20110569 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20081208

O?OF W ATFRQG Michael F Easley Governor
William G Ross Jr, Secretary
r North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Coleen H Sullins Director
Division of Water Quality
December 8, 2008
MEMORANDUM
TO Christy Wright, P E , Bridge Project Planning Engineer, NCDOT
FROM Polly Lespinasse, NC Division of Water Quality, Mooresville Regional Office
SUBJECT Scoping Review of NCDOT's Proposed Bridge Replacement Project, TIP Project No 8-
4061, Replacement of Bridge No 90 on SR 1727 (Boggs Road) Over Hagan Fork in
Catawba County
In reply to your correspondence dated November 19, 2008, (received November 21, 2008) in which you
requested comments for the above referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) offers the
following comments
General Comments Regarding Bridge Replacement Projects
DWQ is very concerned with sediment and erosion impacts that could result from this project NC
DOT shall address these concerns by describing the potential impacts that may occur to the aquatic
environments and any mitigating factors that would reduce the impacts
2 If foundation test borings are necessary, it shall be noted in the document Geotechnical work is
approved under General 401 Certification Number 3687/Nationwide Permit No 6 for Survey Activities
3 If a bridge is being replaced with a hydraulic conveyance other than another bridge, DWQ believes the
use of a Nationwide Permit may be required Please contact the US Army Corp of Engineers to
determine the required permit(s)
4 If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is allowed unless
otherwise authorized by the US ACOE Strict adherence to the Corps of Engineers guidelines for
bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification
5 Whenever possible, the DWQ prefers spanning structures Spanning structures usually do not require
work within the stream or grubbing of the stream banks and do not require stream channel
realignment The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by bridges allow for human and wildlife
passage beneath the structure, do not block fish passage and do not block navigation by canoeists
and boaters
6 Bridge deck drains shall not discharge directly into the stream Stormwater shall 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 the most current version of NC
DWQ Stormwater Best Management Practices
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7 If concrete is used during construction, a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact
between curing concrete and stream water Water that inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall
not be discharged to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and
fish kills
8 Bridge supports (bents) shall not be placed in the stream when possible
9 If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, the site shall be graded to its preconstruction
contours and elevations Disturbed areas shall be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and
appropriate native woody species shall be planted When using temporary structures the area shall 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 soil disturbance
10 Sediment and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented
and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual and the most recent version of NCS000250
11 All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area unless otherwise
approved by NC DWQ Approved BMP measures from the most current version of NCDOT
Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams and other
diversion structures shall be used to prevent excavation in flowing water
12 Heavy equipment shall 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
shall be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels,
lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials
13 in most cases, the DWQ prefers the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with
road closure If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour shall 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 shall be removed and the approach fills removed
from the 100-year floodplain Approach fills shall be removed and restored to the natural ground
elevation The area shall be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species Tall fescue
shall not be used in riparian areas
General Comments if Replacing the Bridge with a Culvert
Placement of culverts and other structures in waters, streams, and wetlands shall be below the
elevation of the streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20
percent of the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than 48 inches, to allow low flow
passage of water and aquatic life Design and placement of culverts and other structures including
temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a manner that may result in dis-
equilibrium of wetlands or streambeds or banks, adjacent to or upstream and down stream of the
above structures The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being maintained
if requested in writing by DWQ If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock or other limiting
features encountered during construction, please contact the NC DWQ for guidance on how to
proceed and to determine whether or not a permit modification will be required
2 If multiple pipes or barrels are required, they shall be designed to mimic natural stream cross section
as closely as possible including pipes or barrels at flood plain elevation and/or sills where appropriate
Widening the stream channel shall 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
3 Riprap shall 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 shall be properly designed,
sized and installed
Thank you for requesting our input at this time The NCDOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water
Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be implemented 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 Polly Lespinasse at [phone]
cc Steve Lund, US Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Field Office
Ron Lucas, Federal Highway Administration
Chris Militscher, Environmental Protection Agency (electronic copy)
Marla Chambers, NC Wildlife Resources Commission (electronic copy)
Marella Buncick, US Fish and Wildlife Service (electronic copy)
Sonia Gregory, DWQ Central Regional Office
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