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US Army Corps
Of Engineers
Wilmington District
PUBLIC NOTICE
Issue Date: December 14, 2018
Comment Deadline: January 14, 2019
Corps Action ID Number: SAW-1993-02466
TII' Project No. R-1015
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) received an application from the
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Mr. Philip S. Harris, III, Natural
Environment Section Head, seeking Department of the Army authorization to impact
jurisdictional areas consisting of 114.15 acres of permanent wetland impacts, 2,870
linear feet of permanent stream impacts (including 936 feet of intermittent streams and
1,934 of perennial streams), and 0.55 acres of permanent surface water impacts. The
wetland impacts include 98.33 acres of non-riparian wetlands and 15.82 acres of
riparian wetlands that will require mitigation. Additionally, there will be 7.43 acres of
hand clearing in wetlands due to roadway construction. The proposed impacts are
associated with construction of a new bypass (US 70 Havelock Bypass/R-1015) around
the Town of Havelock, Craven County, North Carolina.
Due to the large number of permit drawing plans associated with this proposal, they are
not included with this Public Notice. This Public Notice is available on the Wilmington
District Web site at:
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Re ug latoryPermitPro rg am.aspx.
Related maps for this project are available on the NCDOT website click on this link:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/pdea/PermA�ps, you can scroll down and click on the
R-1015 links or do CTRL+F and type R-1015. There are two PDF files, click on the
first PDF file.
If you wish to review these plans in person, or to obtain additional information about the
proposed project, please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Field Office
at 2407 West Sth Street, Washington, North Carolina 27889 (Call ahead to arrange a
time for review at (910)-251-4615).
Applicant: North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Unit
Attn: Mr. Philip S. Harris III, Section Head
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1598
Authority
The Corps evaluates this application and decides whether to issue, conditionally
issue, or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures of the following
Statutory Authorities:
� Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
❑ Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403)
❑ Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
(33 U.S.C. 1413)
Location
Directions to Site: The proposed project originates at an interchange with existing US
70, just north of SR 1760 (Hickman Hill Loop Road) and extends 10.3 miles to
terminate at an interchange with existing US 70 southeast of SR 1824 (McCotter
Boulevard).
Project Area (acres): 375 (approximately) Nearest Town: Havelock
Nearest Waterways:Tucker Creek, Slocum Creek and multiple unnamed tributaries of
both.
River Basins: Neuse River (HUC 03020204)
Latitude and Longitude:
Begin Project (approximately) 34.836715 N, -76.882150W
End Project (approximately) 34.954187 N, -76.949412W
Existing Site Conditions
The project is located in the Neuse River Basin (Hydrologic Unit 03020204). The project
crosses numerous streams, unnamed tributaries, surface waters, and wetlands. Drainages
within the northern part of the project study corridors are part of the Tucker Creek watershed
and drainages in the southern and central part of the project study corridors are part of the
Slocum Creek watershed. There are no Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), High Quality
Waters (HQW), WS-I waters, or WS-II waters within 3 miles upstream or downstream of the
project study corridors or within the project study area. No stream that flows through the
project study corridors is designated as National Wild and Scenic River or a State Natural
and Scenic River. The project is predominately located within the boundary of the Croatan
National Forest (CNF) and crosses privately held parcels adjacent to or contained within the
CNF.
Applicant's Stated Purpose
The purpose of the project is to improve the traffic operations along the US 70 corridor and
enhance regional connectivity in eastern North Carolina.
The separation of local and regional traffic will reduce congestion and thereby increase
safety on existing US 70 in Havelock, enhance high speed regional travel and promote US 70
connectivity between the Port of Morehead City to the east and multiple industrial/military
complexes located to the west.
