19960975 Ver 1_Mitigation Project Review_20090217

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
2/17/2009
Mr. Phil Edwards
Columbus County
467 Airport Road
Whiteville, NC 28472
Subject Property: Columbus County Airport
Re: EPA Program Implementation Grant - Review of mitigation projects by DWQ
Dear Mr. Edwards:
DWQ # 19960975
Columbus County
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit has received a
Program Implementation grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to review the success of
compensatory mitigation projects in North Carolina. Two DWQ staff members, Eric Kulz and Tammy
Hill, with assistance from other staff at DWQ, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Ecosystem
Enhancement Program (EEP), have been working to compile a comprehensive list of mitigation projects
initiated in North Carolina from 1996-2006. From this population, a random sample was generated,
stratified proportionately to the number of projects initiated through various processes: Mitigation banks,
NCDOT off-site mitigation, EEP/WRP projects, EEP Full-Delivery projects, permittee-responsible
mitigation, and other (generally municipal) mitigation projects.
Evaluation of mitigation projects will involve file review and a site visit by DWQ staff, and will be based
on the attainment of success criteria outlined in the approved mitigation plan. Evaluation of projects that
have been released from monitoring and transferred into long-term protection will be based upon
adherence to the terms of the protection mechanism.
The above-referenced project was randomly selected for evaluation. Site visits will be conducted in
Columbus County during the week of March 2-6,2009.
Our files indicate that you are currently responsible for this mitigation project. Please contact Tammy
Hill at [phone] or [e-mail] to schedule a site visit, to correct contact
information, or for more information regarding this program. We appreciate your cooperation as we
strive to ensure the quality of aquatic resources in our State.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] i FAX: [phone]
Internet: http://h2o,enr.state.nc,us/ncwetlands/
NorthCarolina
Naturally
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
DWQ Evaluation of Mitigation Projects
Page 2 of 2
Sincerely,
(1??' c' ?4
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Tammy Hill)
Matt Matthews, Division of Water Quality, Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
Chad Coburn, Division of Water Quality, Wilmington Regional Office
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Tracy Rush, Dr. J.H. Carter III & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 891, Southern Pines, NC 28388