20071579 Ver 4_Public Notice_20090723

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US Army Corps PUBLIC NOTICE
Of Engineers
Wilmington District
Issue Date: July 23, 2009
Comment Deadline: August 07, 2009
Corps Action ID #: SAW-2007-03219
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application front
the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research seeking modification loan existin1
Department of the Army aUlllorization to permanently Impact an additional 0.268 acres of
wetlands and 103 linear feet of perennial stream channel, and temporarily impact an
additional 0.376 acres of wetland associated with development of a new automotive
research center, northeast of Roanoke Rapids. In Northampton County. North Carolina.
Specific plans and location information itre described helow and shown on the attached
plans. This Public Notice and all attached plans are also available on the Wilnlincton
District Web Site at www.sclw.utiace.eunlv.nlil/wetlands
Applicant: Mr. Gary Brown
North Carolina Center for Autonuuive Research
Post Office Box 685
Jackson. North Carolina 27845
Agent: Ms. Kim Willizulls
Land Management Group, Inc
Post Office Box 2522
Wiimin?oton, North Carolina 28402
Authority
The Corps will evaluate this application and it decide whether to issue, conditionally
issue, or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act.
Location
The 619 acre project site is located on the south side ol'Blyth Road, and the north side of
Hwy 46, east of I-95, northwest of Garysburg. In Northampton County, North Carolina.
The site Coordinates are 36.4753"N, 77.5822'5W.
Existing Site Conditions
The project site has been previously used I'M tin1her cultivation and contains a mixture of
clear cut areas, young pine plantation. and mature pine/hardwood forests. Uplands on the.
site are comprised of recently clear cut areas with young 1oh1011y pine, sweet gu11, and
red maple. The wetland finger located in the southeastern portion of the tract has hcen
recently logged and contains sweet gum Lind I-Cd tllaple saplings as well as hcrhaccous
plants such as wool ,rass. The stream systems that form the eastern western and southern
property boundaries have broad adjacent Wet1:?11ds that support nlaturC black guns, sweet
gum and red maple.
Applicant's Stated Purpose
The applicant's project Purpose is to develop :r center for autonxnivc research and
development. The program and assets will he managed by a non-prol'it 501C'3
organization with a Board of Directors. The Center will hC desincd to provide a nunlhcr
of resources at a reasonable cost to users in the general aUtOnlotrve, nlotorsports, arid
alternative fuel development sectors.
Project Description
The project will include a 3.7 mile ride and handling cou?'se, two vehicle dynamics areas,
test laboratories, refueling station, an adnlinisuaion building, and all tile iIlfI-!IStI-LICILIrC
associated. The project was permitted on .lanuary 14. 2009 for the impacts of 2.94 ages
of wetlands, and 130 linear feet of stream.: lonu v,ith 0.157 acres ol'temporary impacts to
wetlands, and 147 linear feet of temporary impacts to streams. Miti":t6011 was required
by payment into the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) in the
amount necessary to perform restoration to 2.94 acres of wetlands in the Roanoke Rlvcl'
Basin (Cataloging Unit 03020207).
The applicant has requested to modify the permit to include total Permanent impacts 01'
3.208 acres of wetlands and 233 linear feet of slrcanl. The applicant has also rcqucsted
0.533 acres of temporary impacts to wetlands. and 65 linear feet of temporary impacts to
streams. These additional inlp:Icts have stemmed 1"1-0111 errors in the 01-1,01nal ?11)11HC tion.
where riprap protection at the outlet of the two culverts were ori"'inally said to he
temporary, but the NCDENR- Division of Land Resources-Land Quality Section is
requiring these impacts to be permanent. Also the applicant has stated that the previous
impact footprint did not allow enouL'h space on the shoulders ol'the mad for
maneuverability of the contractor's equipment during construction.
