SAW-2004-21120-PN

i i
i���i
US Army Corps
Of Engineers
Wilmington District
PUBLIC NOTICE
Issue Date: April 5, 2018
Coininent Deadline: May 5, 2018
Corps Action ID Number: SAW-2004-2ll20
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) received information from the
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regarc�ing a potential future
requirement for Departinent of the Army authorization to discharge dredged or fill
n7aterial into waters of tlle United States, associated with wideuing of US 158 (Reidsville
Road) to a inulti-lane facility, fi-om the existing multi-lane section north of I-40
Business/US 421 in Forsyth County to US 220 in Guilford County. A new location
bypass around Stokesdale, Guilford County, is also piroposed as part of this project. (STIP
Project Number R-2577)
Specific plans and location infonnation are described below and shown on the attached
plans. This Public Not�ice and all attached plans are also available on the Wilinington
District Web Site at
http://www.saw.usace. army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPeril�itPro�ram.aspx
Applicant:
Authority
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
Central Project Delivery Team
Attn: Karen Reynolds,
Senior Project Plamlulg Enguleer
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548
The Corps will evaluate this application to compare alternatives that have beetl canied
forward for detailed shidy pursuant to applicable procedures of the following Statutory
Authorities:
� Sectioi1404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
❑ Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403)
❑ Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
(33 U.S.C. 1413)
In order to more fiilly integrate Section 404 pen�nit requirements with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and to give careful consideration to our required
public interest review and 404(b)( l) coir�pliance deten�nination, the Corps is solicitiilg
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public comment on the merits of this proposal and on the alternatives considered. At the
close of this comment period, the District Commander will evaluate and consider the
comments received, as well as the expected adverse and beneficial effects of the proposed
road construction, to select the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative
(LEDPA). The District Commander is not authorizing construction of the proposed
project at this time. A final DA permit may be issued only after our review process is
complete, impacts to the aquatic environment have been minimized to the maximum
extent practicable, and a compensatory mitigation plan for unavoidable impacts has been
approved.
Location
Location Description:
Nearest Town: Winston Salem and Stokesdale
Nearest Waterway: Troublesome and Belews Creek
River Basin: Cape Fear, Roanoke, and Yadkin
Latitude and Longitude: 36.1908 N, -80.1035W
The proposed project begins in northeastern Forsyth County near the city of Winston-
Salem, and extends north east approximately 18.8 miles into Guilford County along US
158 to Stokesdale, North Carolina. The study area boundary for this project encompasses
the proposed transportation improvements as shown on attachment/Figure 1.
The proposed project, in addition to widening existing US 158, would also include a new
location bypass around Stokesdale as shown on attachment/Figure 1.
Existing Site Conditions
Forsyth and Guilford County is located within the piedmont region of central North
Carolina. The project is located in the northern fringes of Winston-Salem, where
historically rural agricultural land use is transitioning to residential and commercial
developments. The roadways to be improved as part of the proposed project include US
158 (Principle arterial), NC 66 (Minor arterial), NC 65 (Minor arterial), NC 68 (Principle
arterial), and US 220 (Principle arterial). Principal arterials provide a high degree of
mobility by serving major centers of inetropolitan areas, as well as providing mobility
through rural areas. Minor arterials serve smaller geographic areas and offer connectivity
to the higher Arterial system, such as principal arterials, freeways and expressways.
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US 158 (Reidsville Road) is a primarily two-lane, undivided highway with grass
shoulders within the project study area that connects I-40 Business/US 421 in Winston-
Salem with US 220 (I-73) north of Greensboro. There is currently no control-of-access
along US 158, which limits the level of mobility and travel speeds through the corridor
due to numerous driveways for residences and businesses on both sides of the road. The
existing right-of-way of US 158, within the project study area, varies between 60 and
300 feet, and the existing speed limit varies between 35 miles per hour (mph) and 55
mph.
NC 66 (Old Hollow Road) is mostly a two-lane, undivided highway with grass shoulders
that crosses over US 158 in Walkertown in Forsyth County. The existing speed limit
along NC 66 within the project study area is 45 mph. There is currently no control-of-
access along NC 66 within the project study area. STIP Project U-5824 proposes to
widen NC 66 north of US 158 and will also improve the intersection with US 158. STIP
Project U-5824 is programmed in the 2018-2027 STIP and is scheduled for right-of-way
acquisition in 2020 and construction in 2022.
