20110569 Ver 1_Complete File_20081203

F-IMA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
August 9, 2004
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Conforti, NCDOT Project Development Engineer
FROM: Brian L. Wrenn, NC Division of Water Quality'
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
SUBJECT: Scoping Review of NCDOT's proposed bridge replacement projects: B-4061 and B-4062
In reply to your correspondence dated July 16, 2004 (received July 22, 2004) in which you requested
comments for the referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality has the following comments:
L Proiect-Specific Comments
B-4061 Bridke No. 90 over Hagan Creek, Catawba Co.
Hagan Creek is listed as WS-IV waters of the State. There are ',Q-foot vegetated buffer requirements in
WS waters in addition to the requirements to minimize storm wafer runoff and to maximize use of BMPs.
Refer to 15A NCAC 2B .0216(3)(b)(i)(F) and (G).
B-4062 Bribe No. 127 over Pinch Cut Creek, Catawba Co.
DWQ has no specific concerns regarding this bridge replacement.
II. General Comments Re;?ardinz Bridize Replacement Proiects
1. If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipes, or concrete box culverts are used to replace
the bridge, then DWQ recommends the use of Nationwide Permit No. 14 rather than Nationwide
Permit 23.
2. If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is-preferred. Strict
adherence the Corps of Engineers guidelines for bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401
Water Quality Certification.
3. DWQ prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not require work within the stream
and do not require stream channel realignment. The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by
bridges allows for human and wildlife passage beneath the structure, does not block fish passage, and
does not block navigation by canoeists and boaters.
4. Bridge deck drains should not discharge directly into the stream; stormwater should be directed
across the bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means (grassed swales, pre-formed scour
holes, vegetated buffers, etc.) before entering the stream. Please refer to NCDOT Best Management
Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters
5. Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream. Concrete is
mostly made up of lime (calcium carbonate) and when in a dry or wet state (not hardened) calcium
carbonate is very soluble in water and has a pH of approximately 12. In an unhardened state concrete
401 Transportation Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 One
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 NofthCarohna
Phone: [phone] / FAX [phone] / Internet: httn://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwettands 7 '....H.

or cement will change the pH of fresh water to very basic and will cause fish and other
macroinvertebrate kills.
6. If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream.
7. If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, they should be removed back to original ground
elevations immediately upon the completion of the project. Disturbed areas should be seeded or
mulched to stabilize the soil and native tree species should be planted with a spacing of not more than
10'x10'. If possible, when using temporary structures the area should be cleared but not grubbed.
Clearing the area with chain saws, mowers, bush-hogs, or other mechanized equipment and leaving
the stumps and root mat intact, allows the area to re-vegetate naturally and minimizes disturbed soil.
8. A clear bank (rip rap-free) area of at least 10 feet should remain on each side of the steam underneath
the bridge.
9. Sedimentation and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be
implemented prior to any ground disturbing activities. Structures should be maintained regularly,
especially following rainfall events.
10. Bare soil should be stabilized through vegetation or ocher means as quickly as feasible to. prevent
sedimentation of water resources.
11. All work in or adjacent to stream waters should be conducted in a dry work area. Sandbags, rock
berms, cofferdams, or other diversion structures should be used where possible to prevent excavation
in flowing water.
12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to
minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This
equipment should be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from
leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
III. General Comments if Replacing the Bridge with a Culvert
1. The culvert must be designed to allow for aquatic life and fish passage. Generally, the culvert or pipe
invert should be buried at least 1 foot below the natural streambed (measured from the--natural thalweg
depth). If multiple barrels are required, barrels other than the base flow barrel(s) should be placed on or
near stream bankfull or floodplain bench elevation (similar to Lyonsfield design). These should be
reconnected to floodplain benches as appropriate. This may be accomplished by utilizing sills on the
upstream end to restrict or divert flow to the base flow barrel(s). Sufficient water depth should be
provided in the base flow barrel during low flows to accommodate fish movement. If culverts are
longer than 40-50 linear feet, alternating or notched baffles should be installed in a manner that mimics
existing stream pattern. This should enhance aquatic life passage: 1) by depositing sediments in the
barrel, 2) by maintaining channel depth and flow. regimes, and 3) by providing resting places for fish
and other aquatic organisms. In essence, the base flow barrel(s) should provide a continuum of water
depth and channel width without substantial modifications of velocity.
2. If multiple pipes or cells are used, at least one pipe or box should be designed to remain dry during
normal flows to allow for wildlife passage.
3. Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever possible to avoid
channel realignment. Widening the stream channel should be avoided. Stream channel widening at
the inlet or outlet end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing sediment deposition that
requires increased maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage.
4. Riprap should not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner that
precludes aquatic life passage. Bioengineering boulders or structures should be professionally
designed, sized, and installed.
In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure.
If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour should be designed and located to avoid wetland
impacts, minimize the need for clearing and to avoid destabilizing stream banks. If the structure will be
on a new alignment, the old structure should be removed and the approach fills removed from the 100-
year floodplain. Approach fills should be removed down to the natural ground elevation. The area
should be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall fescue should not be used in
riparian areas. If the area that is reclaimed was previously wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to
wetlands. If successful, the site may be used as wetland mitigation for the subject project or other
projects in the watershed.
Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water
Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality
standards are met and designated uses are not degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require
additional information, please contact Brian Wrenn 919-733-5115.
pc: Steve Lund, USACE Asheville Field Office
Chris Militscher, USEPA
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
File Copy

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTWNT OF TRANSPORTATION
MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GOVERNOR
July 16, 2004
Mr. Brian Wrenn
Department of Environment & Natural Resources
Department of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Dear Mr. Wrenn:
LYNDO TIPPETT
SECRETARY
;AIF a 4_A M,1401 GROUP
JUL 2, 2 .2004
INt1A! ER OtiAL Y SECTION
SUBJECT: Notification of Start of Study and Request for Environmental Input
NCDOT Bridge Replacement Group #48
The Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch (PDEA) of the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), has begun studying alternatives for the
proposed replacements of the bridges listed below. These projects are included in the 2004 -
2010 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and are scheduled for right of
way acquisition to begin in Federal Fiscal Year 2005 (FFY05) and construction to begin in
Federal Fiscal Year 2006 (FFY06). Site location maps and other project information are attached
for your review.
TIP No. Federal Aid No. State NCDOT County Project Description
Project Division
No.
B-4061 BRZ-1727(1) 8.2792301 12 Catawba Replace Bridge No. 90 on SR 1727
(Boggs Road over Hagan Creek
B-4062 BRZ-1880(1) 8.2792401 12 Catawba Replace Bridge No. 127 on SR 1880
(St. James Church Road) over Pinch
Cut Creek
We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating
the potential social, economic, and/or environmental impacts of these projects. If applicable,
please identify any permits or approvals that may be required by your agency. Your comments
will be used in the preparation of a federally funded Categorical Exclusion (CE) document for
each project. These documents will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act. It is desired that your agency respond by August 20, 2004 so that your comments can
be used in the preparation of this document. Please note that there will be no formal interagency
scoping meetings for these projects.
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1548
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WEBSITE: WWW.NCDOT.ORG
LOCATION:
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC
WS--1 V
C
2
If you have any questions concerning the project, please contact Mr. John Conforti,
Project Development Engineer, of this Branch at [phone], Extension 208.
Sincerely,
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Director
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
GJT/plr

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LOCATION MAP
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