20180816 Ver 1_local buffer approval_20180724

TOWN OF OAK RIDGE
BUFFER USE REQUEST FORM
i 000 ^� /)IeArdG /J_
General Information: P/ ^° OAOlo r Z
Project Name (subdivision, facility, or establishment name): Watts Property and Homestead
Location of Project (address): 5218 Williard Road, Oak Ridge, 27310
Parcel #(s): 7807655440
Buffer Impact information:
Zoning: N/A
Buffer Impact ID
Ac[iviry or Use
(From Section
Linear Impact
(feet)
Zone 1 Impact
(square feet)
Zone Z Impact
(square feet)
Mitigation
Required?
N/A
Driveway
100
6,325 sf
3,255 sf
No
crossings on
single-family
residential lots
that disturb
greater than 25
linear feet or
2,500 square
feet of rinarian
buffer
[ certify that this project meets all the following criteria far a determination of no practical alternatives:
A. The basic project purpose cannot be practically accomplished in a manner that would better minimize
disturbance, preserve aquatic life and habitat and protect water quality;
B. The use or activity cannot practically be reduced in size or density, reconfigured, modified or redesign to
better minimize disturbance, preserve aquatic life and habitat, and protect water quality; and
C. Best management practices shall be used as necessary to minimize disturbance, preserve aquatic life and
habitat, and protect water quality
Further, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all information supplied with this application is true and
accurate. rrrvvv111
Signature: Date:���f
Print Name: ` ;a ,. -� ' v it
1. Written narrative describing the proposal- must include:
a. Explanation of why this plan for the use or activity cannot be practically accomplished, reduced or
reconfigured to better minimize disturbance to the riparian buffer, preserve aquatic life and habitat
and protect water quality;
b. Description of measures taken to avoid or minimize the proposed impacts in designing the project;
c. Description of measures taken to avoid or minimize the proposed impacts through
construction techniques.
Y- �

2. Jurisdictional wetland determination- if applicable
3. Copy of 404 permit/ 401 certification- if applicable
4. Site Plan including all information relevant to the request.
Owners Information &Signatures
I hereby agree to conform to all applicable laws of the Town of Oak Ridge and the Slate of Nm•tH Carolina and certify [hat the information provided is
complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that by filing this application, representatives from the Town ofOok Ridge may enter
the subject property far the purpose of investigation and analysis of this request.
wnq •s gnatur(e Applicant/Engineer/Surveyor Signature
I tO
Mailing Addressti' D
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LYry State and ZlPCade }`-P_-.-y�¢-✓> V7UJt p�U
Phone Number Z..l J
Gity $tate and ZlPCade
Phone Number
Email Address .Ir. lvµ._��, l,J'M &mailAddt'ess

July 10I 2018
ROY COOPER
Goner nor
MICHAEL S. ftEGAN
Secreums
LINDA CULPF.PPER
Inierim Director
DWR # 20180816
Guilford County
Jonathan &Laura Watts
8140 Sangiovese Dr.
Kernersville NC 27284
Subject: APPROVAL OF 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION WITH ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
Watts Driveway
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Watts:
You have our approval for the impacts listed below for the purpose described in your application dated and
received by the Division of Water Resources (Division) on June 13, 2018, with payment received on June 15, 2018,
and with subsequent information on July 10, 2018. These impacts are covered by the attached Water Quality
General Certification Number 4139 and the conditions listed below. This certification is associated with the use of
Nationwide Permit Number 29 once it is issued to you by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Please note that you
should get any other federal, state or local permits before proceeding with your project, including those required
by (but not limited to) Sediment and Erosion Control, Non -Discharge, and Water Supply Watershed regulations.
This approval requires you to follow the conditions listed in the enclosed certification (s) or general permit and the
following additional conditions:
1. The following impacts are hereby approved provided that all of the other specific and general conditions of
the Certification are met. No other impacts are approved, including incidental impacts. [i5A NCAC 02H
.0506(b) and/or (c)]
Type of Impact Amount Approved (units)
2. This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application. The plans and specifications for
this project are incorporated by reference as part of the Certification. If you change your project, you must
notify the Division and you may be required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee.
If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this approval letter and General
Certifications)/Permit/Authorization and is responsible for complying with all conditions. [15A NCAC 02H
.0507(d)(2)]
r Slate of North Carolina I Environmental quality
450 W. Hanes Mill Road, Suite 30D, Winston-Saleml, Norfh Carolina 27105
Phone: [phone]tFAX: 336-776-9797
Amount Approved (units)
Permanent
Temporary
Strea m
Driveway Crossing
100 (linear feet)
0 (linear feet)
2. This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application. The plans and specifications for
this project are incorporated by reference as part of the Certification. If you change your project, you must
notify the Division and you may be required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee.
If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this approval letter and General
Certifications)/Permit/Authorization and is responsible for complying with all conditions. [15A NCAC 02H
.0507(d)(2)]
r Slate of North Carolina I Environmental quality
450 W. Hanes Mill Road, Suite 30D, Winston-Saleml, Norfh Carolina 27105
Phone: [phone]tFAX: 336-776-9797

Jonathan & Laura Watts
DW R# 20180816
401 APPROVAL
Page 2 of 3
3. The proposed project must comply with the
Town of Oak
Ridge local
water supply ordinance approved by
the N.C. Environmental Management Commission
(EMC)
as required
under the Jordan Lake Water Supply
Watershed: Protection and Maintenance of
Riparian Areas (Jordan Buffer
Rule) 15A NCAC 02B.0267.
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested. [G.S. 143-215.5]
This Certification can be contested as provided in Articles 3 and 4 of General Statute 15DB by filing a written petition
for an administrative hearing to the Office of Administrative Hearings (hereby known as OAH) within sixty (60)
calendar days.
A petition form may be obtained from the OAH at http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the OAH Clerk's Office at
[phone] for information. A petition is considered filed when the original and one (1) copy along with any
applicable OAH filing fee is received in the OAH during normal office hours (Monday through Friday between 8:00am
and 5:00pm, excluding official state holidays).
The petition may be faxed to the OAH at [phone], provided the original and one copy of the petition along
with any applicable OAH filing fee is received by the OAH within five (5) business days following the faxed
transmission.
Mailing address for the OAH:
If sending via US Postal Service: If sending via delivery service (UPS, FedEx, etc):
Office of Administrative Hearings Office of Administrative Hearings
6714 Mail Service Center 1711 New Hope Church Road
Raleigh, NC 27699-6714 - Raleigh, NC 27609-6285
One (1) copy of the petition must also be served to DEQ:
William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601

Jonathan & Laura Watts
D W RN 20180816
401 APPROVAL
Page 3 of 3
This letter completes the review of.the Division
under section
401 of the
Clean Water Act.
Please contact Sue
Homewood at 336-776-9693 or [e-mail]
if you have
any questions or
concerns. ,
Sincerely,
l/I.L vrK�V wLST
/I
Sherri V. Knight, P. E. ll
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ— WSRO
Enclosures: GC 4139
cc: Bobby Tucker, Bodhi Land &Design PLLC (via email)
David Bailey, USACE Raleigh Regulatory Field Office (via email)
Sean Taylor, Planning Director, Town of Oak Ridge (via email)
Olivia Munzer, NCWRC (via email)
DWR WSRO401file
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit file