Project Description
In order to satisfy the requirements of both NEPA and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, planning for
this proposal has been conducted in accordance with the integrated NEPA/404 Merger Process (Merger) as
adopted by the NC Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the
USACE by MOA dated 1999. The FHWA was lead federal agency throughout the lengthy planning and
development of the proj ect. FHWA documented the proj ect in a Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) in October 2015 and Record of Decision (ROD) in December 2016. Both documents are vailable
at: https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/pdealEnvironmentalDocs/Documents/
The US 70 Havelock Bypass will be constructed as a freeway predominantly on new location. The
typical section consists of four 12-foot travel lanes, placed on fill material. The highway has 12-foot
outside shoulders (10-feet paved) and grass-lined ditches with slopes ranging from 6:1 to a 3:1
maximum. The inside shoulders are 6-foot shoulders (4-foot full-depth of pavement. The medians are
depressed downward to the center of the median at a 6:1 slope. The total depressed-median width
(paved and grass) is 46 feet. Two interchanges will connect the bypass to existing US 70 on the north
and south ends of the project, and a new interchange will be constructed just west of central Havelock
- to provide access from SR 1756 (Lake Road). A minimum of 23 feet of vertical clearance will be
held over railroads and a minimum of 17 feet of vertical clearance above intersecting roadways. Full
control of access is proposed for the US 70 Havelock Bypass. The total length of the project is
approximately 10.3 miles.
Final proposed impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and surface waters associated with road
construction for R-1015 are suininarized in Tables 1 and 2 respectively. The project is located
within sub-basin 030410 of the Neuse River Drainage Basin and is part of USGS hydrologic unit
03020204. Drainages within the northern part of the project are part of the Tucker Creek watershed
and drainages in the southern and central part of the project are part of the Slocum Creek
watershed.
Table 1. R-1015 Wetland Impacts
Permit 2007 NRTR Permanent Impacts Temporary Mitigation Required*
Drawing Label Type (ac.) Impacts (ac.)
Site
Number
1 W90 Non-riparian 1.16 Yes
2 W 1 Non-riparian 5.06 Yes
3 W2 Non-riparian 29.33 Yes
4 W3 Non-riparian 1.62 Yes
5 W4 & WS Non-riparian 0.23 0.08 Yes
6 W6 Non-riparian 5.54 Yes
7 W7 Non-riparian 2.89 Yes
8 W7 Riparian 0.03 Yes
9 W7 Riparian 5.54 3.95 Yes
10 W7 Non-riparian 7.24 Yes
11 W7 Non-riparian 3.03 Yes
12 W8 Non-riparian 2.62 Yes
13 W9 Non-riparian 7.22 Yes
14 W9 Riparian 0.99 Yes
15 W9 Riparian 0.35 Yes
16 W9 Riparian 2.64 Yes
17 W 10 Riparian 0.06 Yes
17A W 10 Riparian 0.05 Yes
18 W 10 Non-riparian 1.10 Yes
18A W 10 Non-riparian 0.15 Yes
19 W 10 Riparian 0.14 Yes
20 W9 Non-riparian 1.74 Yes
21 W 10 Non-riparian 0.85 Yes
21 A W 10 Non-riparian 0.11 0.25 Yes
22 W 12 & W 13 Riparian 0.98 Yes
23 W 13 Riparian 1.18 Yes
24 W4 Non-riparian 0.84 Yes
Permit 2007 NRTR Permanent Impacts Temporary Mitigation Required*
Drawing Label Type (ac.) Impacts (ac.)
