R4440 (4)

SCA7F
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MICHAEL F EASLEY
GOVERNOR
October 29, 2008
MEMORANDUM TO
FROM
SUBJECT
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
David Baker, US Army Corps of Engineers
Marella Buncick, US Fish and Wildlife Service
LYNDo TIPPETT
SECRETARY
Chris Militshcher, US Environmental Protection Agency
Charles Nicholson, Tennessee Valley Authority
Marla Chambers, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Brian Wrenn, NCDENR-DWQ/Wetlands
Renee Gledhill-Earley, NC Dept of Cultural ResourceHPO
Ryan Sherby, Southwestern RPO <?s?•
9
1
Steven L Brown, P E r 3?
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Br ch
Concurrence Point 2A Meeting Minutes
TIP Project Number R-4440
SR 1364 and SR 1114 (Needmore Road)
From SR 1369 in Macon County to existing pavement in Swain County
State Project Numbers 14C 056010 and 14C 087019, WBS No 35597,
NCDOT Division 14
A Section 404/NEPA Merger Project Team Meeting was held on September 3, 2008 at 1 00 PM
in the Swain Center Auditorium at Southwestern Community College in Bryson City An
optional field review was held on the project before the meeting at 10 00 AM The purpose of
the meeting (Concurrence Point 2A) was to review the project alternatives, stream crossings and
impacts An information packet containing directions to Southwestern Community College, a
Meeting Agenda, Vicinity and Project Location maps, Environmental Features maps and Half-
Size Preliminary design plans was mailed to team members prior to the meeting Additional
information was provided in summary tables for the alternates, stream crossings and constraints
was also included in the packet In attendance were the following
David Baker - USACE
Marella Buncick - USFWS
Chris Militscher - USEPA
Brian Wrenn - NCDENR, DWQ
Charles Nicholson -Tennessee Valley Authority
Marla Chambers - NC Wildlife Resources Comm
Powell Wheeler - NC Wildlife Resources Comm
Amanda Bushon - NC Wildlife Resources Comm
MAILING ADDRESS
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1548
Mike Little - Roadway Design
Paul Rochester - Roadway Design
Jody Kuhne - Geotechnical Engineering Unit
Andrew Notti ngham - Hydraulics Unit
Jamie Wilson -Division 14
Paul White - Division 14
Brian Burch - Division 14
Mark Davis - Division 14
TELEPHONE [phone]
FAX [phone]
WEBSITE WWW DOH DOT STATE NC US
LOCATION
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC
TIP Project Number R-4440 SR 1364 and SR 1114 Improvements (Needmore Road)
From SR 1369 (Tellico Road) in Macon County to existing pavement in Swain County
State Project Numbers 14C 056010 and 14C 087019, WBS Number 35597, NCDOT Division 14
Concurrence Point 2A Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
Carla Dagnino- Prod Dev and Env Analysis - NEU
Jennifer Harrod - Prod Dev and Env Analysis - NEU
Erin Cheely - Prod Dev and Env Analysts - NEU
Logan Williams - Prod Dev and Env Analysis - NEU
Lance Fontaine - Prod Dev and Env Analysis - NEU
The following was discussed at this meeting
Ann Burroughs - Prod Dev and Env Analysis - NEU
Jason Dilday - Prod Dev and Env Analysts - NEU
Shane Peterson - Prod Dev and Env Analysis - HEU
Linwood Stone - Project Dev and Env Analysts
Eugene Tarascio - Project Dev and Env Analysis
Steve Brown - Project Dev and Env Analysis
1. Purpose of the Meeting
• To reach consensus on feasible project alternatives, review stream crossings and impacts
of each for the subject project
2. Project Description
• SR 1364 and SR 1114 (Needmore Road) is an unpaved secondary road located along the
Little Tennessee River in Macon and Swain Counties
• Project limits are from 1369 (Tellico Road) in Macon County to existing pavement in
Swam County Total project length is approximately 3 7 miles
3. NEPA and Merger Process Status
• A Concurrence Point 1 (Purpose and Need) meeting was held and team member
concurrence reached on August 20, 2003
• Two Concurrence Point 2 (Detailed Study Alternatives Carried Forward) meetings were
held for the project The first meeting was held in Raleigh on September 20, 2005 in the
Board Room of the Transportation Building The second concurrence meeting was held in
Bryson City at Southwestern Community College's Swain Center (SCC) on December 13,
2005 The second meeting was held in conjunction with a field review meeting Team
member concurrence was reached on December 13, 2005 The project Alternatives carried
forward at Concurrence Point 2 were
