20180514 Ver 1_20180322_letter_Service to NCDOT_RobesonCoBridges_Woodstork_20180411

United States Department of the Interior
F15H AND WILDL[FE SERVIC�
Raleigh Field Qftice
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Caralina 27636-372b
March 22, 2018
James Rerka
North Carolina Department of Transpartation
P.O. Box 1150
Fayetteviile, NC 28302
Dear Mr. Rerko:
This letter is in response to yaur memorandum of March 20, 2018 which provided the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) with t�e binlogical conclusion of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation that the fol[awin� three proposed bridge replacement projects in Rabeson County
may affect, b�t are �ot likely to adversely affect the federalIy threatened wood stork (Mycteria
amerrcana). These comments are provided in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered 5pecies
Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended ( l 6 U.S.C. 1531-1543).
• Bridge No. 770028 on NC 83 over Leith Creek
• Bridge No. 770149 on SR 1122 over First Swamp
• Bridge No. 770228 on SR 1513 over Burnt Swamp
According to yaur submitted informatior�, the sites were surveyed for wood stork nests on March 15,
2018. No wood storks or wood stork nests were abserved, although pate�tial foraging habitat was
present. Based on available infarmation, the Service concurs with your biological conclusion t�at the
project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the wood storlc. We believe that ti�e
requirements of Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA have been satisfied. We remind you that obligations
under Section 7 consultation must be reconsidered if: (1) new infarmation reveals impacts of this
identified actian that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a tnanner not pre�iously
considered in this review; (2) this action is subsequently modified in a manner that was not
considered in this review; or {3) a new species is listed or critical habitat determined that may be
affected by this identifed action. [f you have any questions regarding ovr response, please contact
Mr. Gary ]ordan at [phone] (Ext. 32}.
Sincerely,
�Pete Benjamin
Field SUpervisor
Electronic copy provided to:
Liz Hair, USACE, Wilmington, NC
Travis Wilsan, NCWRC, Creedmaor, NC
Nancy Scott, T�ree Oaks Engineering, Durham, NC