this tool nationwide within the AKN, and allow the
graphs produced to appear with the list of trust resources generated by IPaC, providing you with
an additional level of detail about the level of occurrence of the species of particular concern
potentially occurring in your project area throughout the course of the year.
Atlantic Seabirds
For additional details about the relative occurrence and abundance of both individual bird species
and groups of bird species within your project area off the Atlantic Coast, please visit the Northeast
Ocean Data Portal. The Portal also offers data and information about other taxa besides birds that
may be helpful to you in your project review. Alternately, you may download the bird model results
files underlying the portal maps through the NOAANCCOS Integrative Statistical Modeling and
Predictive Mapping of Marine Bird Distributions and Abundance on the Atlantic Outer Continental
Shelf project webpage.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location Page 8 of 9
Facilities
Wildlife refuges
Any activity proposed on National Wildlife Refuge lands must undergo a 'Compatibility
Determination' conducted by the Refuge. Please contact the individual Refuges to
discuss any questions or concerns.
THERE ARE NO REFUGES AT THIS LOCATION.
Fish hatcheries
THERE ARE NO FISH HATCHERIES AT THIS LOCATION.
Wetlands in the National Wetlands
Inventory
Impacts to NWI wetlands and other aquatic habitats may be subject to regulation
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, or other State/Federal statutes.
For more information please contact the Regulatory Program of the local U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers District.
This location overlaps the following wetlands:
FRESHWATER FORESTED/SHRUB WETLAND
PF01 /2F
PF01A
PF01 C
PF01 /2C
A full description for each wetland code can be found at the National Wetlands
Inventory website: https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/wetlands/decoder
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017

IPaC: Explore Location Page 9 of 9
Data limitations
The Service's objective of mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats is to produce reconnaissance
level information on the location, type and size of these resources. The maps are prepared from
the analysis of high altitude imagery. Wetlands are identified based on vegetation, visible
hydrology and geography. A margin of error is inherent in the use of imagery; thus, detailed on -
the -ground inspection of any particular site may result in revision of the wetland boundaries or
classification established through image analysis.
The accuracy of image interpretation depends on the quality of the imagery, the experience of the
image analysts, the amount and quality of the collateral data and the amount of ground truth
verification work conducted. Metadata should be consulted to determine the date of the source
imagery used and any mapping problems.
Wetlands or other mapped features may have changed since the date of the imagery or field work.
There may be occasional differences in polygon boundaries or classifications between the
information depicted on the map and the actual conditions on site.
Data exclusions
Certain wetland habitats are excluded from the National mapping program because of the
limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats
include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal
zones of estuaries and nearshore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or
tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of
their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery.
Data precautions
Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may define and
describe wetlands in a different manner than that used in this inventory. There is no attempt, in
either the design or products of this inventory, to define the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any
Federal, state, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory
programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving
modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate federal,
state, or local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and proprietary
jurisdictions that may affect such activities.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/location/SASOQVPXKFCKXJEICMEE7HH7LI/resources 5/11/2017