The applicant has proposed to mitigate for the additional impacts by payment to the
NCEEP in the amount necessary to restore an additional 0.27 acre of riparian wetlands
and 233 linear feet of stream in the Roanoke River Basin (Cataloging Unit 03020207).
version 1 2/ 12/05
Other Required Authorizations
This notice and all applicable application materials are being fOrwarded to the appropriate
State agencies for review. The Corps will generally not make a Final PCI-11111 decislO11 until
the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issues, denies, or waives State
certification required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The receipt of
the application and this public notice combined with appropriate application fee at the
North Carolina Division of Water Quality central office in Raleigh will constitute initial
receipt of an application fora 401 Water Quality Certification. A waiver will be (Icellled
to occur if the NCDWQ tails to act on this request for certification within sixty days Of'
the date of the receipt of this notice in the NCDWQ Central Office. Additional
information regarding the Clean Water Act certification play be reviewed at tile NCDWQ
Central Office, 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit. 2321 Crabtree BOUIeVaRl,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260. All persons Clesirino to slake comments retarding
the application for certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act should (10 so in
writing delivered to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ), 1650 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 Attention: Ms Cyndi Karoly by July
30, 2009.
Essential Fish Habitat
This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultatloll reClUil-Clllents of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Manaocnlcnt Act. The Corps' initial
determination is that the proposed project will not adversely impact EFH or associated
fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Mana-cment Councils
or the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cultural Resources
The Corps has consulted the latest published version of the National Register of Historic
Places and is not aware that any registered properties. or properties listed its being
eligible for inclusion therein are located within the project area.
Endangered Species
The Corps has reviewed the project area. examined Lill information provided by the
applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on
available information, the Corps has determined pursuant to the Endangered Spccies Act
of 1973, that the proposed project will have no effect on federally listed endangered or
threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
Version 12/12/05
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue it permit will be based on an CValuation of the probable
impacts, includino CURILIlative inlliacts, ol'the proposed activity on the puhlic intcrest.
That decision will reflect the national concel'll 101' both pl'OtM1011 and utilization of
important resources. The henel'it which reasonably may he expected to accrue I*ronl the
proposal must be balanced against its reasonably 1OI'eseea1_)1e detriments. All factors
which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered inrludin1 the cumulative effects
thereof; amon, those are conservation. cconolllics. aesthetics. general cnvironmciltal
concerns, wetlands, historic properties. fish and wildlife Values. Hood hazards, flood plain
values (in accordance with Executive Ureter 1 1988). land use. nuvi',uion, shoreline
erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and COnSel'Vation, water quality, cncrgy
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 ol'the United States, the evaluation of
the impact of the activity on the puhlic interest will include application of the
Environmental Protection Agency's 404(h)( I ) `guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting conlllletlt5 f1'0I11 the public: Federal. State and local
agencies and officials, includinl;T any consolidate State Viewpoint or written position of
the Governor; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and Mlh.lale
the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will he considered by the
Corps of Engineers to determine whether to isstle, modify, condition or deny a permit for
this proposal. To make this decision. Colllnlents arc used to assess impacts on endangered
species, historic properties, water quality, general envirolllllclltal effects and the other
public interest factors listed above. Conlnlents arc 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 heanng and to determine the overall puhlic intcrest of the
proposed activity.
Any person nlay request, in writing*, within the c'oninlent period specified in this notice,
that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests Ior Public IIC,11-ill(IS
shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding it puhlic 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 he served by a hearing.
Written comments pertinent to the proposed work, ,IS outlined above, will lie received
by the Corps of Engineers. Wilnlington District, until 5pnl. Allgllsl 07, 2009. Con?nlents
should be submitted to Mr. Thomas Brown. 3331 Heritage Trade Drive. Suite 105, Wake
Forest, NC 27587.
4 Versinn 13/12/05
twre
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? 404 Wet?ands
® Propcsed Impacts to 404 Wetlands
Approximate stream location (as determined by staf' of LMC
from mops and site visits; not based on surveyed information)
Preliminary; Not for Construction
North Carolna Center for Automotive Research
CD-1
ry,nn to Con,-l DP.Mgn
Northampton County. North Carolina
n,k M, 7009
4&
700' 0 700'
Scale: 1" = 700'

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