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WILMINGTON DISTRICT
Action Id. SAW -2018-01265 County: Guilford U.S.G.S. Quad: NC -Summerfield
GENERAL PERMIT (REGIONAL AND NATIONWIDE) VERIFICATION
Permittee:
Address:
Size (acres)
Nearest Waterway
USGS HUC
Location description:
Jonathan and Laura Watts
8140 Sangiovese Drive
Kernersville, NC 27284
13.3
UT to Beaver Creek
Nearest Town Oak Ridge
River Basin Cape Fear
Coordinates 36.151065 N.
Description of projects area and activity: This verification authorizes the dischm•ge of dredged m• fill material into S00 linear feet
of stream channel necessary to install a culvert and upstream rip rap pad for a driveway crossing to a single family residential
lot.
Applicable Law(s): ® Section 404 (Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1344)
❑ Section 10 (Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 USC 403)
Authorization: NWP 29. Residential Developments
SEE ATTACHED NWP GENERAL, REGIONAL, AND/OR SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Your work is authorized by the above referenced permit provided it is accomplished in strict accordance with the enclosed
Conditions, your application signed and dated 7/13/2018 and updated information sent via email on 7/10/2018, and teen ose
plans C-01 and C-02 dated 7/6/2018. Any violation of the attached conditions or deviation from your submitted plans may subject
the permittee to a stop work order, a restoration order, a Class I administrative penalty, and/or appropriate legal action.
This verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below unless the nationwide authorization is modified, suspended
or revoked. If, prior to the expiration date identified below, the nationwide permit authorization is reissued and/or modified, this
verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below, provided it complies with all requirements of the modified
nationwide permit. If the nationwide permit authorization expires or is suspended, revoked, or is modified, such that the activity would
no longer comply with the terms and conditions of the nationwide permit, activities which have commenced (i.e., are wider construction)
or are under contract to commence in reliance upon the nationwide permit, will remain authorized provided the activity is completed
within twelve months of the date of the nationwide permit's expiration, modification or revocation, unless discretionary authority has
been exercised on a case-by-case basis to modify, suspend or revoke the authorization.
Activities subject to Section 404 (as indicated above) may also require an individual Section 401 Water Quality
Certification. You
should contact the NC Division of Water Resources (telephone [phone]) to determine Section 401 requirements.
For activities occurring within the twenty coastal counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), prior
to beginning work you must contact the N.C. Division of Coastal Management Morehead City, NC, at [phone].
This Department of the Army verification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain any other required Federal, State
or local approvals/permits.
If there are any questions regarding this verification, any of the conditions of the Permit, or the Corps of Engineers regulatory program,
please contact David E. Bailey at 919-554-4884 ext. 30 or David.E.Bailey2(a�usace.o•my.mil
.
/DigUillyUsionedby BAILEY.enVouE ol), ou3PKI
=BA1LEo=U.S.GJ37928nt,ouboU,ou=PKI, ou=USA.
/A�-�f.G ,n=BAItEYAAVI0E13I9183]36
Corps Regulatory Official: 131410-OfW Date: 07/11/2018
Expiration Date of Verification; 03/18/2022
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public To help us ensure we continue to do so,
please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at htto•//corpsmapu usace army mil/cmaVex/f p=136:4:0.
Copy furnished:
Bobby Tucker, Bodhi Design, 1300 Silk Hope -Liberty Road, Siler City,
NC 27344
Sue Homewood, NCDEQ-DWR, 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

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Action ID Number: SAW -2018-01265 County: Guilford
Permittee: Jonathan and Laura Watts
Project Name: Watts driveway / 5218 Williard Road / Oak Ridge / Guilford County / residential
Date Verification Issued: 07/11/2018
Project Manager: David E. Bailey,
Upon completion of the activity authorized by this permit and any mitigation required by the permit,
sign this certification and return it to the following address:
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WILMINGTON DISTRICT
Attn: David E. Bailey
Raleigh Regulatory Office
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587
or
[e-mail]
Please note that yoar permitted activity is subject to a compliance inspection by a U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers representative. Failure to comply with any terms or conditions of this authorization may
result in the Corps suspending, modifying or revoldng the authorization and/or issuing a Class I
administrative penalty, or initiating other appropriate legal action.
I hereby certify that the work authorized by the above referenced permit has been completed in
accordance with the terms and condition of the said permit, and required mitigation was completed in
accordance with the permit conditions.
Signature of Permittee
Date

NATIONWIDE PERMIT 29
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
FINAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE AND MODIFICATION OF NATIONWIDE PERMITS
FEDERAL REGISTER
AUTHORIZED MARCH 19, 2017
Residential Developments. Discharges of dredged or fill material into non- tidal waters of
the United States for the construction or expansion of a single residence, a multiple unit
residential development, or a residential subdivision. This NWP authorizes the construction
of building foundations and building pads and attendant features that are necessary for the use
of the residence or residential development. Attendant features may include but are not
limited to roads, parking lots, garages, yards, utility lines, storm water management facilities,
septic fields, and recreation facilities such as playgrounds, playing fields, and golf courses
(provided the golf course is an integral part of the residential development).
The discharge must not cause the loss of gteatet• than 1/2-act•e of non -tidal waters of the
United States. The discharge must not cause the loss of more than 300 linear feet of stream
bed, unless for intermittent and ephemeral stream beds the district engineer waives the 300
linear foot limit by making a written determination concluding that the discharge will result in
no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. This NWP does not authorize
discharges into non -tidal wetlands adjacent to tidal waters. The loss of stream bed plus any
other losses of jurisdictional wetlands and waters caused by the NWP activity cannot exceed
1/2 -acre.
Subdivisions: Fot• residential subdivisions, the aggregate total loss of waters of United States
authorized by this NWP cannot exceed 1/2 -acre. This includes any loss of waters of the
United States associated with development of individual subdivision lots.
Notification: The permittee must submit apre-construction notification to the district
engineer prior to commencing the activity. (See general condition 32.) (Authorities: Sections
10 and 404)

7. Water Supply Intakes. No activity may occur in the proximity of a public water
supply intake, except where the activity is for the repair or improvement of public water supply
intake structures or adjacent bank stabilization.
8. Adverse Effects From Impoundments. If the activity creates an impoundment
of water, adverse effects to the aquatic system due to accelerating the passage of water,
and/or restricting its flow must be minimized to the maximum extent practicable.
9. Management of Water Flows. To the maximum extent practicable, the pre -
construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters must be maintained for
each activity, including stream channelization, storm water management activities, and
temporary and permanent road crossings, except as provided below. The activity must be
constructed to withstand expected high flows. The activity must not restrict or impede the
passage of normal or high flows, unless the primary purpose of the activity is to impound water
or manage high flows. The activity may alter the pre -construction course, condition, capacity,
and location of open waters if it benefits the aquatic environment (e.g., stream restoration or
relocation activities).
10. Fills Within 100 -Year Floodplains. The activity must comply with applicable
FEMA -approved state or local floodplain management requirements.
11. Equipment. Heavy equipment working in wetlands or mudflats must be placed
on mats, or other measures must be taken to minimize soil disturbance.
12. Soil Erosion and Sediment Controls. Appropriate soil erosion and sediment
controls must be used and maintained in effective operating condition during construction, and
all exposed soil and other fills, as well as any work below the ordinary high water mark or
high tide line, must be permanently stabilized at the earliest practicable date. Permittees are
encouraged to perform work within waters of the United States during periods of low -flow or
no -flow, or during low tides.
13. Removal of Temporary Fills. Temporary fills must be removed in their entirety
and the affected areas returned to pre -construction elevations. The affected areas must be
revegetated, as appropriate.
14. Proper Maintenance. Any authorized structure or fill shall be properly
maintained, including maintenance to ensure public safety and compliance with applicable
NWP general conditions, as well as any activity -specific conditions added by the district
engineer to an NWP authorization.
15. Single and Complete Project. The activity must be a single and complete
project. The same NWP cannot be used more than once for the same single and complete
project.
16. Wild and Scenic Rivers. (a) No NWP activity may occur in a component of
the National Wild and Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a
"study river" for possible inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status,
3