NC 65 (Belews Creek Road) is a two-lane, undivided highway with grass shoulders that
intersects with US 158 in Stokesdale in Guilford County. The existing speed limit along
NC 65 within the project study area is 35 mph. There is currently no control-of-access
along NC 65 within the project study area.
NC 68 is mostly a two-lane, undivided highway with grass shoulders that crosses over
US 158 in Stokesdale in Guilford County. The existing speed limit along NC 68 within
the project study varies between is 35 mph and 50 mph. There is currently no control-of-
access along NC 68 within the project study area.
US 220 is the eastern terminus of the project, and is a four-lane, median divided facility.
US 220 is part of the future I-73 corridor that starts at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina,
runs through North Carolina and further north through Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and
Michigan. An interchange has recently been constructed where US 158 connects with US
220. Full control-of-access exists along US 158 near the new interchange with US 220.
Water resources in the Study Area are part of the Cape Fear, Roanoke, and Yadkin river
basins [U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hydrologic Units 03030002, 03010103, and
03040101, respectively]. There are 172 jurisdictional streams, 32 jurisdictional and non-
jurisdictional other surface waters (ponds), and 244 jurisdictional wetlands within the
project study area.
There are no designated anadromous fish waters, Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), or trout
waters present in the project study area. There are no designated High Quality Waters
(HQW) or water supply watersheds (WS-I or WS-II) within 1.0 mile downstream of the
project study area. There are no waters listed on the North Carolina 2010 Fina1303(d) list
of impaired waters due to excessive sedimentation and turbidity within 1.0 mile
downstream of the project study area. No waters within the project study area have been
identified by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) as trout
waters; therefore, no moratoria are anticipated for the proposed project. The National
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Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has not identified any streams within the project study
area as an Essential Fish Habitat. There are no streams within the project study area
determined by the USACE as Navigable Waters under Section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act.
A field verification for NCDOT's delineation was performed on January 10, 2012 and
February 1, 2012. A subsequent approved jurisdictional determination was issued on
Apri13, 2012, and has expired. As such, the location and extent of potential waters of the
US are subject to change.
Applicant's Stated Purpose
Need for the Project:
• Transportation deficiencies exist along US 158 in the project studv area and are
projected to decline by the DesiQn Year 2040.
The current (2017) No-Build traffic volumes on existing US 158 range from 21,000
vehicles per day (vpd), at the project beginning, to 7,000 vpd just east of the US 220
interchange, the project ending terminus. By the Design Year 2040, the No-Build traffic
volumes along US 158 are expected to range from 24,400 vpd, at the beginning of the
project, to 8,100 vpd just east of the US 220 (I-73) interchange. The truck forecast in
2040 is anticipated to range between 4% - 6% for Duals (dual axle trucks) and 4% - 12%
for TTSTs (tractor trailer trucks).
In 2040, twenty (20) out of thirty (30) intersections analyzed within the project study area
would function at a level of service (LOS) E or F during at least one peak hour (AM Peak
or PM Peak). These projected deficiencies would cause substantial travel delay, increase
the potential for accidents and contribute to the inefficient operation of motor vehicles.
• Protection of the mobility and connectivity functions of the US 158 corridor
The proposed project was part of 55 highway corridors across the state defined in the
North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridors (SHC) Policy that was adopted by the NC
Board or Transportation in 2004. The SHC Policy represented a timely initiative to
protect the mobility and connectivity functions of critical highway facilities, while
promoting environmental stewardship through maximizing the use of existing facilities to
the extent possible.
The SHC Policy has since been replaced by the North Carolina Strategic Transportation
Corridors (STC) Network that represents NCDOT's highest priority for long-term
preservation and improvement of 25 corridors across the State. US 158, between Winston
Salem and US 220, is not identified as one of the 25 STC corridors, but it is shown as a
"low volume US Route" on the Strategic Corridor Element 2: Freight and Passenger
Mobility Map which objective is to serve "major inter-regional travel with higher levels
of service, moving high volumes of passenger or freight trafiic, and providing multiple
transportation opportunity in travel or shipping in the corridor."
