20090451 Ver 1_Environmental Assessment Comments_20090728

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
July 28, 2004
MEMORANDUM
To: Ms. Melba McGee, Environmental Coordinator
NCDENR Office of Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs
From: Brian L. Wrenn, NCDWQ'IA-P
Subject: Environmental Assessment for SR 1323 and NC 28 Improvements in Franklin, Macon
County, Federal Aid Project No. STP-28(1), State Project No. 8.1970801, TIP Project R-
2408. State Clearinghouse Project No. 04-0374.
This office has reviewed the referenced document. The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) is responsible
for the issuance of the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for activities that impact Waters of the
U.S., including wetlands. It is our understanding that the preferred alternative, as presented in the EA,
will result in impacts to jurisdictional streams. The project will have impacts to streams associated with:

Stream Name River Basin Stream Classification Stream Index Number
Little Tennessee River Little Tennessee River C 2-(1)
Rock Branch Little Tennessee River C 2-26
Iotla Creek Little Tennessee River C 2-27
DWQ offers the following comments on the referenced document:
Project Specific Comments
• DWQ agrees with the purpose and need for the project.
• DWQ agrees with the preferred alternative which includes a combination of Alternates 1 and 2.
DWQ has some concerns associated with controlling storm water from the expressway gutters
proposed for the project. Outlets from the expressway gutter system should not discharge storm
water directly into waters of the State. We recommend that storm water be directed to discharge
into the adjacent floodplain. In addition, we prefer that appropriate Best Management Practices
(BMPs)be used to provide diffuse flow at nonerosive velocities. DWQ will work with the DOT
to develop and implement flow spreader devices and other BMPs for this project.
• Table 14 lists 100 feet of impacts to the Ut to Rocky Branch. Figure 2 does not show a Ut to
Rocky Branch in the project area. However, Jacobs Branch is shown in Figure 2 as a tributary to
Rocky Branch. Is Jacobs Branch considered the Ut to Rocky Branch? Please clarify this issue.
401 Transportation Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 One
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 North Carolina
Phone: [phone] / FAX [phone] / Internet: htto /Hh2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands almr1711U

General Comments
• In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules { 15A NCAC
2H.0506(b)(6) }, mitigation will be required for impacts of greater than 150 linear feet to any
single perennial stream and for impacts of 1 acre or greater of any wetlands. In the event that
mitigation is required, the mitigation plan should be designed to replace appropriate lost functions
and values. In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules { 15A
NCAC 2H.0506 (h)(3)), the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program may be available for use as
stream mitigation.
• After the selection of the preferred alternative and prior to an issuance of the 401 Water Quality
Certification, the NCDOT is respectfully reminded that they will need to demonstrate the
avoidance and minimization of impacts to wetlands (and streams) to the maximum extent
practical.
• When practical, the DWQ requests that bridges be replaced on the existing location with road
closure. If a detour proves necessary, remediation measures in accordance with the NCDWQ
requirements for General 401 Certification No. 3366/Nationwide Permit No. 33 (Temporary
Construction, Access and Dewatering) must be followed.
• DWQ prefers replacement of bridges with bridges.\
• Any new culverts must be countersunk to allow unimpeded fish and other aquatic organisms
passage through the crossing.
• If applicable, DOT should not install the bridge bents in the creek, to the maximum extent
practicable.
• If foundation test borings are necessary; it should be noted in the document. Geotechnical work
is approved under General 401 Certification Number 3027/Nationwide Permit No. 6 for Survey
Activities.
• Sediment and erosion control measures should not be placed in wetlands.
• Borrow/waste areas should avoid wetlands to the maximum extent practicable. Impacts to
wetlands in borrow/waste areas could precipitate compensatory mitigation.
• The 401 Water Quality Certification application will need to specifically address the proposed
methods for storm water management. More specifically, storm water will not be permitted to
discharge directly into the creek. Instead, storm water should be designed to drain to a properly
designed storm water detention facility/apparatus.
• While the use of National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps and soil surveys is a useful office tool,
their inherent inaccuracies require that qualified personnel perform onsite wetland delineations
prior to permit approval.
C?
The NCDWQ appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on your project. Should you have any
questions or require any additional information, please contact Brian L. Wrenn at 919-733-5715.
cc: Angie Pennock, USACE Asheville Field Office
Marella Buncick, USFWS, Asheville Field Office
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
File Copy