might be affected by the proposed activity or that utilize the designated critical habitat that
might be affected by the proposed activity. The district engineer will determine whether the
proposed activity "may affect" or will have "no effect" to listed species and designated critical
habitat and will notify the non- Federal applicant of the Corps' determination within 45 days of
receipt of a complete pre- construction notification. In cases where the non -Federal applicant
has identified listed species or critical habitat that might be affected or is in the vicinity of the
activity, and has so notified the Corps, the applicant shall not begin work until the Corps has
provided notification that the proposed activity will have "no effect" on listed species or critical
habitat, or until ESA section 7 consultation has been completed. If the non -Federal applicant has
not heard back from the Corps within 45 days, the applicant must still wait for notification from
the Corps.
(d) As a result of formal or informal consultation with the FWS or NMFS the
district engineer may add species-specific permit conditions to the NWPs.
(e) Authorization of an activity by an NWP does not authorize the "take" of a
threatened or endangered species as defined under the ESA. In the absence of separate
authorization (e.g., an ESA Section 10 Permit, a Biological Opinion with "incidental take"
provisions, etc.) from the FWS or the NMFS, the Endangered Species Act prohibits any person
subject to thejurisdiction of the United States to take a listed species, where "take" means to
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage
in any such conduct. The word "harm" in the definition of "take" means an act which actually
kills or injures wildlife. Such an act may include significant habitat modification or degradation
where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral
patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.
(i) If the non-federal permittee has a valid ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take
permit with an approved Habitat Conservation Plan for a project or a group of projects that
includes the proposed NWP activity, the non-federal applicant should provide a copy of that
ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit with the PCN required by paragraph (c) of this general
condition. The district engineer will coordinate with the agency that issued the ESA section
I0(a)(1)(B) permit to determine whether the proposed NWP activity and the associated
incidental take were considered in the internal ESA section 7 consultation conducted for the
ESA section I0(a)(1)(B) permit. If that coordination results in concurrence from the agency
that the proposed NWP activity and the associated incidental take were considered in the
internal ESA section 7 consultation for the ESA section I0(a)(1)(B) permit, the district
engineer does not need to conduct a separate ESA section 7 consultation for the proposed NWP
activity. The district engineer will notify the non-federal applicant within 45 days of receipt of
a complete pre -construction notification whether the ESA section I0(a)(1)(B) permit covers the
proposed NWP activity or whether additional ESA section 7 consultation is required.
(g) Information on the location of threatened and endangered species and their
critical habitat can be obtained directly from the offices of the FWS and NMFS or their world
wide web pages at http://www.tWs.gov/ or htto://www.fws.gov/ipac and
http://www.ninfs.noaa.goN,/pr/species/esa/ respectively.
19. Migratory Birds and Bald and Golden Eagles. The permittee is responsible for
ensuring their action complies with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act. The permittee is responsible for contacting appropriate local office of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine applicable measures to reduce impacts to migratory

(d) For non-federal permittees, the district engineer will notify the prospective
permittee within 45 days of receipt of a complete pre -construction notification whether NHPA
section 106 consultation is required. If NHPA section 106 consultation is required, the district
engineer will notify the non -Federal applicant that he or she cannot begin the activity until
section 106 consultation is completed. If the non -Federal applicant has not heard back from the
Corps within 45 days, the applicant must still wait for notification from the Corps.
(e) Prospective permittees should be aware that section I 10k of the NI -IPA (54
U.S.C. 306113) prevents the Corps from granting a permit or other assistance to an applicant
who, with intent to avoid the requirements of section 106 of the NHPA, has intentionally
significantly adversely affected a historic property to which the permit would relate, or having
legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to occur, unless the Corps,
after consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), determines that
circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted
by the applicant. If circumstances justify granting the assistance, the Corps is required to
notify the ACHP and provide documentation specifying the circumstances, the degree of
damage to the integrity of any historic properties affected, and proposed mitigation. This
documentation must include any views obtained from the applicant, SHPO/THPO, appropriate
Indian tribes if the undertaking occurs on or affects historic properties on tribal lands or affects
properties of interest to those tribes, and other parties known to have a legitimate interest in the
impacts to the permitted activity on historic properties.
21. Discovery of Previously Unlmown Remains and Artifacts. If you discover
any previously unknown historic, cultural or archeological remains and artifacts while
accomplishing the activity authorized by this permit, you must immediately notify the district
engineer of what you have found, and to the maximum extent practicable, avoid construction
activities that may affect the remains and artifacts until the required coordination has been
completed. The district engineer will initiate the Federal, Tribal, and state coordination
required to determine if the items or remains warrant a recovery effort or if the site is eligible
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
22. Designated Critical Resource Waters. Critical resource waters include, NOAA-
managed marine sanctuaries and marine monuments, and National Estuarine Research
Reserves. The district engineer may designate, after notice and opportunity for public
comment, additional waters officially designated by a state as having particular environmental
or ecological significance, such as outstanding national resource waters or state natural
heritage sites. The district engineer may also designate additional critical resource waters after
notice and opportunity for public comment.
(a) Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are not
authorized by NWPs 7, 12, 14, 16, 17, 21, 29, 31, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 49, 50, 51, and 52 for
any activity within, or directly affecting, critical resource waters, including wetlands adjacent
to such waters.
(b) For N WPs 3, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, and
54, notification is required in accordance with general condition 32, for any activity proposed in
the designated critical resource waters including wetlands adjacent to those waters. The district
engineer may authorize activities under these N W Ps only after it is determined that the impacts
to the critical resource waters will be no more than minimal.
7

lieu fee program credits (see 33 CFR 332.3(b)(2) and (3)). However, if an appropriate number
and type of mitigation bank or in -lieu credits are not available at the time the PCN is submitted
to the district engineer, the district engineer may approve the use of permittee -responsible
mitigation.
(2) The amount of compensatory mitigation required by the district engineer must
be sufficient to ensure that the authorized activity results in no more than minimal individual
and cumulative adverse environmental effects (see 33 CFR 330.1(e)(3)). (See also 33 CFR
332.3(f)).
(3) Since the likelihood of success is greater and the impacts to potentially
valuable uplands are reduced, aquatic resource restoration should be the first
compensatory mitigation option considered for permittee -responsible mitigation.
(4) If permittee -responsible mitigation is the proposed option, the prospective
permittee is responsible for submitting a mitigation plan. A conceptual or detailed mitigation
plan may be used by the district engineer to make the decision on the NWP verification request,
but a final mitigation plan that addresses the applicable requirements of 33 CFR 332.4(e)(2)
through (14) must be approved by the district engineer before the permittee begins work in
waters of the United States, unless the district engineer determines that prior approval of the
final mitigation plan is not practicable or not necessary to ensure timely completion of the
required compensatory mitigation (see 33 CFR 332.3(k)(3)).
(5) If mitigation bank or in -lieu fee program credits are the proposed option, the
mitigation plan only needs to address the baseline conditions at the impact site and the
number of credits to be provided.
(6) Compensatory mitigation requirements (e.g., resource type and amount to be
provided as compensatory mitigation, site protection, ecological performance standards,
monitoring requirements) may be addressed through conditions added to the NWP
authorization, instead of components of a compensatory mitigation plan (see 33 CFR
332.4(c)(1)(ii)).
(g) Compensatory mitigation will not be used to increase the acreage losses
allowed by the acreage limits of the NWPs. For example, if an NWP has an acreage limit of
1/2 -acre, it cannot be used to authorize any NWP activity resulting in the loss of greater than
1/2 -acre of waters of the United States, even if compensatory mitigation is provided that
replaces or restores some of the lost waters. However, compensatory mitigation can and should
be used, as necessary, to ensure that an NWP activity already meeting the established acreage
limits also satisfies the no more than minimal impact requirement for the NWPs.
(h) Permittees may propose the use of mitigation banks, in -lieu fee programs, or
permittee -responsible mitigation. When developing a compensatory mitigation proposal, the
permittee must consider appropriate and practicable options consistent with the framework at
33 CFR 332.3(b). For activities resulting in the loss of marine or estuarine resources,
permittee -responsible mitigation may be environmentally preferable if there are no mitigation
banks or in -lieu fee programs in the area that have marine or estuarine credits available for
sale or transfer to the permittee. For permittee -responsible mitigation, the special conditions of
the NWP verification must clearly indicate the party or parties responsible for the
implementation and performance of the compensatory mitigation project, and, if required, its
long-term management.
(i) Where certain functions and services of waters of the United States are
permanently adversely affected by a regulated activity, such as discharges of dredged or fill

