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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20181232 Ver 1_Supplemental info_20180905Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit Supplemental Information PCN Form – Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit C. Project Information and Prior Project History 4. Project Description 4g. Describe the overall project in detail, including indirect impacts and the type of equipment to be used: STV Engineers, Inc. (STV) was engaged by The Keith Corporation (TKC) in cooperation with Burton Engineering (Site Civil Engineers) and the property owner, Marshall Gilchrist, to complete a delineation of waters of the U.S. on the approximate 76-acre Gilchrist Property Southern Tract site (now renamed “Westinghouse Logistics Park South”). STV submitted a ‘Request for Jurisdictional Determination (JD)’ on December 8, 2016 (SAW 2016-02435). The Corps’ David Shaeffer subsequently conducted a field verification of jurisdictional boundaries on February 8, 2017 and issued the Approved JD on December 13, 2017. The following site and project description, including stormwater management plan, was prepared by Burton Engineering. This property is generally flat with slopes between 0 and 8 percent (more than 30% of the site being between 0 and 1 percent slope). The soil is predominantly of poor quality “bull tallow” requiring significant processing to become suitable for use. Roughly 15% of this property is also somewhat in-accessible; bounded on the north by an existing Norfolk-Southern rail line and on the south by a perennial stream (Perennial RPW A); see Sheet 1 of 6. Bisecting the property is a planned expansion of Carowinds Blvd. which limits the size and orientation of possible developments. An existing public sanitary sewer is also present (See Sheet 1 of 6). To overcome the financial burdens of this site a 710,000-sf building is planned for the lot north of the proposed Carowinds Blvd., and a 232,000-sf building on the lot south of the proposed Carowinds Blvd (Sheet 2 of 6). The proposed 710,000-sf building requires access to the portion of the property north of the perennial stream. This area will be needed for parking as well as to provide borrow material for fill and area for processing the bull tallow into structural material. The public sanitary sewer line will also need to be relocated to the north side of the stream. To access this area, we are proposing the installation of approximately 55-lf of 66” reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) culvert that will impact approximately 108 linear feet of stream. In order to limit the permanent impact to the stream, headwalls at either end of the culvert have been significantly increased to create retaining walls for the fill slopes (Sheet 4 of 6). This significantly reduces the required length of culvert. The culvert will be embedded 12 inches below the grade and aquatic passage will not be hindered. The sanitary sewer relocation will also cross at this Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit location to minimize proposed and future installation and maintenance impacts. A second temporary impact (20 lf) will then be required downstream of the culvert to allow the sanitary sewer to cross back over the stream to the existing system (Sheet 5 of 6). To further limit impacts, a 1,200-sf retaining wall, approximately 110 lf in length, will be built to avoid permanent impacts to the adjacent wetlands. Approximately 0.036-acre of temporary wetland impacts are shown (Sheet 6 of 6) for installation of the wall, though it will be avoided if possible. Temporary impacts may consist of hand clearing vegetation in this area to construct the retaining wall. These proposed measures discussed above and shown in the attached exhibits will allow the necessary access to a significant portion of the site with the least impacts reasonably possible. Runoff from the proposed development will be treated in several wet ponds and a sand filter prior to discharging under the Norfolk-Southern rail line. In the existing condition two major catchments exist. The northmost catchment, containing the perennial stream (Perennial RPW A), is roughly 117-acre discharging to a 72” CMP culvert under the rail line. The southernmost catchment is roughly 65.7-acre discharging to a 24” RCP culvert under the rail line (Sheet 1 of 6). The stream is fed by roughly 70.8 acres of offsite area. Of the 46.6 acres of onsite area, approximately 28.1 acres drains to the length of the stream. The remaining 18.5 acres drains to rail side ditches which convey to the culvert. Roughly 25 acres of offsite drainage and 40.7 acres of onsite area drains to an existing 24” culvert. An adjacent wetland exists in a depression directly in front of this culvert. In the final proposed condition, the 70.8 acres of offsite area will continue to drain to the head of the stream while 32.2 acres south of the stream will be detained in a wet pond prior to entering the stream. Of the area north of the stream 2.1 acres will continue to release directly along the length of the stream while 13.8 acres will drain to a rail side ditch heading to the 72” culvert. A bypass system will convey the 25 acres of offsite area in the southernmost catchment to the 24” culvert as seen on Sheet 2 of 6. Two wet ponds will detain the remaining 40.7 acres prior to discharging to the bypass system. All post construction stormwater is designed to mitigate the 2-yr 6-hr, 10-yr 6-hr, and 25-yr 6-hr storms peak flow per Charlotte’s Stormwater Ordinance. Riprap outfall aprons are also proposed to ensure runoff discharges at a non-erosive velocity. The Westinghouse Logistics Park South property is a Brownfield site that has required remediation due to groundwater contamination that occurred from previous uses of the site. The property has numerous groundwater wells that have been installed for the extraction and treatment of Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit contaminated groundwater. Flexible plastic piping extends from each well to the treatment building that is located across the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks to the east. The NCDEQ Division of Waste Management issued a “Notice of Brownfield Property” dated July 4, 2015 (NCDEQ Brownfields Project No. 18038-14-060) that sets requirements for the development of the site, including the preparation of an “Environmental Management Plan” to be followed during development. Copies of the Notice and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) are attached under the Miscellaneous Attachments. As noted in EMP, site sampling and assessment has been completed, reviewed and approved by the Brownfields Project Manager. In addition, redevelopment plans for the proposed project have been submitted and reviewed by the Brownfields Project Manager. Based on the cut/fill analysis contained in the EMP, soil within the “Area of Possible Soil Contamination” will not be excavated, but rather is located in an area of the site primarily designated to receive fill material. Disposal of impacted soils off-site is not anticipated. The property owner and developer understand their obligation to comply with the requirements of the EMP. G. Supplementary Information 5. Endangered Species and Designated Critical Habitat STV conducted a protected species habitat assessment on September 9 and December 1, 2016. As of March 26, 2018 the United States Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) lists six federally protected species, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for Mecklenburg County (Table 1). For each species, a discussion of the presence or absence of habitat is included below along with the Biological Conclusion rendered based on survey results in the study area. Table 1. ESA federally protected species listed for Mecklenburg County Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status Habitat Present Biological Conclusion Bombus affinis Rusty-patched bumblebee E No NE* Echinacea laevigata Smooth coneflower E Yes NE Helianthus schweinitzii Schweinitz’s sunflower E Yes NE Lasmigona decorata Carolina heelsplitter E No NE Myotis septentrionalis Northern long-eared bat T Yes NE Rhus michauxii Michaux’s sumac E Yes NE E - Endangered T - Threatened NE - No Effect * - Historic record (the species was last observed in the county more than 50 years ago) Rusty-patched bumble bee USFWS Optimal Survey Window: Early June – mid-August Habitat Description: Rusty-patched bumble bees once occupied grasslands and tallgrass prairies of the Upper Midwest and Northeast, but most grasslands and prairies have been lost, degraded, or fragmented by conversion to other uses. Bumble bees need areas that provide Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit nectar and pollen from flowers, nesting sites (underground and abandoned rodent cavities or clumps of grasses), and overwintering sites for hibernating queens (undisturbed soil). Biological conclusion: No Effect Potential habitat does not exist within the project study area. There are historical records of rusty-patched bumble bee being located in Mecklenburg County, but none in the Charlotte West, NC and Fort Mill NC/SC USGS topographic quadrangles. The NCNHP website was reviewed (June 27, 2018) to determine the locations of the nearest populations of rusty-patched bumble bee. The NCNHP determined that no populations of rusty-patched bumble bee were present within one mile of the project study area (PSA), and no effect to rusty-patched bumble bee is anticipated. Smooth Coneflower USFWS Optimal Survey Window: late May-October Habitat Description: Smooth coneflower, a perennial herb, is typically found in meadows, open woodlands, the ecotonal regions between meadows and woodlands, cedar barrens, dry limestone bluffs, clear cuts, and roadside and utility rights-of-way. In North Carolina, the species normally grows in magnesium- and calcium-rich soils associated with gabbro and diabase parent material, and typically occurs in Iredell, Misenheimer, and Picture soil series. The plant grows best where there is abundant sunlight, little competition in the herbaceous layer, and periodic disturbances (e.g., regular fire regime, well-timed mowing, careful clearing) that prevents encroachment of shade-producing woody shrubs and trees. On sites where woody succession is held in check, habitat is characterized by a number of species with prairie affinities. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Suitable habitat for smooth coneflower is present in the PSA within the roadside rights-of- way and meadows of the site. Plant by plant surveys were conducted by STV biologists Brandon Phillips, CHMM and Joshua Kotheimer, WPIT, throughout areas of suitable habitat on September 9 and December 1, 2016. No individuals of smooth coneflower were observed and the September field survey was conducted during the flowering season. A review of North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) records on June 27, 2018, indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the PSA and no effect to smooth coneflower is anticipated. Schweinitz’s sunflower USFWS Optimal Survey Window: late August-October Habitat Description: Schweinitz's sunflower is endemic to the Piedmont of North and South Carolina. The few sites where this rhizomatous perennial herb occurs in relatively natural vegetation are found in Xeric Hardpan Forests. The species is also found along roadside rights-of-way, maintained power lines and other utility rights-of-way, edges of thickets and old pastures, clearings and edges of upland oak-pine-hickory woods and Piedmont longleaf pine forests, and other sunny or semi-sunny habitats where disturbances (e.g., mowing, clearing, grazing, blow downs, storms, frequent fire) help create open or partially open Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit areas for sunlight. The plant is intolerant of full shade and excessive competition from other vegetation. Schweinitz’s sunflower occurs in a variety of soil series, including Badin, Cecil, Cid, Enon, Gaston, Georgeville, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Misenheimer, Secrest, Tatum, Uwharrie, and Zion, among others. This perennial plant is generally found growing on shallow sandy soils with high gravel content; shallow, poor, clayey hardpans; or shallow rocky soils, especially those derived from mafic rocks. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Suitable habitat for Schweinitz's sunflower is present in the PSA along roadside shoulders. Plant by plant surveys were conducted by STV biologists Brandon Phillips, CHMM and Joshua Kotheimer, WPIT throughout areas of suitable habitat on September 9 and December 1, 2016. No individuals of Schweinitz's sunflower were observed and the September field survey was conducted during the flowering season. A review of NCNHP records on June 27, 2018 indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the PSA and no effect to Schweinitz’s sunflower is anticipated. Carolina heelsplitter USFWS Recommended Survey Window: year round Habitat Description: The Carolina heelsplitter was historically known from several locations within the Catawba and Pee Dee River systems in North Carolina and the Pee Dee and Savannah River systems, and possibly the Saluda River system in South Carolina. In North Carolina, the species is now known only from a handful of streams in the Pee Dee and Catawba River systems. The species exists in very low abundances, usually within six feet of shorelines, throughout its known range. The general habitat requirements for the Carolina heelsplitter are shaded areas in large rivers to small streams, often burrowed into clay banks between the root systems of trees, or in runs along steep banks with moderate current. The more recent habitat where the Carolina heelsplitter has been found is in sections of streams containing bedrock with perpendicular crevices filled with sand and gravel, and with wide riparian buffers. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Suitable habitat for the Carolina heelsplitter is not present in the PSA. A mussel survey for the Carolina heelsplitter was not conducted. A review of NCNHP records on June 27, 2018 indicates historical occurrence’s within the Charlotte West, NC and Fort Mill NC/SC USGS topographic quadrangles. It is anticipated that the project will have no effect on Carolina heelsplitter. Northern long-eared bat USFWS Recommended Survey Window: June 1 – August 15 Habitat Description: In North Carolina, the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) occurs in the mountains, with scattered records in the Piedmont and coastal plain. In western North Carolina, NLEB spend winter hibernating in caves and mines. During the summer, NLEB roost singly or in colonies underneath bark, in cavities, or in crevices of both live and dead trees (typically ≥3 inches dbh). Males and non-reproductive females may also roost in Westinghouse Logistics Park South Permit cooler places, like caves and mines. This bat has also been found, rarely, roosting in structures like barns and sheds, under eaves of buildings, behind window shutters, in bridges, and in bat houses. Foraging occurs on forested hillsides and ridges, and occasionally over forest clearings, over water, and along tree-lined corridors. Mature forests may be an important habitat type for foraging. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Potential habitat exists within the wooded areas of the project study area. There are records of NLEB being located in Mecklenburg County, but no records of NLEB being located in the Charlotte West, NC or Fort Mill, NC/SC USGS topographic quadrangles. The NCNHP website was reviewed on June 27, 2018 to determine the locations of the nearest populations of NLEB. The NCNHP determined that no populations of NLEB were present within one mile of the project study area. According to the USFWS website, the nearest known hibernaculum and roosting location for NLEB is located in Rutherford County, NC more than 45 miles to the west, so it is anticipated that the project will have no effect on NLEB. Michaux’s sumac USFWS Optimal Survey Window: May-October Habitat Description: Michaux’s sumac, endemic to the inner Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont, grows in sandy or rocky, open, upland woods on acidic or circumneutral, well-drained sands or sandy loam soils with low cation exchange capacities. The species is also found on sandy or submesic loamy swales and depressions in the fall line Sandhills region as well as in openings along the rim of Carolina bays; maintained railroad, roadside, power line, and utility rights-of-way; areas where forest canopies have been opened up by blowdowns and/or storm damage; small wildlife food plots; abandoned building sites; under sparse to moderately dense pine or pine/hardwood canopies; and in and along edges of other artificially maintained clearings undergoing natural succession. In the central Piedmont, it occurs on clayey soils derived from mafic rocks. The plant is shade intolerant and, therefore, grows best where disturbance (e.g., mowing, clearing, grazing, periodic fire) maintains its open habitat. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Suitable habitat for Michaux’s sumac is present in the PSA along roadside shoulders. Plant by plant surveys were conducted by STV biologists Brandon Phillips, CHMM and Joshua Kotheimer, WPIT, throughout areas of suitable habitat on September 9 and December 1, 2016. No individuals of Michaux’s sumac were observed and the September field review was conducted during the survey window. A review of NCNHP records on June 27, 2018 indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the PSA and no effect to Michaux’s sumac is anticipated.