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US 158 between Winston-Salem and US 220 north of Greensboro is also listed on the
National Highway System (NHS) which includes roadways that are important to the
nation's economy, defense, and mobility. It is identified as a Moving Ahead for Progress
(MAP)-21 Principal Arterial on the NHS map for Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Purpose of the Project:
The project purpose is to improve traffic flow and LOS along US 158, within the project
limits. Additionally, this project would also improve the mobility and connectivity
functions of the US 158 corridor.
Project Description
The NCDOT proposes to widen and upgrade approximately 18.8 miles of US 158
(Reidsville Road) to a multi-lane facility, from the existing multi-lane section north of I-
40 Business/US 421 in Forsyth County to US 220 in Guilford County. The project is
divided into three sections, Sections A, B, and C, for scheduling and funding purposes:
• Section A starts north of US 421/I-40 Business and ends just east of the SR 1965
(Belews Creek Road)/SR 2011 (Vance Road) intersection in Forsyth County.
• Section B starts just east of the SR 1965 (Belews Creek Road)/SR 2011 (Vance
Road) intersection in Forsyth County and ends just east of the SR 2034 (Anthony
Road) intersection in Guilford County.
• Section C starts just east of the SR 2034 (Anthony Road) intersection with US
158 in Guilford County and ends just east of the US 220 interchange.
The Build Alternatives under consideration for R-2577 consist of widening alternatives
along Sections A and B, and two new-location alternatives for Section C, R-2577C
Alternative 2 and R-2577C Alternative 3.
Detailed Study Alternatives (DSA)
Several widening options were considered along existing US 158 for Sections A and B of
the project. Widening options were eliminated during the NEPA/Section 404 Merger
Process. The following widening options currently under consideration for the seven (7)
widening option segments that comprise Sections A and B are shown in Table 1. The
seven widening segments of Sections A and B serve to constitute an overall best-fit
roadway design for R-2577A and R-2577B.
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Table 1. Segment Widening Options for Sections A and B
Project Segment Termini Des n p' ons or`
Se n en � r'i,�er ���i�y —"-
Segment 1 West of Old Greensboro Road to Darrow Northern widening
Road
Segment 2 Darrow Road to N.C. 66 Transitional widening
Segment 3 NC 66 to Flat Rock Road Southern widening
Transitional widening
Segment 4 Flat Rock Road to Goodwill Church Road Transitional widening
Segment 5 Goodwill Church Road to Peaceful Valley Transitional widening
Drive
Segment 6 Peaceful Valley Drive to Coldwater Road Transitional widening
Segment 7 Coldwater Road to Anthony Road Northern widening
Several new location alternatives were considered and evaluated and soine have been
eliminated during the NEPA/Section 404 Merge�� Process. The new-location alternatives
currently under consideration for Section C include R-2577C Alternative 2, south of
Stokesdale, and R-2577C Alternative 3, north of Stokesdale.
• R-2577C Alternative 2 talces off on new location just east of the SR 2014 (Anthony
Road)/US 158 intersection, loops around the south side of Stokesdale, crosses NC 68 just
south of Prince Edward Road, ties back into existing US 158 just east of the existing
Ellison Road intersection, and ends at the project's easter�z terminLts just east of the US
220 interchange.
• R-2577C Alternative 3 follows existing US l 58 fi-om just east of the SR 2014
(Anthony Road)/US l 58 intersection and takes off on new location at the Branson Road
intersection with US 158, loops around the north side of Stokesdale, has a proposed
interchange at the existing NC 65 and NC 68 intersection, and ties back into existing US
220 at the Athens Road intersection with US 158, and ends at the project's eastern
tei7ninus just east of US 220.
In addition to the Build Alternatives (i.e., Detailed Study Alternatives), a No-Build
Alternative was also retained as a baseline against which the benefits, costs, and impacts
of the Build Alternatives could be compared. NCDOT has preliminarily determined that
tl�e No-Build Altei-native would not meet tlle project's ptuposes.
Impacts to waters of the United States for the Detailed Shidy Alternatives are listed in
Table 2. These impact estimates were calculated based on preliminary roadway design
slope stake liiuits plus 25 feet.