A No Build Alternative - This alternative only maintains the existing gravel/dirt road
Maintenance includes the cost of adding gravel Information on flooding is also needed
B No Pave with Selective Improvements Alternative - Selective improvements include
drainage, buffer, and maintenance issues Since these improvements are subject to
interpretation, an itemized list (including cost) is needed for the next concurrence
meeting
C Pave in Place -18 feet Maximum Alternative - This alternative only paves the existing
roadway width of Needmore Road Although the existing roadway width generally varies
from 14 to 19 feet, the maximum pavement width will be no wider than 18 feet
D Pave in Place - Improve where you can Alternative - The improvements for this
alternative include paving the existing variable roadway width as well as improving the
road and shoulders without impacting hot rock or placing fill into the Little Tennessee
River Stream and sensitive area impacts would be minimized
TIP Project Number R-4440 SR 1364 and SR 1114 Improvements (Needmore Road)
From SR 1369 (Tellico Road) in Macon County to existing pavement in Swain County
State Project Numbers 14C 056010 and 14C 087019, WBS Number 35597, NCDOT Division 14
Concurrence Point 2A Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
E Division 14 Secondary Road Standards with Design Exceptions Alternative - This
alternative combines Division 14 Secondary Road Standards with design exceptions
Division 14 Secondary Road Standards include a minimum roadway width of 18 feet with
shoulder widths of 4 feet and 6 feet Therefore, the total typical section width for this
alternative is 28 feet The design exceptions can reduce the shoulder widths as well as
the roadway width below 18 feet, however, the roadway width will not be reduced to 14
feet
Note: Division 14 Secondary Road Design Standards include a minimum roadway width of
18 feet. There are no design exceptions under Division 14 Secondary Road Standards that
permit a roadway width of less than 18 feet.
4. Current Schedule
• State Environmental Assessment
• State FONSI (if appropriate)
• Right of Way Acquisition
• Construction
January 2009
June 2010
N/A
Section A, B, & D - June 2011
Section C - Post-Year
5. Concurrence Point 2A - Alignment/Alternatives Review and Stream Crossings
• NCDOT presented the package, agenda and reviewed the summary of project constraints
• USFWS noted that the Little Tennessee River was not critical habitat for the
Littlewing pearly mussel as stated in the package
• NCWRC stated that the Management Plan for the Needmore Tract was still being
developed when asked about the status
NCDOT reviewed the alternatives for the project and then opened the meeting for
questions/comments
NCWRC expressed a desire to remove all "modified" alternatives from consideration
(which included minimum 9-foot travel lanes and shoulder improvements) because of
impacts to Little Tennessee River and only have pave in place alternatives that do not
widen the existing roadway Also, NCWRC expressed the belief that there was no
need for shoulders and maximum widths for any of the alternatives, especially if
speed limits were posted
• NCDOT responded that any paving of Needmore Road would require some
widening to adhere to the minimum travel lanes and shoulder widths as set forth
in the applicable design standards It was also stated that speed limits were not
posted on gravel roads because of changing roadway conditions
NCDOT suggested modifying Alternative E, with all the widening away from the
river, with only a cut section into the rock and reducing the shoulder section where
needed
TIP Project Number R-4440 SR 1364 and SR 1114 Improvements (Needmore Road)
From SR 1369 (Tellico Road) in Macon County to existing pavement in Swain County
State Project Numbers 14C 056010 and 14C 087019, WBS Number 35597, NCDOT Division 14
Concurrence Point 2A Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
• USFWS expressed concerns about how freshly exposed acidic rock faces and runoff
from them would be handled during construction, especially given the extremely
sensitive nature of the area
• NCDOT responded that the acidic levels of the rock on this project were very low
With the levels present, runoff from them would not be considered a "hot runoff'
Leaching from freshly exposed surfaces are not likely to pose a long term
problem, because the surfaces oxidize very quickly Any runoff from the surfaces