validate the transfer of this nationwide permit and the associated liabilities associated with
compliance with its terms and conditions, have the transferee sign and date below."
(Transferee)
(Date)
30. Compliance Certification. Each permittee who receives an NWP verification
letter from the Corps must provide a signed certification documenting completion of the
authorized activity and implementation of any required compensatory mitigation. The
success of any required permittee -responsible mitigation, including the achievement of
ecological performance standards, will be addressed separately by the district engineer. The
Corps will provide the permittee the certification document with the NWP verification letter.
The certification document will include:
(a) A statement that the authorized activity was done in accordance with the NWP
authorization, including any general, regional, or activity -specific conditions;
(b) A statement that the implementation of any required compensatory mitigation
was completed in accordance with the permit conditions. If credits from a mitigation bank or
in -lieu fee program are used to satisfy the compensatory mitigation requirements, the
certification must include the documentation required by 33 CFR 332.3(1)(3) to confirm that
the permittee secured the appropriate number and resource type of credits; and
(c) The signature of the permittee certifying the completion of the activity and
mitigation.
The completed certification document must be submitted to the district engineer
within 30 days of completion of the authorized activity or the implementation of any required
compensatory mitigation, whichever occurs later.
31. Activities Aff
ectin>; Structures or Works Built by the United States. If an NWP
activity also requires perm ss on from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 408 because it will alter
or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
federally authorized Civil Works project (a "USACE project"), the prospective permittee must
submit a pre -construction notification. See paragraph (b)(10) of general condition 32. An
activity that requires section 408 permission is not authorized by NWP until the appropriate
Corps office issues the section 408 permission to alter, occupy, or use the USACE project, and
the district engineer issues a written NWP verification.
32. Pre -Construction Notification. (a) Timing. Where
required by the terms of the
NWP, the prospective permittee must notify the district engineer by submitting apre-
construction notification (PCN) as early as possible. The district engineer must determine if the
PCN is complete within 30 calendar days of the date of receipt and, if the PCN is determined to
be incomplete, notify the prospective permittee within that 30 day period to request the
additional information necessary to make the PCN complete. The request must specify the
information needed to make the PCN complete. As a general rule, district engineers will request
additional information necessary to make the PCN complete only once. However, if the
11

Sketches should be provided when necessary to show that the activity complies with the terms
of the NWP. (Sketches usually clarify the activity and when provided results in a quicker
decision. Sketches should contain sufficient detail to provide an illustrative description of the
proposed activity (e.g., a conceptual plan), but do not need to be detailed engineering plans);
(5) The PCN must include a delineation of wetlands, other special aquatic sites,
and other waters, such as lakes and ponds, and perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams,
on the project site. Wetland delineations must be prepared in accordance with the current
method required by the Corps. The permittee may ask the Corps to delineate the special
aquatic sites and other waters on the project site, but there may be a delay if the Corps does
the delineation, especially if the project site is large or contains many wetlands, other special
aquatic sites, and other waters. Furthermore, the 45 day period will not start until the
delineation has been submitted to or completed by the Corps, as appropriate;
(6) If the proposed activity will result in the loss of greater than 1/10 -acre of
wetlands and a PCN is required, the prospective permittee must submit a statement
describing how the mitigation requirement will be satisfied, or explaining why the
adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal and why compensatory
mitigation should not be required. As an alternative, the prospective permittee may submit
a conceptual or detailed mitigation plan.
(7) For non -Federal permittees, if any listed species or designated critical habitat
might be affected or is in the vicinity of the activity, or if the activity is located in designated
critical habitat, the PCN must include the name(s) of those endangered or threatened species
that might be affected by the proposed activity or utilize the designated critical habitat that
might be affected by the proposed activity. For NWP activities that require pre -construction
notification, Federal permittees must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with
the Endangered Species Act;
(8) For non -Federal permittees, if the NWP activity might have the potential to
cause effects to a historic property listed on, determined to be eligible for listing on, or
potentially eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places, the PCN must state
which historic property might have the potential to be affected by the proposed activity or
include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic property. For NWP activities that
require pre -construction notification, Federal permittees must provide documentation
demonstrating compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act;
(9) For an activity that will occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic
River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a "study river" for possible
inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status, the PCN must identify the
Wild and Scenic River or the "study river" (see general condition 16); and
(10) For an activity that requires permission from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C.
408 because it will alter or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers federally authorized civil works project, the pre -construction notification must
include a statement confirming that the project proponent has submitted a written request for
section 408 permission from the Corps office having jurisdiction over that USACE project.
(c) Form of Pre -Construction Notification: The standard individual permit
application form (Form ENG 4345) may be used, but the completed application form must
clearly indicate that it is an NWP PCN and must include all of the applicable information
required in paragraphs (b)(1) through (10) of this general condition. A letter containing the
required information may also be used. Applicants may provide electronic files of PCNs and
13

individual or cumulative adverse environmental effects or may be contrary to the public
interest. If a project proponent requests authorization by a specific NWP, the district engineer
should issue the NWP verification for that activity if it meets the terms and conditions of that
NWP, unless he or she determines, after considering mitigation, that the proposed activity will
result in more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic
environment and other aspects of the public interest and exercises discretionary authority to
require an individual permit for the proposed activity. For a linear project, this determination
will include an evaluation of the individual crossings of waters of the United States to
determine whether they individually satisfy the terms and conditions of the NWP(s), as well as
the cumulative effects caused by all of the crossings authorized by NWP. If an applicant
requests a waiver of the 300 linear foot limit on impacts to streams or of an otherwise
applicable limit, as provided for in NWPs 13, 21, 29, 36, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 52, or 54,
the district engineer will only grant the waiver upon a written determination that the NWP
activity will result in only minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.
For those NWPs that have a waivable 300 linear foot limit for losses of intermittent and
ephemeral stream bed and a 1/2 -acre limit (i.e., NWPs 21, 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, and
52), the loss of intermittent and ephemeral stream bed, plus any other losses of jurisdictional
waters and wetlands, cannot exceed 1/2 -acre.
2. When malting minimal adverse environmental effects determinations the district
engineer will consider the direct and indirect effects caused by the NWP activity. He or she
will also consider the cumulative adverse environmental effects caused by activities authorized
by NWP and whether those cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than
minimal. The district engineer will also consider site specific factors, such as the
environmental setting in the vicinity of the NWP activity, the type of resource that will be
affected by the NWP activity, the functions provided by the aquatic resources that will be
affected by the NWP activity, the degree or magnitude to which the aquatic resources perform
those functions, the extent that aquatic resource functions will be lost as a result of the NWP
activity (e.g., partial or complete loss), the duration of the adverse effects (temporary or
permanent), the importance of the aquatic resource functions to the region (e.g., watershed or
ecoregion), and mitigation required by the district engineer. If an appropriate functional or
condition assessment method is available and practicable to use, that assessment method may
be used by the district engineer to assist in the minimal adverse environmental effects
determination. The district engineer may add case -specific special conditions to the NWP
authorization to address site- specific environmental concerns.
3. If the proposed activity requires a PCN and will result in a loss of greater than
1/10 -acre of wetlands, the prospective permittee should submit a mitigation proposal with the
PCN. Applicants may also propose compensatory mitigation for NWP activities with smaller
impacts, or for impacts to other types of waters (e.g., streams). The district engineer will
consider any proposed compensatory mitigation or other mitigation measures the applicant has
included in the proposal in determining whether the net adverse environmental effects of the
proposed activity are no more than minimal. The compensatory mitigation proposal may be
either conceptual or detailed. If the district engineer determines that the activity complies with
the terms and conditions of the NWP and that the adverse environmental effects are no more
than minimal, after considering mitigation, the district engineer will notify the permittee and
15