Draft Minutes for Hydraulic Design Review Meeting
R-2408B, Macon County
NC 28 from SR 1323 (Riverview Street) to SR 1378
(Bennett Road)
A Hydraulic Design Review Meeting was held on Wednesday,
November 9, 2005 in the Location and Surveys conference room at the
NCDOT Century Center Complex, Raleigh.
Team Members: Andrew Nottingham-Hydraulics (Present)
Steve Lund for Angie Pennock-USACOE (Present)
Brian Wrenn- NCDWQ (Present)
Marla Chambers-NCWRC (Present)
Marella Buncick-USFWS (Present)
Chris Militscher-EPA (Present)
Jeanie Tyson for Jason Moorr-Roadway Design (Present)
Tyler Stanton-NEU (Present)
Donnie Brew for Clarence Coleman-FHWA (Present)
Harold Draper-TVA (Present)
Jamie Wilson-Division 14 (Present)
Bryan Kluchar-PDEA (Present)
Participants: Stephen Morgan-Hydraulics
Karen Gulledge-Hydraulics
Quang Nguyen-Structure Design
John Duggins-Structure Design
Mark Staley-Roadside Environmental Unit
Michael Turchy-NEU
Jeff Hemphill-NEU
Linwood Stone-PDEA
Carla Dagnino-NEU
The meeting began at 1:00 p.m. with NCDOT Hydraulics giving a brief description and
history of the project. It was noted that this project was not following the merger process.
It was also noted that a previous field meeting had been held in August of this year to
discuss the impacts associated with the culvert crossing at station 110+00 -L-. This was
due to its close proximity to the Little Tennessee River and concerns over how it might
impact mussels in that river. At that meeting it was decided that NCDOT would hold
another meeting to discuss the culvert design when more detailed design information was
available.

NCDOT noted that the existing box culvert located upstream and to the west of the
culvert at station 110+00 -L- would likely have to be removed to allow for the
construction of the new culvert.
EPA noted that they would like to see more sinuosity in the proposed stream relocation
left of station 102+00 -L-.
DWQ requested no direct storm drain discharge into the culvert at station 1,10+00 -L-.
NCDOT discussed methods to avoid this.
NCDOT noted that the Unnamed Tributary to Rocky Branch would also be impacted
where it crosses -Y6- (Lee Talent rd) at station 12+00 on plan sheet 7. The existing pipe
will be replaced with a larger and longer pipe. NCDOT noted that they might be able to
use taller endwalls to reduce impacts.
NCDOT noted that the crossing at station 12+00 -Y5- on sheet 7 should be verified to
determine if it is a stream.
NCDOT noted that the project limits on sheet 15 should be extended to include
resurfacing of the roadway up to the bridge over the Little Tennessee River.
NCDOT noted that project R-2408A is being designed by the division office. That
project crosses an Unnamed Tributary to the Little Tennessee River. This tributary drains
into the Lake Emory portion of the Little Tennessee River. There is an existing 6 ft- 4 in.
by 4 ft- 7 in. metal pipe arch on that project is to be replaced with a 11 ft-10 in. by 7 ft- 7
in. metal pipe arch buried 1 foot. NCDOT passed around the proposed culvert report
design. The team had no objections to the design. DWQ mentioned a possible
commitment for a hazardous spill basin in this area that was discussed during the seeping
phase of this project. NCDOT noted it would be hard to construct in this location. The
team noted that there did not appear to be any justification for the need of one at this
location. DWQ noted they would investigate the background on why one was
recommended.
The agencies noted they would like to have a permit drawing review meeting to review
the final design on the R-2408B project.
NCDOT noted that the document addresses both R-2408A and R-2408B projects. The
consensus was that the permit would need to be applied for both parts of the project also.
The A part of the project is scheduled to be let first. NCDOT will work out how to put
the permit together since the division is doing part and the design branch is doing part.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m.