could easily be neutralized by lining ditches with limestone or spraying a
limestone slurry on the exposed rock faces
• NCDOT also proposed pre-drilling any before blasting, so would have a nearly
vertical (1/4 1) rock wall/face, which would reduce exposed surface areas to
weathering (verses a sloped cut section)
• USFWS also expressed concerns about how acidic rock debris from the construction
would be kept out of the river, especially with the potential for floods
• NCDOT responded that non-explosive methods could be used to control debris
material from going into the river Material generated would be transported to a
single waste area for treatment outside or above the potential flood zone Also, if
exposure of the fresh surfaces on debris material during construction was a
concern, the material could be covered so as to shield these surfaces from the
weather
• EPA asked if this modified Alternative E could allow design to division standards
with no backfill to the river
• NCDOT indicated that modifying Alternate E to widen away from the river would
allow design to minimum standards
• EPA stated that there could be very specific design criteria to control acidic runoff
and that this should be looked at as an alternative, since filling in the river will not be
permitted
• NCWRC stated that they wanted Alternatives C and D (Pave-m-Place alternatives
with no widening of the roadway) included as alternatives to carry forward
• DWQ asked why was all this work being considered for such a minor project and also
noted that while safety was emphasized as the main reason for the project, safety was
not part of the purpose and need for the project
• NCDOT responded that Needmore Road is projected to carry increased traffic in
the future, due to tourism and the fact that it is being used as an alternate cut-
through route to avoid NC 28 An increase in traffic on this road will increase the
likelihood of accidents on this road, due to the narrow roadway and severe curves
at points along the project
• USFWS stated that with the Appalachian elk toe having drastic declines in areas of
the Little Tennessee River, they were especially concerned about preserving their
habitat on this project To this end USFWS asked if a soil binder or alternative
TIP Project Number R-4440 SR 1364 and SR 1114 Improvements (Needmore Road)
From SR 1369 (Tellico Road) to Macon County to existing pavement in Swain County
State Project Numbers 14C 056010 and 14C 087019, WBS Number 35597, NCDOT Dtvtsion 14
Concurrence Point 2A Meeting Minutes
Page 5 of 5
surfacing method could be used on one or more alternatives to lower the maintenance
rather than having paving as only option
• NCDOT responded that soil binders/alternative surfacing method would be
added to Alternative B However, it should be noted here that NCDOT is
generally required by law to pave eligible unpaved secondary roads
• After further discussions on the alternatives, the Merger Team reached concurrence on
CP 2A. The Team decided to not carry forward Alternative C Modified or Alternative
D. This left the following alternatives to carry forward:
• Alternative A
• Alternative B
• Alternative C
• Alternative D Modified
• Alternative E
6. Other Issues
cc
No Build
No Pave with Selective Improvements including
binder matenal/alternative surfacing
Pave-m-Place - 18 foot maximum roadway width
Pave-m-Place - 18 foot minimum roadway width
Division 14 Secondary Road Standards with Design
Exceptions with widening to the rock side only,
impact to hot rock side and no fill into the Little
Tennessee River
EPA asked if the bridge at Tellico Creek would be widened as part of this project
• NCDOT responded that it was not included in this project It would be replaced and
widened as a separate project to be done by Bridge Maintenance
• EPA stated that information on any planned bridge improvement should be included
in the planning document for this project
• NCDOT responded that information for any planned bridge improvement would
be noted in the environmental document
EPA stated it should be noted in the documents that there are invasive species within the
project limits (kudzu in particular)
• NCDOT responded any invasive species with in the project limits would be noted in
the document
Mike Little, P E, NCDOT Roadway Design
Paul Rochester, P E , NCDOT Roadway Design
Andrew Nottingham, P E, NCDOT Hydraulics
Jody Kuhne, L G , P E , Geotechmcal Engineering Unit
Jamie Wilson, NCDOT Division 14
Mark Davis, NCDOT Division 14