Best management practices (BIVIM: Policies, practices, procedures, or structures
implemented to mitigate the adverse environmental effects on surface water quality resulting
from development. BMPs are categorized as structural or non-structural.
Compensatory mitigation: The restoration (re-establishment or rehabilitation),
establishment (creation), enhancement, and/or in certain circumstances preservation of aquatic
resources for the purposes of offsetting unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all
appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved.
Currently serviceable: Useable as is or with some maintenance, but not so degraded
as to essentially require reconstruction.
Direct effects: Effects that are caused by the activity and occur at the same time and
place.
Discharge: The term "discharge" means any discharge of dredged or fill material
into waters of the United States.
Ecological reference: A model used to plan and design an aquatic habitat and
riparian area restoration, enhancement, or establishment activity under NWP 27. An ecological
reference may be based on the structure, functions, and dynamics of an aquatic habitat type or a
riparian area type that currently exists in the region where the proposed NWP 27 activity is
located. Alternatively, an ecological reference may be based on a conceptual model for the
aquatic habitat type or riparian area type to be restored, enhanced, or established as a result of
the proposed NWP 27 activity. An ecological reference takes into account the range of
variation of the aquatic habitat type or riparian area type in the region.
Enhancement: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of an aquatic resource to heighten, intensify, or improve a specific aquatic
resource function(s). Enhancement results in the gain of selected aquatic resource function(s),
but may also lead to a decline in other aquatic resource function(s). Enhancement does not
result in a gain in aquatic resource area.
Ephemeral stream: An ephemeral stream has flowing water only during, and for a
short duration after, precipitation events in a typical year. Ephemeral stream beds are located
above the water table year-round. Groundwater is not a source of water for the stream. Runoff
from rainfall is the primary source of water for stream flow.
Establishment (creation): The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics present to develop an aquatic resource that did not previously exist at an upland
site. Establishment results in a gain in aquatic resource area.
High Tide Line: The line of intersection of the land with the water's surface at the
maximum height reached by a rising tide. The high tide line may be determined, in the absence
of actual data, by a line of oil or scum along shore objects, a more or less continuous deposit of
fine shell or debris on the foreshore or berm, other physical markings or characteristics,
vegetation lines, tidal gages, or other suitable means that delineate the general height reached
by a rising tide. The line encompasses spring high tides and other high tides that occur with
periodic frequency but does not include storm surges in which there is a departure from the
normal or predicted reach of the tide due to the piling up of water against a coast by strong
winds such as those accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm.
Historic Property: Any prehistoric or historic district, site (including archaeological
site), building, structure, or other object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National
17

primary source of water for stream flow. Runoff from rainfall is a supplemental source of
water for stream flow.
Practicable: Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost,
existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes.
Pre -construction notification: A request submitted by the project proponent to the
Corps for confirmation that a particular activity is authorized by nationwide permit. The request
may be a permit application, letter, or similar document that includes information about the
proposed work and its anticipated environmental effects. Pre -construction notification may be
required by the terms and conditions of a nationwide permit, or by regional conditions. A pre -
construction notification maybe voluntarily submitted in cases where pre -construction
notification is not required and the project proponent wants confirmation that the activity is
authorized by nationwide permit.
Preservation: The removal of a threat to, or preventing the decline of, aquatic
resources by an action in or near those aquatic resources. This term includes activities
commonly associated with the protection and maintenance of aquatic resources through the
implementation of appropriate legal and physical mechanisms. Preservation does not result in a
gain of aquatic resource area or functions.
Protected tribal resources: Those natural resources and properties of traditional or
customary religious or cultural importance, either on or off Indian lands, retained by, or
reserved by or for, Indian tribes through treaties, statutes, judicial decisions, or executive orders,
including tribal trust resources.
Re-establishment: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to a former aquatic
resource. Re-establishment results in rebuilding a former aquatic resource and results in a gain in
aquatic resource area and functions.
Rehabilitation: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a site with the goal of repairing natural/historic functions to a degraded
aquatic resource. Rehabilitation results in a gain in aquatic resource function, but does not
result in a gain in aquatic resource area.
Restoration: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics
of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic ftmctions to a former or degraded aquatic
resource. For the purpose of tracking net gains in aquatic resource area, restoration is divided
into two categories: re-establishment and rehabilitation.
Riffle and pool complex: Riffle and pool complexes are special aquatic sites under
the 404(b)(1) Guidelines. Riffle and pool complexes sometimes characterize steep gradient
sections of streams. Such stream sections are recognizable by their hydraulic characteristics.
The rapid movement of water over a course substrate in riffles results in a rough flow, a
turbulent surface, and high dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Pools are deeper areas
associated with riffles. A slower stream velocity, a streaming flow, a smooth surface, and a
finer substrate characterize pools.
Riparian areas: Riparian areas are lands next to streams, lakes, and estuarine- marine
shorelines. Riparian areas are transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, through
which surface and subsurface hydrology connects riverine, lacustrine, estuarine, and marine
waters with their adjacent wetlands, non -wetland waters, or uplands. Riparian areas provide a
variety of ecological functions and services and help improve or maintain local water quality.
(See general condition 23.)
40

surface can no longer be practically measured in a predictable rhythm due to masking by other
waters, wind, or other effects. Tidal wetlands are located channelward of the high tide line.
Tribal lands: Any lands title to which is either: 1) held in trust by the United States
for the benefit of any Indian tribe or individual; or 2) held by any Indian tribe or individual
subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation.
Tribal rights: Those rights legally accruing to a tribe or tribes by virtue of inherent
sovereign authority, unextinguished aboriginal title, treaty, statute, judicial decisions, executive
order or agreement, and that give rise to legally enforceable remedies.
Vegetated shallows: Vegetated shallows are special aquatic sites under the 404(b)(1)
Guidelines. They are areas that are permanently inundated and under normal circumstances
have rooted aquatic vegetation, such as seagrasses in marine and estuarine systems and a
variety of vascular rooted plants in freshwater systems.
Waterbody: For purposes of the NWPs, a waterbody is a jurisdictional water of the
United States. If a wetland is adjacent to a waterbody determined to be a water of the United
States, that waterbody and any adjacent wetlands are considered together as a single aquatic
unit (see 33 CFR 328.4(c)(2)). Examples of "waterbodies" include streams, rivers, lakes, ponds,
and wetlands.
21

