20070149 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20070205

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Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Environmental Management Director
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Cazolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
January 31, 2007
DWQ# 07-0149
Catawba County
APPROVAL of 401 Water Quality Certification with Additional Conditions, Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard
Extension in Hickory, TIP U-2306A, Federal Project No. MA-STP-1216(8), State Project No. 8.2791701
Dear Dr. Thorpe:
You have our approval, in accordance with the attached conditions and those listed below, to permanently
impact 135 linear feet (If) (for culvert installation and riprap bank stabilization) of an unnamed tributary to Clark
Creek, a perennial stream, to widen an existing roadway as described in your application received by the
Division of Water Quality (DWQ) on January 26, 2007. The location of the project is Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard
from Tate Boulevard to 7th Avenue Northeast in Catawba County. After reviewing your application, we have
determined that this project is covered by Water Quality General Certification Number 3404. 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 is valid solely for the purpose and design that you described in your application (unless modified
below) and will expire with the associated USACE 404 permit unless otherwise specified in the Water Quality
Certification. Should your project change, you must notify the DWQ in writing and you may be required to
submit a new application. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and
approval letter and is thereby responsible for complying with all conditions. If total wetland fills for this project
(now or in the future) exceed one acre, or if total impacts to streams (now or in the future) exceed 150 linear
feet, compensatory mitigation may be required as described in 15A NCAC 2H.0506 (h)(6) and (7). For this
approval to remain valid, you must adhere to the conditions in the attached certification and those listed below:
Placement of culverts and other structures in waters, streams and wetlands must be below the elevation of
the streambed by one (1) foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20 percent of the
culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than 48 inches, to allow for low flow passage of water and
aquatic life, as well as prevent headcutting of the streams. Design and placement of culverts and other
structures including temporary erosion control measures shall be installed in such a manner that the original
stream profiles are not altered (i.e., the depth of the channel must not be reduced by a widening of the
streambed).- Existing stream dimensions (including pattern and profile) are to be maintained above and
below locations of each culvert. The applicant may be required to provide evidence that the equilibrium has
been maintained, if requested in writing by the DWQ.
2
Riprap must not interfere with thalweg performance and aquatic life passage during low flow conditions.
Riprap placed for bank stabilization should be limited to the stream bank below the high water mark and
vegetation should be used for stabilization above the high water mark. No°ehcarolina
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North Carolina Division of Water Quality 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301
Internet: www.ncwaterquality.org Mooresville, NC 28115
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity/Afrirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper

Dr. Gregory Thorpe
Page 2
3. Heavy equipment must be operated from the banks rather than in the stream channel, when possible, in
order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into the stream.
4. Temporary dewatering sites must be restored to pre-existing conditions unless more natural geomorphic
conditions can be provided.
5. No live or fresh concrete shall come into contact with waters of the state until the concrete has hardened.
6. The dimension, pattern and profile of the stream above and below the crossing should not be modified.
Disturbed floodplains and streams should be restored to natural geomorphic conditions.
7. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters must be regularly inspected and maintained to
prevent contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
8. All work shall be performed during low or normal flow conditions.
9. Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to
surface waters is strictly prohibited.
10. Erosion and sediment control practices must utilize Best Management Practices (BMP) and be in full
compliance with all specifications governing the proper design, installation, and operation and maintenance of
such BMP in order to protect surface water standards:
a. The design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion control measures
must be such that they equal, or exceed, the requirements specified in the most recent version of
the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. The devices shall be maintained on all
construction sites, borrow pit sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including contractor-owned or
leased borrow pits associated with the project.
b. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures must be designed, installed,
operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface
Mining Manual.
c. The reclamation measures and implementation of these measures must be in accordance with the
requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
11. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or waters to the maximum extent
practicable. If placement of sediment and erosion control devices in wetlands and waters is unavoidable,
they shall be removed and the natural grade restored within 30 days after the Division of Land Resources has
released the project.
12. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and its contractors and/or agents shall not
excavate, fill or perform mechanized land clearing at any time in the construction or maintenance of this
project within waters and/or wetlands, except as authorized by this Certification, or any modification to this
Certification (e.g., no work shall occur outside of the footprint of the plans provided). In addition, there shat!
be no excavation from or waste disposal into jurisdictional wetlands or waters associated with this
Certification without appropriate modification. If this occurs, compensatory mitigation may be required since it
is a direct impact from road construction activities.
13. Upon completion of the project, the applicant shall complete and return the enclosed "Certificate of
Completion" form to notify DWQ when all work included in the 401 Certification has been completed. Please
include photographs upstream and downstream of the structure to document correct installation.

Dr. Gregory Thorpe
Page 3
14. Continuing Compliance. NCDOT shall conduct its activities in a manner so as not to contravene any state
water quality standard [including any requirements for compliance with section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act]
and any other appropriate requirements of state and federal law. If DWQ determines that such standards or
laws are not being met (including the 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, DWQ may reevaluate
and modify this certification to include conditions appropriate to assure compliance with such standards and
requirements in accordance with 15 A NCAC 2H.0507(d). Before codifying the certification, DWQ shall notify
NCDOT and the USACE, provide public notice in accordance with 15A NCAC 2H.0503, and provide
opportunity for public hearing in accordance with 15A NCAC 2H.0504. Any new or revised conditions shall
be provided to NCDOT in writing, shall be provided to the USACE for reference in any permit issued pursuant
to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and shall also become conditions of the 404 Permit for the project.
If you do not accept any of the conditions of this Certification, you may ask for an adjudicatory hearing. You
must act within 60 days of the date that you receive this letter. To ask for a hearing, send a written petition that
conforms to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes to the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714
Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27E99-6714. This Certification and its conditions are final and binding unless
you ask for a hearing.
This letter completes the review by the Division of Water Quality under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. If
you have any questions, please telephone Polly Lespinasse in the Mooresville Regional Office at 704-663-
1699.
Sincerely,
a..----
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for Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
Attachments
cc: Steve Lund, USACE Asheville Field Office
Sonia Gregory, DWQ Wetlands Unit
File Copy