Scope Request

�1
U.S Department
of Transportation
Federal Highway
Adminisfratton
AUG i 7 2018
FEDERAL EXPRESS
Dave Wanucha
NC Department of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Eastern Federal Lands 21400 Ridgetop Circle
HiqhwaY Division Sterling, VA 20166-6511
In Reply Refer To: HFPP-15
Subject: Public Scoping Comment Period Opens for Blue Ridge Parkway Projects 2D17
and 2A16, Ashe and Alleghany Counties, North Carolina
Dear Mr. Wanucha:
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Park Service
(NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is initiating an
Environmental Assessment (EA) that will assess impacts associated with two NPS/FHWA
bridge rehabilitation projects (Figure 1). Project 2A16 would rehabilitate three historic bridges
along the Blue Ridge Parkway while maintaining the historic character of the bridges to the
extent possible. Project 2D17 involves a larger historic bridge, Laurel Fork Bridge, which would
be designed with consideration given to the historic character of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the
original bridge. All four bridges were part of the original motor road construction. The bridges
haue been deemed structurally deficient with deteriorating decks and substandard height bridge
rails. The proposed projects will address structural deficiencies and improve safety by meeting
current roadway design standards, including installation of crashworthy railings.
Project 2A16 involves the following bridges:
o Big Pine Creek Bridge #3, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 223.78 in Allegheny
County, North Carolina
o Big Pine Creek Bridge #6; Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 224.7 in Allegheny
County,lVorth Carolina
o Brush Creek Bridge #1, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 227.45 in Allegheny
County, North Carolina
Project 2D17 involves the following bridge:
o Laurei Fork Bridge, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 248.9 in Ashe County, North
Carolina
The EA will be prepared in compliance with NEPA and the National Histaric Preservation Act
(NHPA) and will address the project background, the need for the proposed action,
environmental issues related to tUe replacemenUrehabilitation of the four bridges, potential
impacts resulting from the alternatives considered (including the No Action alternative), public
involvement and agency coordination.

Table 1: Streams Identified within the Resource Survey Areas
Class B-Waters protected for all Class C uses in addition to primary recreation. Primary recreational activities
include swimming, skin diving, water skiing, and similar uses involving human body contact with water where such
activities take place in an organized manner or on a frequent basis.
Class C- Waters protected for uses such as secondary recreation, fishing, wildlife, fish consumption, aquatic life
including propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity, and agriculture. Secondary recreation
includes wading, boating, and other uses involving human body contact with water whe�e such activities take place
in an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental mannec
Trout Waters (Tr) - Supplemental classification intended to protect freshwaters which have conditions which shall
sustain and allow for trout propagation and survival of stocked t�out on a year-round basis.
+ This symbol identifes waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0225
the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) rule, in order to protect downstream waters designated as ORW.

2
We have identified the streams within each resource survey area as Trout Waters. Their NC
Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) classifications are listed in Table 1(enclosed).
The projects are located within the New River Basin (HUC 05050001). A USGS map showing
the locations of the bridges is provided as Figure 2.
NPS and FHWA are requesting your input during the public scoping phase of the EA. Please
provide comments, concerns, suggestions, or recommendations pertaining to the construction of
the proposed bridges.
You are invited to review the background information for the project and submit comments
through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at:
httns://parkplanning.nps. �parkHome.cfm?parkID=355.
Comments can also be mailed to: Ryan Kimberley, Federal Highway Administration, 21400
Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA 20166. To ensure that your comments are included in the process,
a11 comments must be submitted through PEPC or postmarked by September 10, 2018.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Kimberley by phone, at (703) 404-
6240.
Sincerely your
�__e-'
Kevin S. Rose
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Enclosures
cc:
Ms. Dawn Godwin Leonazd, Community Planner, Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC

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N FIGURE 1
• Bridge Locations , j� PROJECT VICINITY MAP
/V BLRI 2A76 AND 2D17
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Sources: NC�OT LIS Oniq Esri, HERE, DeLo�me, OSGS, In[ermap, INCREMENT P, NRCaq Esri Japan, MEfI, Eztl �
CM1lna (Hong Kong), Eztl Korea, Estl (TFailand), Mapmylndla, NGCC, m OpenScree[Map con[ribumrs, and the GIS � All2ghdfly dOd AShe Countle5, NOrth CdrollOd
❑serCommunlN:FHWASurvev,2018 . � . __