20061291 Ver 1_USFWS Comments_20081030

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"T °FT United States Department of the Interior
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a FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ralei-h Field Office
m Post Office Box 33726
?'QaCHRaleigh. North Carolina 27636 ') 726
October 30, 2008
Mr. David M. Lekson
Chief, Washington Regulatory Field Office
Washington Regulatory Field Office
P.O. Box 1000
Washington, North Carolina 27889-1000
Dear Mr. Lekson:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with this letter reinforces comments that
were mailed previously by letter dated June 20, 2007. The June 20, 2007 letter responded
to action proposed in your letter dated June 4, 2007 in relation to ORM ID SAW-
199606890 i Great Dismal Swamp Restoration Bank. Your letter asked for Service
review of a request from the bank to modify its mitigation banking instrument (MBI) to
expand the geographic service area of the Timberlake Farrns bank property. Specifically,
the bank sponsor proposed to expand the service area to include all areas of the outer
coastal plain of North Carolina identified as Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (Ecoregion.
63), from Virginia to South Carolina and west to the demarcation between the inner and
outer coastal plains. The response was submitted from the Service as a member of the
Great Dismal Swamp Restoration Mitigation Bank Review Team (MBRT).
The Service supported the proposal to expand the bank service area with the following
exclusions.
1. 63 d Virginia Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes
1 63 g Carolina Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes
3. any area that does not ultimately drain into either Albemarle or Pamlico Sound or into
a river or stream that drains into these sounds
4. any area outside of North Carolina
Apparently there has been some confusion as to the Service position as illustrated in your
October 21, 2008 letter to Mr. Donald Carr which we were copied. On this issue a more
restrictive service area is recommended than what the Service supported. The Service has
not changed its position which is stated above and is sorry for any confusion that may
have occurred. Please feel free to contact me at 919-856-4520 ext 22 or at the above
address with any questions.
Sincere,
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Mike Wicker