20181716 Ver 1_B174 & B175 NWP 3 Cover Letter (Final)_20181218

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
December 17, 2018
Ms. Crystal Amschler - Project Manager
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-2714
JAMES H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
Subject: Nationwide 3 Permit Application
Replace Bridge No. 174 & 175 on SR 1332 (Waterville Road) over Big Creek
Haywood County, North Carolina
WBS Element No. 14SP.20441.2 & 14SP.20441.1
Dear Ms. Amschler:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to replace two subject
bridges which are functionally and structurally obsolete. Bridge 174 is a two span (1 @ 59'; 1@
56.5') timber floor on a steel girder floor beam system. This bridge will be replcaed with a 135'
single span steel plate girder with sloping abutments. Bridge 175 is a two span (2 @ 42') timber
floor on a steel plate girder with an attached sidewalk. This bridge will be replaced with a two
span (1 @ 75'; 1@ 40' 21") cored slab with 4' end caps. Traffic will be detoured onsite using
staged traffic management while the construction occurs within the existing bridge locations. The
project will also include some minor approach work on the existing roadway.
I am enclosing a PCN application, Rapanos Jurisdictional form, SHPO forms, plan sheets showing
the proposed work, a marked vicinity map, a USGS quad map and photographs.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 9 species for Haywood County that have federal status and
that are known from either current or historical records. Nine species, Carolina Northern Flying
Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus), Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), Rock
Gnome Lichen (Gymnodertna lineare), Spruce-Fir Moss Spider (Microhexura montivaga), Small
Whored Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), Spreading Avens (Geum radiatum), Gray Bat (Myotis
grisescens). Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist) and the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis
septentrionalis, NLEB) are listed as either threatened or endangered.
The Pigeon River is less than 0.25 miles downstream of both subject bridges. Appalachian Elktoe
are found in some well-oxygenated, cool-water rivers with moderate to fast flowing water and
stable, miXed substrates of silt, sand, gravel, and/or cobble. Big Creek is too small and cold to
support mussels, however, in Haywood County, species is presence in sections of the Pigeon
River, north of Canton. N.C. The closet record for this mussel to the bridge site is over 34.80
Division 14 Office
Telephone: [phone] Webster Road, Sylva, Narth Carolina 28779 Fax: [phone]

Bridge No. 174 & 175 — Haywood County Page 2 December 17, 2018
river miles upstream in the Pigeon River. The project is limited in scope to replacing two bridges
with two span bridges in a temporary diverted stream channel. Therefore, adverse effects of the
work on aquatic habitat should be minor and temporary and only occur a short distance
downstream. Riparian habitat at the project site is disturbed by mowed areas and a commercial
power plant. There are no wetlands nor mountain bogs present on site.
The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel, the Rock Gnome Lichen, Spreading Avens are species that
require very high elevation habitats, though rock gnome lichen has been found at lower elevations
in deep river gorges. The bridge site is only 1,430 feet in elevation and the rock substrate and
humid conditions required by the rock gnome lichen are lacking.
The spruce-fir moss spider is found in spruce-fir forests and other isolated high elevation locations
in western North Carolina. There are no spruce-fir timber stands near the project areas.
Therefore, there is no suitable habitats for these species at the two bridge sites.
Small whorled pagonia generally occurs in open, dry, deciduous woods with acidic soil, though
habitats can include slopes along streams and mesic forest in association with white pine and
rhododendron. The habitat at the project site is mostly maintained road right-of-way, mowed
areas and a commercial power plant. The construction will occur in the existing bridge locations
and there was no evidence of plants in the wooded areas adjacent to the existing disturbed right-
of-way. For these reasons, small whorled pagonia should not be affected by the construction
work.
Gray Bats usually roost in caves or in/on structures year-round while Indiana Bats and NLEB
only winter in caves or mines with stable, but not freezing, cold temperatures. During warm
seasons Indiana Bats and NLEB usually roost on/in structures, under the shaggy bark of live trees
such as white oaks, sycamores, and hickories, or in cavities or under the loose peeling bark of
dead trees. This project should not require blasting, but it will require pile driving and the
removal of approximately 8 trees (oak, sycamore, white pine) and demolition of two steel span
bridges. The bridges were surveyed for bats and evidence of bat roosting on 3.15.2016 and
7.23.2018 and none were evident; absence of bats and signs of bat usage will be confirmed prior
to demolition. Therefore, the project should have no effect on Gray Bats. The bridge is not
situated in a"red HUC" where known NLEB maternity roosts and/or hibernacula are a concern
and it is over a mile from records for NLEB. Therefore, the project is consistent with Section
4(d) rule, codified at 50 C.F.R. § 17.40(0) and effective February 16, 2016. To protect Indiana
bats, the obstructing trees will be removed from October 15 to April 15 (winter clearing).
The project will be limited to replacing one steel span bridge with a two-span cored slab bridge
and one steel span bridge with a steel plate girder bridge. Erosion and sedimentation control
measures will be implemented to protect aquatic habitats. Therefore, for the reasons described
above and with the inclusion of the winter tree clearing requirement for bats, we recommend a
"no effect" determination for threatened and endangered species and a"may effect, not
adversely affect" for the Indian Bat due to winter tree clearing.
This project was reviewed by NCDOT's Human Environment Unit in 2012 for potential effects to
historical architecture and archaeology resources. It was determined that no surveys were