Site
Number
25A W42 Non-riparian 2.02 Yes
25B W42 Non-riparian 0.01 Yes
26 W44 Non-riparian 0.58 Yes
27 W42 &W45 Non-riparian 0.91 Yes
28A W47 Non-riparian 0.03 Yes
28B W47 Non-riparian 0.03 Yes
29 W49 Non-riparian 0.14 Yes
30 W48 Non-riparian 0.31 Yes
31 W50 & W51 Non-riparian 2.61 Yes
32 W62 Non-riparian 0.71 Yes
33 W65 Non-riparian 0.02 Yes
34 W66 Non-riparian 0.19 Yes
35A W67 Non-riparian 6.26 Yes
35B W67 Non-riparian 0.82 Yes
36A W67 Non-riparian 0.94 Yes
36B W67 Non-riparian 0.57 Yes
37 W69 Non-riparian 3.94 Yes
38A W70 Non-riparian 0.52 Yes
38B W70 Non-riparian 036 Yes
39 W74 Non-riparian 0.01 Yes
39 W76 & W77 Riparian 3.26 Yes
40 W83 Non-riparian 6.28 Yes
41 W87, W88,W91 Riparian 0.15 Yes
42 W38 Riparian 0.11 Yes
43 W37 Riparian 0.06 Yes
44 W41 Non-riparian 035 Yes
45 W36 Riparian 0.47 Yes
45A W36 Riparian 0.51 Yes
Total: 114.15 0.96
Note: *- for permanent impacts
Table 2. R-1015 Surface Water Impacts
ermit 2007 Stream Name Type Perm. (1� Temp. (1� Perm. (ac.) Temp. (ac.) Mitigation
rawing NRTR Required
Site Label
umber
14 S6 T to SW Prong Slocum P 338 56 0.05 < 0.01 Yes
Creek
16 S6 UT to SW Prong P 201 59 0.03 < 0.01 Yes
Slocum Creek
17 S6 T to SW Prong Slocum P 130 89 0.03 0.02 Yes
Creek
19 S7 T to SW Prong P 261 44 0.06 < 0.01 Yes
Slocum Creek
22 S9 UT to SW Prong Slocum I 584 61 0.05 0.01 Yes
Creek
39 S22 Tucker Creek P 655 116 0.22 0.03 Yes
39 S23 T to Tucker Creek I 330 Yes
41 S30a, b Tucker Creek P 49 57 0.05 0.08 Yes
&c
42 S20b UT to SW Prong Slocum P 20 12 < 0.01 < 0.01 Yes
Creek
43 S20a UT to SW Prong Slocum P 42 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 Yes
Creek
44 S19b T to SW Prong Slocum P 122 11 0.02 < 0.01 Yes
Creek
45 S19a T to SW Prong Slocum P 116 99 0.04 0.02 Yes
Creek
46 S24 UT to Tucker Creek I 10 16 < 0.01 < 0.01 Yes
47 S29 UT to Goodwin Creek I 12 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 Yes
Total: 2,870 640 0.55 0.19
Avoidance and Minimization
The applicant provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or
minimize impacts to the aquatic environment:
• Methods to minimize impacts on wetlands, streams, and other environmentally
sensitive areas:
o Carefully design outlet of stormwater pipes to areas just outside wetlands
and buffers to minimize impacts from fill footprint and to provide for
energy dissipation to reduce erosion potential, provide additional
hydrology to help maintain wetland function, and allow the natural buffer
to help treat the stormwater.
o Minimize the number of outlet pipes at jurisdictional features.
o Retain ditch discharges to existing wetlands.
o Align channels at confluences to reduce energy of discharges into receiving
water and limit stabilization needs.
o Provide for fish passage needs in perennial channels in appropriate culvert
designs in locations where fish passage is feasible and likely.
o Eliminate existing direct discharges into jurisdictional features, where feasible.
o Identify access routes at construction crossings that minimize jurisdictional
impacts and clearing of buffers.
o Ensure construction in jurisdictional areas is in strict compliance with all permits.
o Use BMPs, including grass swales, preformed scour holes, dry detention
basins, and riprap energy dissipaters, to minimize impacts.
o Develop a project-specific Environmental and Permit Monitoring Plan.
• Select service road alignments that minimize stream and wetland crossings while
meeting design criteria and minimize property impacts.
• Whenever possible place utilities into proposed road alignment rather than separate
corridor that would have impacts to additional jurisdictional features. Only one
utility, an overhead powerline, requires minor impacts solely for the utility
relocation.