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i anie �. �tream ana wetiana impacts
uild Alternatives re " e an — a e o
, �
Sections A&B — Widening (Segment 3 was the
only segment with multiple alternatives)
With Segment 3 Southern Widening 3,026 0.3 4.7
With Segment 3 Transitional Widening 3,202 0.3 4.4
Section C— New Location and Widening
R-2577C Alternative 2(South of 3,335 1.5 0.6
Stokesdale)
R-2577C Alternative 3(North of Stokesdale 2,842 0.6 0.0
*Based on preliminary roadway design slope stakes plus 25 feet.
Avoidance, Minimization and Compensatory Mitigation
Through development of the preliminary fiinctional designs within the DSAs, NCDOT
has attempted to �void impacts to streams and wetlands to the greatest practicable extent.
This included developing alignments and interchange configiu-ations for the DSAs that
avoided these resources as much as possible, while also ininiinizing iu�pacts to other
resources. NCDOT will continue to seek ways to avoid and miniinize impacts in further
design efforts for the selected Altei7iative.
The purpose of compensatory initigation is to offset unavoidable functional losses to the
aquatic environment resulting fronl project impacts to waters of the United States.
NCDOT will investigate potential on-site compensatory mitigatioii opportunities for the
selected alternative. If on-site initigation is not feasible, or a siifficient ainount of
initigatioii is not available on-site, mitigation will be provided by the NC Division of
Mitigation Services (NCDMS).
Essential Fish Habitat
Pursuant to the Magiluson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, tl�is
Pl�blic Notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements. The
Corps' initial detei-�niilation is that the proposed project would not effect EFH or
associated fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Manageinent
Councils or tlle National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cultural Resources
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The proposed project is subject to compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, and implemented by the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservations' Regulations for Compliance with Section 106,
codified as 36 CFR Part 800. Section 106 requires federal agencies to take into account of
their undertakings (federally-funded, licenses, or permitted) on properties included in or
eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and to afford the
Advisory Council a reasonable opportunity to comments on such undertakings.
Architectural Resources
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA, an initial, project field survey
conducted in 2011, identified 390 resources that were greater than fifty years of age
within the project study area. These findings were presented to the Historic Preservation
Office (HPO) on January 24, 2012, where 30 resources were identified as meriting
further investigation. Additionally, the potential bypass routes around the town of
Stokesdale were surveyed in March 2012, and an additiona190 resources were identified.
These resources were reviewed by the HPO in May 2012, and it was determined that no
further investigation was merited for these resources.
Of the 30 resources investigated, six were determined eligible for NRHP listing by the
HPO. The Stokesdale Commercial Historic District was also determined edible for
listing. An assessment form of effects was completed by the HPO and NCDOT on July 9,
2013 and amended on September 22, 2015. It was determined that the only NRHP-
eligible property that would be adversely affected by the project is Edgewood Baptist
Church (FY 2392). NCDOT held another meeting with the HPO on January 8, 2018, after
refinement of the preliminary designs, and re-affirming the historic property boundary for
Edgewood Baptist Church. NCDOT is currently investigating further minimization
measures to the church and will continue coordinating with the HPO and the church to
develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address impacts to the church.
Archaeolo�ical Resources
Phase I and Phase II surveys were conducted for archaeological resources within the
project Area of Potential Effects (APE). However, during the Phase I archaeological
survey, 33 archaeological sites and 33 isolated finds were identified. Sites were
comprised of 21 historic sites, one historic burial site, four prehistoric sites, and seven
sites with both prehistoric and historic components. In total there were 9 historic isolated
finds and 24 prehistoric isolated finds. Of the 33 sites identified, 32 were recommended
as ineligible for NRHP listing. Phase II testing was conducted on 10 of the 33 sites in
order to definitely determine their NRHP eligibility. The only site that was determined to
have the potential for NRHP eligibility is site LS-15, which contains two historic graves
covered with rock slabs. Because of the unusual burial treatment and presence of
artifacts, this site's eligibility is unknown pending further research. Archival research
may provide more information about the interred, the time period, and ethnicity. If so, the
site may meet NRHP eligibility criteria.
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Site LS-15 is located within the project study area of R-2577C Altei-native 3, the
proposed new location alternative north of Stolcesdale, but is not located within or near
the const�uction limits of this alternative.
Endangered Species
Species with the federal classification of Endangered (E), Threate�led (T), or officially
Proposed (P) for such �listing, are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of
1973 (16 USC 1531 et seq.) as ainended.
