20061581 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20061128

~~' North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jennifer S. Frye
USACE
and
Cyndi Karoly
NC DENR/DWQ
FROM: Steven H. Everhart, PhD, CWB
Southeastern Permit Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: November 28, 2006
SUBJECT: New Hanover Co. -Well Field and Nanofiltration Water Treatment Plant with
reject water outfall to AIWW, USACE AID# SAW-2003-1188-065.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the
permit application with regard to impacts to fish and wildlife resources. A site visit was
conducted on October 5, 2006. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.), and
Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as amended), and North Carolina General
Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.).
New Hanover County proposes to construct a 6 MGD nanofiltration water plant and well field
off Plantation Rd. with reject water piping and discharge (2 MGD) along Porters Neck Rd. and
Edgewater club Rd. to the AIWW at the Figure Eight Island Bridge. The applicant is seeking
authorization to permanently impact 3.045 acres of §404 waters of the US (including 1.937 acres
of wetlands) and to temporarily impact 0.55 acre of §404 wetlands and 0.64 acre of § 10/§404
wetlands to facilitate construction.
We have the following concerns/recommendations:
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

NHC -Well Field and WTP 2 November 28, 2006
• We share the following concerns of the DMF:
1) To prevent damage to the 225 ft of coastal marsh, the pipe should be directional bored.
2) To prevent problems with navigation, anchoring, etc. the line should be marked
appropriately.
The draft deed restrictions for the wetlands to be set aside as mitigation for wetlands
impacted by the project were not provided. We recommend that all remaining wetlands in
the well fields are preserved in perpetuity through conservation easement that prohibits:
cutting, pruning, mowing, or burning of vegetation; construction of any kind; use of
herbicides; any land disturbing activities; dumping or storing of soil, trash, or other waste;
and the pasturing, grazing or watering of animals, or any other agricultural or horticultural
purpose within wetlands.
• We recommend that all sub-aqueous utility stream crossings be made using directional bore
methods rather than trenching.
Thank you for allowing us to comment. If you have any questions, please call me at (910) 796-
7217 or steve.everhart(a~ncwildlife.org .
C: Noelle Lutheran, NCDWQ
Fritz Rohde, NCDMF