20120977_Other Agency Comments_20081201

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United States Department of the Interior **,? o, F? ?0
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE f-?s,yr?, j?0
Asheville Field Office O&
160 Zilhcoa Street O
Asheville, North Carolina 28801 t!?
November 26, 2008
Ms Tracy A Walter
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1551 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1551
Dear Ms Walter
Subject Bridge Replacement No 11 on NC 175 over Chatuge Lake, Clay County, North Carolina
(TIP No B-4733)
We have reviewed the'Natural'Resources Technical Report for the subject bridge replacement project
and are pr'oyidi4ng the following comments in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(4'2`U S C '4332(2)(c)), Fish and Wildlife Coordination-Act, as amended (16 U S C 661-667e),
1Vligratdfy Bird'Treaty Act (16 iTS C" 703, et seq ) (MBTA), and section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U S C 1531-1543)
Fish and Wildlife Resources - Chatuge Lake is a reservoir under the operation of the Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA) The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) should
coordinate with TVA for this project to ensure consistency with TVA's Shoreline Management
Policy The information provided for this project does not include a detailed description of the
structure that will replace the existing bridge We recommend that the new bridge design include
provisions for the roadbed and deck drainage to flow through a vegetated buffer prior to reaching
Chatuge Lake This buffer should be large enough to alleviate any potential effects from the runoff
of storm water and pollutants To provide for terrestrial wildlife passage, the new bridge design
should span beyond the waterway so that unsubmerged land is also bridged If bank stabilization is
necessary, we recommend that the use of riprap be minimized and that a riprap-free buffer zone be
maintained under the bridge to allow for wildlife movement
Measures to control erosion and sediment should be in place prior to any ground-disturbing activities
Wet concrete should never be allowed to come into contact with the water Equipment should be
inspected daily to ensure that there are'no equipment'leaks that eould enter the lake 'Con'struction
material-should not enter the water during demolition, of the existing bridge and construction of the
riew'bridge In most cases we prefer That a bridge bie replaced in place by constructing the new
bridge through staged construction or by detouring traffic to existing off-site routes When more
information is available regarding the environmental effects of this project, we can then offer more
substantive comments
When reseeding/revegetating disturbed areas, we strongly recommend that only native plant species
be used or, if an adequate seed source cannot be found, that noninvasive species (such as annual rye)
be used until native plants can reestablish themselves While many of the exotic'plant species
typically used in erosion-control and reclamation efforts have proven beneficial to some wildlife
species, we now know that the invasive nature of these species outweighs any short-term
erosion-control or wildlife benefits they may provide Exotic species, including tall fescue (native to
Eurasia), Korean and Sericea lespedeza (eastern Asia species), redtop (a Eurasian species), Sudan
grass and Bermuda grass (native to Africa), and Kentucky bluegrass (native to Eurasia and northern
Canada), choke out native vegetation and often result ?n monocultures that prove to be of little
benefit to wildlife and can be very detrimental to the ecosystem as a whole
Migratory Birds-The MBTA (16 US C 703-712) prohibits the taking, killing, possession,
transportation, and importation of migratory birds (including the bald eagle), their eggs, parts, and
nests, except when specifically authorized by the Department of the Interior To avoid impacts to
migratory birds, we recommend conducting a visual inspection of the bridge and any other migratory
bird nesting habitat within the project area during the migratory bird nesting season--March through
September If migratory birds are discovered nesting in the project impact area, including on the
existing bridge, the NCDOT should avoid impacting the nests during the migratory bird nesting
season (March through September) If birds are discovered nesting on the bridge during years prior
to the proposed construction date, the NCDOT, in consultation with us, should develop measures to
discourage birds from establishing nests on the bridge by means that will not result in the take of the
birds or eggs, or the NCDOT should avoid construction and demolition activities during the nesting
period
If we can be of assistance or ?f you have any questions about these comments, please contact
Mr Troy Wilson of our staff at 828/258-3939, Ext 226 In any future correspondence concerning
this project, please reference our Log Number 4-2-09-036
;Smrely,
Brian P Cole
Field Supervisor
cc
Mr David Baker, Asheville Regulatory Field Office, U S Army Corps of Engineers, 151 Patton
Avenue, Room 208, Asheville, NC 28801-5006
Ms Marla J Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission, 12275 Swift Road, Oakboro, NC 28129
Ms Angela Simms, Chickamauga-Hiwassee Watershed Team, 4800 US 64 West, Suite 102,
Murphy, NC 28906
Mr Brian Wrenn, North Carolina Division of Water Quality, Central Office, 2321 Crabtree
Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, NC 27604