In lists updated on March 25, 2015 and July 24, 2015, respectively, the U.S. Fish ai�d
Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists one federally protected species for Guilfoid County, and
tl�ree federally protected species for Forsyth County, as shown ii1 Table 3. A biief
description of the species' habitat reqiiirements follows, along with the Biological
Conclusion rendered based on survey results in the Study Area. Habitat requirements for
the species are based on the current best available infornlation froin referenced literature
and/or USFWS.
Table 3. Federally Protected Species Listed for Forsyth and Guilford Counties
Scientific Name � Common Name � County Federal _ � Habitat Biological�
� , Status
',I
Glyptemys
muhlenbergii
Picoides borealis �
Cardamine
micranthera
Isotria
medeoloides
�i I
Bog turtle I Forsyth
Red-cockaded
woodpecker*
Small-anthered
bittercress*
Small whorled
pogonia
T(S/A)
Forsyth E
Forsyth E
Guilford � T
T—Threatened; E— Endangered; T(5/A) - Threatened due to similarity of appearance
* Historic record (the species was last observed in the county more than 50 years ago)
Present Conclusion �
Yes Not Required.
No No Effect
Yes � Unresolved
Yes
No Effect
Natural Herita�g�•ain (NHP) Database Review:
• Per a review of tlle NHP database on 2/28/2018, there are i�o occurrences of sinall
whorled pogonia with 1 mile of the Guilford County portion of the project.
• Per a review of the NHP database on 2/28/2018, there is one occtlrrence of slnall-
anthered bittercress within 1 mile of the Forsyth CoLmty portion of the project. The
occunence (EO ilumber 1) is approxiinately 2,000 feet olitside of the project stlidy
area and is listed as extirpated in the database.
Northenl Loi�g-eared Bat (NLEB):
Since this project is state-fiinded, the U.S. Ariny Corps of Engineers (USACE) will act as
the lead agency for issues related to the northern long-eared bat (NLEB).
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For the Division 7 Section (Guilford County): The USFWS has developed a
programmatic biological opinion (PBO) in conjunction with the FHWA, the USACE, and
NCDOT for the NLEB in eastern North Carolina. The PBO covers the entire NCDOT
program in Divisions 1-8, including all NCDOT projects and activities. The
programmatic determination for NLEB for the NCDOT program is "May Affect, Likely
to Adversely Affect". The PBO provides incidental take coverage for NLEB and will
ensure compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for five years for all
NCDOT projects with a federal nexus in Divisions 1-8, which includes Guilford County,
where a portion of R-2577ABC is located. This level of incidental take is authorized from
the effective date of a final listing determination through Apri130, 2020.
For the Division 9 Section (Forsyth County): The USACE has developed a Standard
Local Operating Procedure for Endangered Species (SLOPES) to address NLEB when
they are the lead agency, which NCDOT will follow for the portions of the project within
Forsyth County. The requirements of the SLOPES for NLEB will be completed prior to
Let and will be submitted to the USACE.
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable
impacts including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That
decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important
resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal
must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be
relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof;
among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns,
wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values
(in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and
accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety,
food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and, in
general, the needs and welfare of the people. For activities involving the discharge of
dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of the impact of the
activity on the public interest will include application of the Environmental Protection
Agency's 404(b)(1) guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local
agencies and ofiicials, including any consolidated State Viewpoint or written position of
the Governor; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate
the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the
Corps of Engineers to select the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative
(LEDPA) for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts
on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects
and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of
an Environmental Assessment (EA) ancl/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments are also used to
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determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the
proposed activity.
NCDOT held two Design Public Meetings in October 2017 to update the public on the
project studies, to present the design alternatives, and to request public comments on the
design alternatives and the project in general. The meetings were held on two separate
evenings at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown on October 24, 2017, and at
the Stokesdale Town Hall on October 26, 2017. A total of 687 citizens signed in at the
meetings, with 168 citizens providing comments by the end of the advertised comment
period.
Written comments pertinent to the proposed work, as outlined above, will be received by
the Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, until5pm, May 5, 2018. Comments should
be submitted to James C. Lastinger, Raleigh Regulatory Field Office,
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105 , Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587, at (919) 554-
4884 extension 32, or by email to James.C.Lastin�r(a�usace.army.mil.
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