• Design pond dewatering activities to create stable remnant channels in pond
footprint and require minimal impacts to tie into existing jurisdictional waters.
• When appropriate and feasible relocate channels using natural stream channel
design methods.
• Drainage would be designed to minimize impacts to jurisdictional features and water
quality.
• When feasible use construction methods that revise permanent impacts to be
temporary impacts in instances such as construction access locations and
utility relocations and employ appropriate restorative techniques at those
locations to return conditions to pre-construction functions. Other techniques
such as use of mats, temporary bridges for stream crossings are i d e n t i fi e d
for construction methods.
• Many others as noted in the CP 4B and 4C meetings.
Compensatory Mitigation
The project has been designed to avoid and minimize impacts to jurisdictional areas
throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and design processes. The
applicant has requested compensatory mitigation credit via the North Carolina
Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) to offset permanent impacts associated with
the proposed project. The Corps will request that compensatory mitigation will be
debited from the Croatan Wetland Mitigation Bank (CWMB) owned by NCDOT and
located immediately adjacent to the proposed highway corridor.
The CWMB is also contiguous to land currently owned by the National Forest
System/Croatan National Forest. The USACE, NCDOT and the U.S. Forest Service
have been planning the development, use, and long term management of the CWMB.
Discussions are underway to develop an instrument to convey the CWMB property
from NCDOT to the U.S. Forest Service for inclusion in the Croatan National Forest
(CNF) as an element of compensatory mitigation for the loss of CNF property within
the project corridor.
Essential Fish Habitat
Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, this
Public Notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements. The
Corps' initial determination is that the proposed project will not impact any Essential
Fish Habitat (EFH) identified by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and
NMFS has not requested further consultation regarding EFH.
Cultural Resources
Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Appendix C
of 33 CFR Part 325, and the 2005 Revised Interim Guidance for Implementing
Appendix C, the District Engineer consulted district files and records and the latest
published version of the National Register of Historic Places and initially determines
that:
❑ Should historic properties, or properties eligible for inclusion in the National
Register, be present within the Corps' permit area; the proposed activity requiring
the DA permit (the undertaking) is a type of activity that will have no potential to
cause an effect to an historic properties.
❑ No historic properties, nor properties eligible for inclusion in the National
Register, are present within the Corps' permit area; therefore, there will be no
historic properties affected. The Corps subsequently requests concurrence from
the SHPO (or THPO).
❑ Properties ineligible for inclusion in the National Register are present within the
Corps' permit area; there will be no historic properties affected by the proposed
work. The Corps subsequently requests concurrence from the SHPO (or THPO).
� Historic properties, or properties eligible for inclusion in the National Register,
are present within the Corps' permit area; however, the undertaking will have no
adverse effect on these historic properties. The Corps subsequently requests
concurrence from the SHPO (or THPO).
� Historic properties, or properties eligible for inclusion in the National Register,
are present within the Corps' permit area; moreover, the undertaking may have an
adverse effect on these historic properties. The Corps subsequently initiates
consultation with the SHPO (or THPO).
❑ The proposed work takes place in an area known to have the potential for the
presence of prehistoric and historic cultural resources; however, the area has not
been formally surveyed for the presence of cultural resources. No sites eligible
for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places are known to be present
in the vicinity of the proposed work. Additional work may be necessary to
identify and assess any historic or prehistoric resources that may be present.
The District Engineer's final eligibility and effect determination will be based upon
coordination with the SHPO and/or THPO, as appropriate and required, and with full
consideration given to the proposed undertaking's potential direct and indirect effects
on historic properties within the Corps-identified permit area.
Throughout the planning phases of this proposed project, the NCDOT, the Federal
Highways Administration (FHWA) and the SHPO have coordinated potential effects
to historic resources. During NEPA documentation, it was determined that no
properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) will be impacted by the proposed bypass (ROD, p. 7; FEIS, p. 4-18). Project
commitments have been generated to ensure that Site 31CV302, an archaeological
site recommended eligible for the NRHP per Criterion D, is avoided and protected
throughout the duration of the project's construction (ROD, Appendix C[Sheets 2&
3 of 7]).