Bridge No. 174 & 175 — Haywood County Page 3 December 17, 2018
required for archeological resources resulting in a no effect determination (see attached forms).
Both project areas are located within the Waterville Historic District and an "adverse effect" was
concluded. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
(USACE), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina
Historic Preservation Office (NC-HPO) was developed to address adverse effects to bridge B 174
and B 175 (see attached MOA). The USACE Action ID Number is SAW-2017-00787 for the
memorandum of agreement.
NCDOT best management practices will be used to minimize and control erosion and
sedimentation on this project. The construction foreman will review all erosion control measures
daily to ensure erosion and sedimentation are being controlled effectively. If the devices are not
functioning as intended, they will be replaced immediately with better devices.
Impacts to Waters of the United States
Big Creek (DWQ Class: C; Tr; HQV� is shown on the USGS topographic map as a perennial
stream. The channel is well defined with a substrate of gravel, cobble, bedrock and is
approximately 45-50 feet in width. The stream has sufficient flow to support fish and other
aquatic life, however, due to project locations at the Big Creek-Pigeon River confluence we
request a short moratorium for rainbow trout (January 1— April 1). Big Creek flows
approximately 0.25 miles to the Pigeon River, which meets the definition of a Traditional
Navigable Water. For these reasons, we believe Big Creek is a Relatively Permanent Water and is
under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To construct the project, it will be
necessary to impact, Big Creek, which are waters of the United States in the French Broad River
Basin (HUC 060101060305). Specifically, NCDOT is requesting to replace Bridge No. 175 with
a two-span cored slab bridge and bridge No. 174 with a single span steel plate girder bridge.
Project impacts for bridge B 174 are depicted within the project permit plans on page 2 of 5 and 5
of 5. Project impacts for bridge B 175 are depicted within the project permit plans on page 2 of 4.
Listed below is a summary of the proposed impacts.
Site No. Existing Condition Proposed Condition Net
Station Im acts
Bridge 174 Causeway to remove existing bent 40'
Site lA Big Creek (Temporary Impact) (0.01836)
acres
Bridge 174 Big Creek Streambank Rip-Rap Bank Stabilization 30'
Site 1B (Permanent Impact)
Bridge 175 Causeway to remove existing bent 55'
Site 2A Big Creek (Temporary Impact) (0.0378)
acres
Bridge 175 Impervious dikes and flow
Site 2B Big Creek diversions to install interior bent 110'
and retaining/wing wall

Bridge No. 174 & 175 — Haywood County Page 4 December 17, 2018
(Temporary Impact)
Bridge 175 Big Creek Streambank Rip-Rap Bank Stabilization 20,
Site 2C (Permanent Impact)
Bridge 175 Big Creek Streambank Retaining WalUWing Wall 45'
Site 2D (Permanent Impact)
Bridge 175 Bi Creek Interior Bent 45'
Site 2E g (Permanent Impact)
Total Permanent Stream Impact for Retaining-Wing Wall & Bent 90'
Total Permanent Stream Impact for Streambank Stabilization 50'
Total Temporary Impact for Detour and Impervious Dikes and Diversions 110'
Total Temporary Stream Impact for Causeways 95'
Permits Requested
NCDOT is hereby requesting authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to proceed
with the construction project outlined above. By copy of this letter, I am asking Mrs. Marla
Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC), to comment directly to you and I concerning the 404 Nationwide Permit
request. This application has been sent to the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources (DWR) for a written certification.
Please contact me at [phone] if you have any questions about this application or need
additional information. Your prompt review and consideration of this request will be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
�'���/� �'�.�.d/�«
Patrick J. Breedlove
Division 14 - Environmental Specialist
Enclosures
cc: Ms. Marella Buncick, Biologist, US Fish &Wildlife Service, Asheville
Mrs. Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator, NCWRC, Albemarle
Mr. Kevin Barnett, Division of Water Resources — DEQ, Asheville
Mr. David McHenry, NCDOT Division 14, Environmental Officer