2.0 Waters Requiring Additional Notification
The Corps has identified waters that will be subject to additional notification requirements for
activities authorized by all NWPs. These waters are:
2.1 Western NC Counties that Drain to Designated Critical Habitat
For proposed activities within waters of the United States that require a Pre -Construction
Notification (PCN) and are located in the sixteen counties listed below, permittees must provide
a copy of the PCN to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 160 Zillicoa Street,
Asheville, North Carolina 28801. This PCN must be sent concurrently to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office. Please see General Condition
18 for specific notification requirements related to the Endangered Species Act and the below
website for information on the location of designated critical habitat.
Counties with tributaries that drain to designated critical habitat that require notification to the
Asheville U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Avery, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood,
Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Stokes, Sorry, Swain, Transylvania, Union
and Yancey.
Website and office addresses for Endangered Species Act Information:
The Wilmington District has developed the following website for permittees which provides
guidelines on how to review linked websites and maps in order to fulfill NWP General Condition
18 requirements:
http•//www saw usace army mil/Missions/Regulatoi4yPermitProarain/ApencyCoordination/ESA.a
SPX
Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service offices listed below or Corps at [phone]:
Asheville U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: All counties west of and including
Anson, Stanly, Davidson, Forsythe and Stokes Counties.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Telephone: [phone]
Raleigh U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: all counties east of and including
Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph, Guilford, and Rockingham Counties.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
23

viewed on the Corps RIBITS (Regulatory In -lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System)
website or at the following World Wide Web Page:
itps:Hribits.usace.armv.mil/ribits apex/f?p=107:27:0::NO:::
2.6 Animal Waste Facilities
Prior to use of any NWP for construction of animal waste facilities in watets of the United
States, including wetlands, permittees shall submit a PCN to the District Engineer prior to
commencing the activity (see General Condition 32),
2.7 Trout Waters
Prior to any discharge of dredge or fill material into streams, waterbodies or wetlands within the
294 designated trout watersheds of North Carolina, the permittee shall submit a PCN (see
General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity, unless other
thresholds are established in the Regional Conditions in Section 4 (Additional Regional
Conditions for Specific Nationwide Permits). The permittee shall also provide a copy of the
notification to the appropriate NCWRC office, or to the EBCI FWM Office (if the project is
located on EBCI trust land), to facilitate the determination of any potential impacts to designated
Trout Waters.
Notification to the Corps will include a statement with the name of the NCWRC or EBCI FWM
biologist contacted, the date of the notification, the location of work, a delineation of wetlands
and waters, a discussion of alternatives to working in the mountain trout waters, why alternatives
were not selected, and, if applicable, a plan to provide compensatory mitigation for all
unavoidable adverse impacts to mountain trout waters.
NCWRC and NC Trout Watersheds:
NCWRC Contact**
Counties that are
entirely within Trout
Watersheds*
Counties that are
partially within Trout
Watersheds*
Mountain Coordinator
Alleghany
Jackson
Burke
McDowell
Balsam Depot
Ashe
Macon
Buncombe
Mitchell
20830 Great Smoky
Avery
Swain
Caldwell
Polk
Mountain Expressway
Graham
Transylvania
Cherokee
Rutherford
Waynesville, NC 28786
Haywood
Watauga
Clay
Surry
Telephone: [phone]
Henderson
Wilkes
Madison
Yancey
For NCDOT Projects:
NCDOT Coordinator
206 Charter. Sheet
Albemarle, NC 28001
Telephone: [phone]
25

Tuckasegee River (also spelled Tuckaseegee or Tuckaseigee)
Valley River
Watauga Creels
Watauga River
Wayah Creek
West Fork French Broad River
To determine notification requirements, contact the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office at
[phone] or view maps for all corridors at the following World Wide Web page:
http•//www saw usace armymil/Missions/Regulatory-Permit-Program/Agency
Coordination/Designated-Special-W aters.aspx
3.0 List of Corps Regional Conditions for All Nationwide Permits
The following conditions apply to all Nationwide Permits in the Wilmington District
3.1 Limitation of Loss of Stream Bed
NWPs may not be used for activities that may result in the loss or degradation of more than 300
total linear feet of stream bed, unless the District Engineer has waived the 300 linear foot limit
for ephemeral and intermittent streams on a case-by-case basis and has determined that the
proposed activity will result in minimal individual and cumulative adverse impacts to the aquatic
environment. Waivers for the loss of ephemeral and intermittent streams must be in writing and
documented by appropriate/accepted stream quality assessments*. This waiver only applies to
the 300 linear feet threshold for NWPs.
This Regional Condition does not apply to NWP 23 (Approved Categorical Exclusions).
*NOTE: Permittees should utilize the most current methodology prescribed by Wilmington
District to assess stream function and quality. Information can be found at:
ittps:Hribits.usace.army.mil/ribits apex/f9p=107.27:0::NO:::
3.2 Mitigation for Loss of Stream Bed
For any NWP that results in a loss of more than 150 linear feet of stream, the permittee shall
provide a mitigation proposal to compensate for more than minimal individual and cumulative
adverse impacts to the aquatic environment. For stream losses of 150 linear feet or less that
require a PCN, the District Engineer may determine, on a case-by-case basis, that compensatory
mitigation is required to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effect on the aquatic
environment.
3.3 Pre -construction Notification for Loss of Streambed Exceeding 150 Feet
Prior to use of any NWP for any activity which impacts more than 150 total linear feet of
perennial stream, intermittent or ephemeral stream, the permittee shall submit a PCN to the
District Engineer prior to commencing the activity (see General Condition 32). This applies to
27

sufficient to pass the average historical low flow and spring flow without adversely altering flow
velocity. Spring flow is the seasonal sustained high flow that typically occurs in the spring.
Spring flows should be determined from gage data, if available. In the absence of such data,
bank -full flow can be used as a comparable indicator.
In Public Trust Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) and/or the Estuarine Waters AEC as
designated by the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA): All pipes/culverts must be
sufficiently sized to allow for the burial of the bottom of the culvert at least one foot below
normal bed elevation.
GirCula
Culver
Rise
(Diameter)
In all other areas: Culverts greater than 48 inches in diameter will be buried at least one foot
below the bed of the stream. Culverts 48 inches in diameter or less shall be buried to maintain
aquatic passage and to maintain passage during drought or low flow conditions, and every effort
shall be made to maintain the existing channel slope.
Culvert
s must be designed and constructed in a manner that minimizes destabilization and head
cutting. Destabilizing the channel and head cutting upstream should be considered and
appropriate actions incorporated in the design and placement of the culvert.
A waiver from the depth specifications in this condition may be requested, in writing, by the
permittee and issued by the Corp; this request must be specific as to the reasons(s) for the
request. The waiver will be issued if it can be demonstrated that the proposed design would
result in less impacts to the aquatic environment.
All counties: Culverts
placed within riparian and/or riverine wetlands must be installed in a
manner that does not restrict the flow and circulation patterns of waters of the United States.
20

should be used and no dredged sand from closed shell fishing areas may be used. If beach
disposal were to occur at times other than stated above or if sand from a closed shell fishing area
is to be used, a swimming advisory shall be posted, and a press release shall be issued by the
permittee.
3.8 Sa merged Aquatic Vegetation
Impacts to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) are not authorized by any NWP, except NWP
48, unless EFH Consultation has been completed pursuant to the Magnuson -Stevens Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson -Stevens Act). Permittees shall submit a PCN
(See NWP General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity if the
project would affect SAV. The permittee may not begin work until notified by the Corps that the
requirements of the Magnuson -Stevens Act have been satisfied and that the activity is
authorized.
3.9 Sedimentation and Erosion Control Structures and Measures
All PCNs will identify and describe sedimentation and erosion control structures and measures
proposed for placement in waters of the United States. The structures and measures should be
depicted on maps, surveys or drawings showing location and impacts to jurisdictional wetlands
and streams.
3.10 Restoration of Temporary Impacts to Stream Beds
Upon completion of work that involves temporary stream impacts, sU•eambeds are to be restored
to pre -project elevations and widths using natural streambed material such that the impacted
stream reach mimics the adjacent upstream and downstream reach. The impacted area shall be
backfilled with natural streambed material to a depth of at least 12 inches or to the bottom depth
of the impacted area if shallower than 12 inches. An engineered in -stream structure or material
can be used to provide protection of a buried structure if it provides benefits to the aquatic
environment and can be accomplished by a natural streambed design. A permittee may request a
waiver of this condition if it is determined a buried structure needs significant physical protection
beyond those provided in this condition. This condition does not apply to NWP 27 — Aquatic
Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities,
3.11 Restoration of Temporary Impacts to Stream Banks
Upon completion of work involving temporary stream bank impacts, stream banks are to be
restored to pre -project grade and contours or beneficial grade and contours if the original bank
slope is steep and unstable. Natural durable materials, native seed mixes, and native plants and
shrubs are to be utilized in the restoration. Natural designs which use bioengineered and/or geo-
engineered methods are to be applied. An engineered structure or material can be used to provide
protection of a buried structure if it provides benefits to the stream bank environment, provided it
is not in excess of the minimum amount needed for protection and does not exceed an average of
one cubic yard per running foot placed along the bank below the plane of the ordinary high water
mark. A permittee may request a waiver of this condition if it is determined a buried structure
31