Endangered Species
Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Corps reviewed the project area,
examined all information provided by the applicant and consulted the latest North
Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on available information:
❑ The Corps determines that the proposed project would not affect federally listed
endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
� The Corps determines that the proposed project may affect federally listed
endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
Specifically, suitable habitat for the Red-Cockaded woodpecker (Picoides
borealis) is present adjacent to the project corridor in the form of mature pine
stands that may present opportunities for nesting habitat. Additionally, suitable
habitat for the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is present
within the project corridor. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS's)
Programmatic Biological Opinion (BO) titled "Northern Long-eared Bat
(NLEB) Programmatic Biological Opinion for North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) Activities in Eastern North Carolina (Divisions 1-8),"
dated March 25, 2015, and adopted on April 10, 2015, contains mandatory
terms and conditions to implement the reasonable and prudent measures that are
associated with "incidental take" that are specified in the BO. Any permit issued
for this project would be conditioned to require compliance with the mandatory
terms and conditions associated with incidental take of the BO.
❑ The Corps is not aware of the presence of species listed as threatened or
endangered or their critical habitat formally designated pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) within the project area. The Corps will
make a final determination on the effects of the proposed project upon additional
review of the project and completion of any necessary biological assessment
and/or consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or National
Marine Fisheries Service.
Table 3 lists the federally protected species for Craven County as of Apri125, 2018.
These species are discussed extensively in Section 4.14.4 of the FEIS. Species with
the federal classification of Endangered (E), Threatened (T), or officially Proposed
(P) for such listing, are protected under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) of 1973, as amended. Species listed as Threatened due to Similarity of
Appearance [T(S/A)], such as the American alligator, are not subject to Section 7
consultation. The Bald Eagle is protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection
Act and is not subject to Section 7 consultation.
Table 3. Federally Protected Species Listed for Craven County
Scientific Name Common Name Federal Habitat Biological County
Status Present Conclusion
Acipenser o�yrinchus Atlantic sturgeon E No No Effect Craven
oxyrinchus
Acipenser brevirostrum Shortnose E No No Effect Craven
sturgeon
Aeschynomene virginica Sensitive joint- T No No Effect Craven
vetch
Alligator mississippiensis American alligator T(S/A) Yes Not Required Craven
Chelonia mydas Green sea turtle T No No Effect Craven
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback sea E No No Effect Craven
turtle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle NA Yes NA Craven
Myotis septentrionalis Northern long- T Yes MA-LAA Craven
eared bat
Picoides borealis Red-cockaded E Yes MA-NLAA Craven
woodpecker
Calidris canutus rufa Red knot T No No Effect Craven
Trichechus manatus West Indian E No No Effect Craven
manatee
Lysimachia sperulaefolia Rough-leaved E Yes No Effect Craven
loosestrife
E— Endangered , T— Threatened, T(S/A) — Threatened due to Similarity of Appearance, MA-LAA -
May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect, MA-NLAA — May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect,
NA- Not applicable.
Biological Conclusions for ESA Listed Species
The FEIS addressed the analysis of potential effects on this species on pp. 4-59
through 4-74, which concluded that the Biological Conclusion for the red-cockaded
woodpecker (RCW) is May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect. The USFWS
concurred with that conclusion by letter dated November 19, 2013. This concurrence
was based in part on NCDOT's agreement to allow periodic closures of the Bypass in
order for Croatan National Forest Staff to conduct prescribed burns as management
for the RCW. Additional coordination has taken place with USFWS as the project has
continued to develop. Based on the latest information, NCDOT requested an updated
concurrence from the USFWS by letter dated October 4, 2018, and the FWS
concurred that the project may affect, but is not likely to affect the RCW, in a
response letter dated October 10, 2018.
