20171169 Ver 1_Bridge 100332 Buncombe Cover Letter_20170912

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER JAMES H. TROGDON, III
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION THIRTEEN
POST OFFICE BOX 3279
ASHEVILLE, NC 28802-3279
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: www.ncdot.gov
Location:
55 ORANGE STREET
ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340

September 12, 2017

Ms. Lori Beckwith
US Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006

Subject: Nationwide Permit #14
Bridge 100332, SR 1140 Morgan Branch Road
State Project No. 17BP.13.R.26
Buncombe County, NC

Dear Ms. Beckwith:

I have enclosed a set of plans, a PCN application for NWP #14, and a vicinity map relative to the
proposed bridge replacement project on SR 1140 Morgan Branch Road, Buncombe County, NC.

We propose to replace the existing single span 19’ timber bridge with a two-103” x 71” aluminum
arch culverts with sills. The culvert will have a high and low flow barrel. Existing stream slope at
the site is 0.10%; proposed culvert slope is 0.30%. Culvert installation will result in permanent
impacts to 58 linear feet (LF) of an UT to Hominy Creek with an additional 127 LF of floodplain
bench/bank stabilization. Temporary impacts to 209 LF of the stream are necessary for
dewatering/diversion during construction. The stream is approximately 7’ wide with a
predominately sand, gravel, and cobble substrate. The UT is classified as Class C by DWR and
Trout by the Corps.

Existing channel morphology will be maintained upstream and downstream of the culvert.
Riparian vegetation will be reestablished along disturbed areas associated with the project.
Stormwater will be diverted through grass-lined ditches or vegetated buffers prior to entering
streams.

This project may impact potentially suitable northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
(NLEB) summer roosting habitat via tree clearing. Following the SLOPES from NWP Regional
Condition 3.13, the project is located outside of a red HUC. A survey of the bridge for evidence of
bat presence/usage was conducted and none were found. No trees will be cleared for the project.
No effect on the remaining Buncombe County list of federally protected species (threatened or
endangered) or designated critical habitat will occur.

Lori Beckwith
Page –2 Bridge 100332, Buncombe County
September 12, 2017

As a part of the 401 Certification process, the project was processed through the DOT
Programmatic Agreement for Minor Project as required by Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and GS 121-12(a). No Historic Resources will be affected.
These forms are attached for the Corps file.

We request Marla Chambers, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Western Region
Coordinator, to comment directly to the Corps concerning the permit request.

Kristi Lynn Carpenter, NC Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting Unit and
Kevin Barnett, NC DWR Asheville Regional Office will review the project through the electronic
form (https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/Pre-Construction_Notification_Form). Please
charge the application fee of $240.00 to WBS element # 17BP.13.R.26. Please forward comments
directly to the Corps with copy to Division 13 Environmental Officer.

Your earliest consideration for this request would be greatly appreciated. If you have any
questions or information needs, please contact me at [phone].

Sincerely,

Roger D. Bryan
Division 13 Environmental Officer

Enclosures

cc: J.J. Swain, Jr., P.E.
Chris Medlin, P.E.