(1) A permittee using a NWP must check to see if their project is located in the range of
the NLEB by using the following website:
http•//www fws gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nleb/pdf/WNSZone.pdf. If the
project is within the range of the NLEB, or if the project includes percussive activities
(e.g., blasting, pile driving, etc.), the permittee is then required to check the appropriate
website in the paragraph below to discover if their project:
• is located in a 12-di6it Hydrologic Unit Code area ("red HUC" -shown as red areas
on the map), AND/OR;
• involves percussive activities within 0.25 mile of a red HUC.
Red HUC maps -for the western 41 counties in NC (covered by the Asheville Ecological
Services Field Office), check the project location against the electronic maps found at:
http://www.fws.gov/asheville/htmls/t)roiect review/NLEB in WNC.html. For the eastern
59 counties in NC (covered by the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office), check the
project location against the electronic maps found at:
https://www.fws.gov/ralei2h/NLEB RFO.html.
(2) A permittee must submit a PCN to the District Engineer, and receive written
authorization from the District Engineer, prior to commencing the activity, if the activity
will involve any of the following:
• tree clearing/removal, conshuction/installation of wind turbines in a red HUC,
AND/OR;
• bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is
no evidence of bat use, (applies anywhere in the range of the NLEB), AND/OR:
percussive activities in a red HUC, or within 0.25 mile of a red HUC.
The permittee may proceed with the activity without submitt
ing a PCN to either the Corps
or the USFWS, provided the activity complies with all applicable NWP terms and general
and regional conditions, if the permittee's review under A.(1) and A.(2) above shows that
the project is:
. located outside of a red HUC (and there are no percussive activities), and the
activity will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has
been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR;
. located outside of a red HUC and there are percussive activities, but the percussive
activities will not occur within 0.25 -mile of a red HUC boundary, and the activity
will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been
inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR;
33

4.1.4 Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands,
within the mapped FEMA 100 -year floodplain resulting in permanent above -grade fills are not
authorized by this NWP.
4.1.5 This NWP may not be used to authorize discharges of dredged or fill material into waters
of the United States that have been identified or designated by the State of North Carolina as:
High Quality Waters (HQW), including only SA, PNA, WS -I and WS -11 waters.
Coastal Wetlands as defined by North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act.
Wetlands adjacent to SA, PNA, WS -1 and/or WS -11 waters.
*NOTE: Definitions of HQW, SA, PNA, WS -I, WS -H waters and Coastal Wetlands can be
found in the North Carolina State Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapters 2B and l OC
(15A NCAC 02B, 15A NCAC l OC) and at the following World Wide Web page:
http://reports oah state ne us/ncae asp?folderName=\Title%2015A%20-
%20Environmental%2OQuality&lookUpError=lSA%2ONCAC%20000%20. Surfacewater
classifications for waters in North Carolina can be viewed at the North Carolina Division of
Water Resources website or at the following link: httl2s://deq.na.�lov/about/divisions/water-
resources/plann ine/classification-standards/classificati osis.
Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the Corps at (910) 251- 4633,
4.1.6 If riprap stabilization is needed, it should be placed only on the stream banks, or, if it is
necessary to be placed in the stream bed, the finished top elevation of the riprap should not
exceed that of the original stream bed.
4.1.7 Utility lines authorized by this NWP shall comply with the terms and conditions, including
regional conditions, of NWP 12.
35

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
WATER QUALITY GENERAL CERTIFICATION 10.4139
GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR
PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
• NATIONWIDE PERMIT
NUMBER
18
(MINOR DISCHARGES),
• NATIONWIDE PERMIT
NUMBER
29
(RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT),
Y NATIONWIDE PERMIT
NUMBER
39
(COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENTS),
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
• NATIONWIDE PERMIT
NUMBER
40
PERMIT
(AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES),
51
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
41
(RESHAPING EXISTING DRAINAGE DITCHES),
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
42
(RECREATIONAL FACILITIES),
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
44
(MINING ACTIVITIES),
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
46
(DISCHARGES IN DITCHES),
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
51
(LAND BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
FACILITIES), AND
• NATIONWIDE
PERMIT
NUMBER
52
(WATER BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
PILOT PROJECTS).
Water Quality Certification Number 4139 is issued in conformity with the requirements of
Section 401, Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to the North
Carolina Regulations in 15A NCAC 02H .0500 and 15A NCAC 02B .0200 for the discharge of fill
material to surface waters and wetland areas as described in 33 CFR 330 Appendix A (B) (18, 29,
391 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 51 and 52) of the US Army Corps of Engineers regulations.
The State of North Carolina cert
ifies that the specified category of activity will not violate
applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and 95-
217 if conducted in accordance with the conditions hereinafter set forth.
Effective date: December 1, 2017
Signed this day: December 1, 2017
i
for Linda Culpepper
Interim Director

GC4139
ii. A Buffer Authorization Certificate is issued by the NC Division of Coastal
Management (DCM); or
iii. A Buffer Authorization Certificate or a Minor Variance is issued by a delegated or
designated local government implementing a state riparian buffer program
pursuant to 143-215.23.
Activities included in this General Certification that do not meet one of the thresholds listed
above do not require written approval.
I. ACTIVITY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS:
1. If this Water Ctuality Certification is used to access residential, commercial or industrial
building sites, then all parcels owned by the applicant that are part of the single and
complete project authorized by this Certification must be buildable without additional
impacts to streams or wetlands. If required in writing by DWR, the applicant shall provide
evidence that the parcels are buildable without requiring additional impacts to wetlands,
waters, or state regulated riparian buffers. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(4) and (c)(4)]
2. For road construction purposes, this Certification shall only be utilized from natural high
ground to natural high ground. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2) and (c)(2)]
3. Deed notifications or similar mechanisms shall be placed on all lots with retained
jurisdictional wetlands, waters, and state regulated riparian buffers within the project
boundaries in order to assure compliance with NC Wetland Rules (15A NCAC 02H .0500), NC
Isolated Wetland Rules (15A NCAC 02H .1300), and/or State Regulated Riparian Buffer Rules
(15A NCAC 02B .0200). These mechanisms shall be put in place at the time of recording of
the property or individual parcels, whichever is appropriate. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(4)
and (c)(4)]
4. For all dam removal projects meeting the definition under G.S. 143-215.25 and
requirements under G.S. 143-215.27 of a professionally supervised dam removal, the
applicant shall provide documentation that any sediment that may be released has similar
or lower level of contamination than sediment sampled from downstream of the dam in
accordance with Session Law 2017-145.
5. For the North Carolina Department of Transport
ation, compliance with the NCDOT's
individual NPDES permit NC5000250 shall serve to satisfy this condition. All other high-
density projects that trigger threshold Item (g) above shall comply with one of the following
requirements: [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(5) and (c)(5)]
Page 3 of 11