The USFWS has developed a programmatic biological opinion (PBO) in conjunction
with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), and NCDOT for the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) in eastern North
Carolina. The PBO covers the entire NCDOT program in Divisions 1-8, including all
NCDOT projects and activities. The programmatic determination for NLEB for the
NCDOT program is "May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect." The PBO provides
incidental take coverage for NLEB and will ensure compliance with Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act for five years for all NCDOT projects with a federal nexus in
Divisions 1-8, which includes Craven and Carteret Counties where R-1015 is located.
Since the PBO does not include the USFS, NCDOT conducted surveys to further
investigate potential effects on the NLEB. As discussed on pp.4-57 & 4-58 of the
FEIS, these surveys concluded that the project will not affect the viability of NLEB
on Croatan National Forest.
For the remaining ESA listed species, NCDOT has concluded the projects will have
No Effect (see Table 3), and Section 4.14.4.1 of the FEIS.
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA)
In the July 9, 2007 Federal Register (72:37346-37372), the bald eagle was declared
recovered, and removed (de-listed) from the Federal List of Threatened and
Endangered wildlife. This delisting took effect August 8, 2007. After delisting, the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) became the
primary law protecting bald eagles. Surveys conducted in 2011 concluded that the
proposed project will have no impact on the bald eagle due to the absence of nest
sites, communal roost sites, or foraging areas for this species (FEIS, p. 4-56).
Other Required Authorizations
The Corps forwards this notice and all applicable application materials to the
appropriate State agencies for review.
North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWRI: The Corps will generally not
make a final permit decision until the NCDWR issues, denies, or waives the state
Certification as required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The receipt
of the application and this public notice, combined with the appropriate application fee,
at the NCDWR Central Office in Raleigh constitutes initial receipt of an application for a
401 Certification. A waiver will be deemed to occur if the NCDWR fails to act on this
request for certification within sixty days of receipt of a complete application. Additional
information regarding the 401 Certification may be reviewed at the NCDWR Central
Office, Transportation Permitting Unit, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North
Carolina 27604-2260. All persons desiring to make comments regarding the application
for a 401 Certification should do so, in writing, by January 14, 2019 to:
NCDWR Central Office
Attention: Ms. Amy Chapman, Transportation Permitting Unit
(USPS mailing address): 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Or,
(Physical address): 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (NCDCMZ
� The application did not include a certification that the proposed work complies
with and would be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the approved
North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program. Pursuant to 33 CFR 325.2
(b)(2) the Corps cannot issue a Department of Army (DA) permit for the
proposed work until the applicant submits such a certification to the Corps and
the NCDCM, and the NCDCM notifies the Corps that it concurs with the
applicant's consistency certification. As the application did not include the
consistency certification, the Corps will request, upon receipt, concurrence or
objection from the NCDCM.
❑ Based upon all available information, the Corps determines that this application
for a Department of Army (DA) permit does not involve an activity which would
affect the coastal zone, which is defined by the Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
Act (16 U.S.C. § 1453).
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable
impacts including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest.
That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of
important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be eXpected to accrue from the
proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors
which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative
effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood
hazards, flood plain values (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use,
navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation,
water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs,
considerations of property ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the
people. For activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the
United States, the evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will
include application of the Environmental Protection Agency's 404(b)(1) guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and
local agencies and officials, including any consolidated State Viewpoint or written
position of the Governor; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider
and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be
considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition
or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess
impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general
environmental effects and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are
used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine
the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice,
that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings
shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a
public hearing shall be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues
raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.
The Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District will receive written comments pertinent to
the proposed work, as outlined above, until5pm, January 14, 2019. Comments should be
submitted to Thomas Steffens, Washington Regulatory Field Office,
2407 West Sth Street, Washington, North Carolina 27889, at (910) 251-4615.