20181598 Ver 1_WRC FEIS R-1015_20151230

Department of Environmental Quality
Project Review Form
Project Number: 16-0163 County: Craven
Due Date: 1/1/2016
Date Received: 12/07/2015
Project Description: Final Environmental Impact Statement - Proposed construction of a new, 10-mile,
four lane divided, controlled-access freeway for US 70 Bypass around the
southwest side of the City of Havelock. TIP#R-1015
Previously reviewed 93-0056, 98-0539 & 12-0082
This Project is being reviewed as iudicated below:
Regional Of£ce
Asheville
_ Fayettevitle
Mooresville
_ Raleig�
✓ Washington
_ Wilmington
Regionxl Office Arett
✓ Air
✓ DWR
✓ DWR-Public Water
In-Aouse Review
Air Quality
Parks & Reereation
✓ Waste Mgmt
Water Resources Mgmt
(Public Water, Planning & Water
Quality Program)
�/ DWR-Transportation Unit
Garcy Ward
./ Coasffi( Management
�/ DCM-Marine Fisheries
Military Affairs
Winston-Salem
Sign-0ff/Region:
✓ DEMLR (LQ & S4�
✓ DWM-UST
��� �
DMF-Shellfish Sanitation
_ Wildlife
✓ Wildlife—DOTTYavis Wilson
In-House Reviewer/Agency:
Rcsponse (check aIl applicable)
No objection to project as proposed.
Insuffieient information to complete review
No CommenC
xOt(ier (specify or attach wmments)
If you have any questions, please contact:
Lyn Hardison at Ivn.hardison(a�ncdennEov or [phone]
943 Washington Square Mall Washington NC 27859
Courier No, 16-04-01

� North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission �
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Lyn Hardison, Environmental Assistance Coordinator
Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach, DENR
FROM: Travis Wilson, Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: December 29, 2015
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed US 70 Bypass in Havelock, Craven
County, North Carolina. TIP No. R-1015 SCH Project No. 16-0163
Staff biologists with the N. C. Wildlife Resoarces Commission have reviewed the subject
PEIS and are familiar with habitat values in the project area. The purpose of this review was to
assess project impacts to fish and wildlife resources. Our comments are provided in accordance
with certain provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.5.C. 4332(2}(c)) and the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The US 70 bypass of Havelock is proposed as a four lane median divided facility mostly on
new location with full control of access. The selected alternative is 103 miles in length,
impacting 2,948 linear feet of sh•eam, 131 acres of wetlands, and 240 acres of the Croatan
National Forest. During the review of the F�IS the following items were identified:
• On page 4 of the green sheet commitments under Roadside Environmental Unit and
Roadway Design item #2 mentions the use of "rolled matting". WRC request that any
rolled matting used for erosion conh�ol not include types that urilize plastic mesh. The
plastic mesh has been found to entangle wildlife, natural fiber is prefeired.
The project is being planned under the NEPA/Section 404 Metger O1 process. WRC is
represeirted in this pirocess and om• prior comments have been incorporated. However the
impaets assoeiated with the preferred altemative are substantial and continued efforts to avoid
and minimize impacts will occur through the remainder of the project design. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment. If we can be of fiu�ther assistance please call me at [phone]
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Pisheries • 1721 Mail Seivice Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

R-1015
cc: Gary Jordan, USFWS
Garcy Ward, NCDWR
Tom Steffens, USACE
Cathy Brittingham, NCDCM
Cynthia Van Der Wiele, USEPA
Page 2 December 29, 2015