GC4139
Compensatory stream and/or wetland mitigation shall be proposed and completed in
compliance with G.S. 143-214.11. For applicants proposing to conduct mitigation within a
project site, a complete mitigation proposal developed in accordance with the most recent
guidance issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District shall be submitted
for review and approval with the application for impacts.
4. All activities shall be in compliance with any applicable State Regulated Riparian Buffer
Rules in Chapter 2 of Title 15A.
5. When applicable, all construction activities shall be performed and maintained in full
compliance with G.S. Chapter 113A Article 4 (Sediment and Pollution Control Act of 1973).
Regardless of applicability of the Sediment and Pollution Control Act, all projects shall
incorporate appropriate Best Management Practices for the control of sediment and
erosion so that no violations of state water quality standards, statutes, or rules occur. [15A
NCAC 021-1,0506 (b)(3) and (c)(3) and 15A NCAC 02B .0200]
Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sediment and erosion control
measures shall be equal to or exceed the requirements specified in the most recent version
of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or for linear transportation
projects, the NCDOT Sediment and Erosion Control Manual.
All devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil)
sites, including contractor -owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project.
Sufficient materials required for stabilization and/or repair of erosion control measures and
stormwater routing and treatment shall be on site at all times.
For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures shall be designed,
installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the
North Carolina Surface Mining Manual. Reclamation measures and implementation shall
comply with the reclamation in accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation
Pollution Control Act and the Mining Act of 1971.
If the project occurs in waters or watersheds classified as Primary Nursery Areas (PNAs), SA,
WS -I, WS -II, High Quality Waters (HQW), or Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), then the
sedimentation and erosion control designs shall comply with the requirements set forth in
15A NCAC 04B .0124, Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds.
6. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or waters except
within the footprint of temporary or permanent impacts authorized under this Certification.
Exceptions to this condition require application to and written approval from DWR. [15A
NCAC 02H .0501 and .0502]
7. Erosion control matting that incorporates plastic mesh and/or plastic twine shall not be
used along streambanks or within wetlands. Exceptions to this condition require
application to and written approval from DWR. [15A NCAC 02B.0201]
Page 5 of 11

GC4139
Placement of culverts and other structures in streams shall be below the elevation of the
streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20% of
the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than or equal to 48 inches, to allow
low flow passage of water and aquatic life.
If multiple pipes or barrels are required, they shall be designed to mimic the existing 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.
When topographic constraints indicate culvert slopes of greater than 5%, culvert burial is
not required, provided that all alternative options for flattening the slope have been
investigated and aquatic life movement/connectivity has been provided when possible (e.g.
rock ladders, cross vanes, etc.). Notification, including supporting documentation to include
a location map of the culvert, culvert profile drawings, and slope calculations, shall be
provided to DWR 60 calendar days prior to the installation of the culvert.
When bedrock is present in culvert locations, culvert burial is not required provided that
there is sufficient documentation of the presence of bedrock. Notification, including
supporting documentation such as, a location map of the culvert, geotechnical reports,
photographs, etc, shall be provided to DWR a minimum of 60 calendar days prior to the
installation of the culvert. If bedrock is discovered during construction, then DWR shall be
notified by phone or email within 24 hours of discovery.
If other site-specific topographic constraints preclude the ability to bury the culverts as
described above and/or it can be demonstrated that burying the culvert would result in
destabilization of the channel, then exceptions to this condition require application to and
written approval from DWR,
installation of culverts in wetlands shall ensure continuity of water movement and be
designed to adequately accommodate high water or flood conditions. When roadways,
causeways, or other fill projects are constructed across FEMA -designated floodways or
wetlands, openings such as culverts or bridges shall be provided to maintain the natural
hydrology of the system as well as prevent constriction of the floodway that may result in
destabilization of streams or wetlands.
The establishment of native woody vegetation and other soft stream bank stabilization
techniques shall be used where practicable instead of rip -rap or other bank hardening
methods.
12. Bridge deck drains shall not discharge directly into the stream. Stormwater shall be
directed across the bridge and pre-treated through site -appropriate means to the maximum
extent practicable (e.g. grassed swales, pre -formed scour holes, vegetated buffers, etc.)
before entering the stream. -Exceptions to this condition require application to and written
approval from DWR. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(5)]
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GC4139
20. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters shall be inspected and maintained
regularly to prevent contamination of surface waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids,
or other toxic materials. Construction shall be staged in order to minimize the exposure of
equipment to surface waters to the maximum extent practicable. Fueling, lubrication and
general equipment maintenance shall be performed in a manner to prevent, to the
maximum extent practicable, contamination of surface waters by fuels and oils. [15A NCAC
02H .0506(b)(3) and (c)(3) and 15A NCAC 02B.0211 (12)]
21. Heavy equipment working in wetlands shall be placed on mats or other measures shall be
taken to minimize soil disturbance. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)]
22. In accordance with 143-215.85(b), the applicant shall report any petroleum spill of 25
gallons or more; any spill regardless of amount that causes a sheen on surface waters; any
petroleum spill regardless of amount occurring within 100 feet of surface waters; and any
petroleum spill less than 25 gallons that cannot be cleaned up within 24 hours.
23. If an environmental document is required under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA),
then this General Certification is not valid until a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or
Record of Decision (ROD) is issued by the State Clearinghouse. If an environmental
document is required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), then this
General Certification is not valid until a Categorical Exclusion, the Final Environmental
Assessment, or Final Environmental Impact Statement is published by the lead agency [15A
NCAC 01C .0107(a)]
24. This General Certification does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to obtain all
other required Federal, State, or Local approvals before proceeding with the project,
including those required by, but not limited to Sediment and Erosion Control, Non -
Discharge, Water Supply Watershed, and Trout Buffer regulations.
25. The applicant and their authorized agents shall conduct all activities in a manner consistent
with State water quality standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance
with §303(d) of the Clean Water Act), and any other appropriate requirements of State and
Federal Law. If DWR determines that such standards or laws are not being met, including
failure to sustain a designated or achieved use, or that State or Federal law is being violated,
or that further conditions are necessary to assure compliance, then DWR may revoke or
modify a written authorization associated with this General Water Quality Certification.
[15A NCAC 02H e05O7(d)]
26. The permittee shall require its contractors and/or agents to comply with the terms and
conditions of this permit in the construction and maintenance of this project, and shall
provide each of its contractors and/or agents associated with the construction or
maintenance of this project with a copy of this Certification. A copy of this Certification,
including all conditions shall be available at the project site during the construction and
maintenance of this project. [15A NCAC 02H .0507 (c) and 15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(2) and
(c)(2)]
Page 9 of 11

GC4139
5. Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth by a specific project may
result in revocation of this General Certification for the project and may also result in
criminal and/or civil penalties.
6. The Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources may require submission of a
formal application for Individual Certification for any project in this category of activity if it
is deemed in the public's best interest or determined that the project is likely to have a
significant adverse effect upon water quality, including state or federally listed endangered
or threatened aquatic species, or degrade the waters so that existing uses of the water or
downstream waters are precluded.
History Note: Water Quality Certification (WQCJ Number 4139 issued December 1, 2017
replaces WQC 4092 issued March 3, 2017; WQC 3890 issued March 19, 2012; replaces WQC
Number 3821 issued April 6, 2010; WQC Number 3631 issued March 19, 2007; WQC 3402 issued
March 28, 2003; WQC Number 3362, issued March 18, 2002; WQC 3287, issued June 1, 2000;
WQCs 3106 and 3108 issued February 11, 1997,
Page 11 of 11