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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20061592 Ver 2_Fax_20061221 (2)QF,W'4TFR Michael F. Easley, Governor Q ~ ~ G ~ ~ r William G. Ross Jr., Secretary North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources ~ ~ p ~ Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality EXPRESS PERMIT REVIEW PROGRAM Division of Water Quality Department of Environmental and Natural Resources 401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit Street Address: 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250 Raleigh, NC 27604-2260 Mailing Address: 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 Contact Information: Phone #: Fax #: 919-733-0203 919-733-6893 Fax To: Charlie Keeter Subject: Cameron & Associates Tracts Number of pages including cover sheet: 6 Notes or special instructions: Fax #: 252-438-4062 Date: December 21, 2006 The original will be sent in the mail. If you have questions, please contact Lia Myott at 919-733-9505. NO°e Carolina ~I~Uit/~lCR~~I~ 401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit 1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone (919) 733-1786 /Fax (919) 733-6893 Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands An Equal OpportunitylAffimtative Action Empbyer - 50% Recycled110% Post Consumer Paper ~QF W ATFR p Michael F. Easley, Governor ,`Q G William G. Ross Jr., Secretary Vj ~. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources ~ ~ p ..~ Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality December 21, 2006 DWQ EXP# 06-1592v2 Vance County CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Charlie Keeter Cameron & Associates P.O. Box 1612 Henderson, NC 27536 Subject Property: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Cameron & Associates Tract Parcel ID: 040902003 and 041204004 Tar-Pamlico River Riparian Buffer Violation Failure to Secure a Riparian Buffer Authorization Dear Mr. Keeter: On November 20, 2006, Lia Myott and Cynthia Van Der Wiele from the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) conducted a stream determination at the subject property located south of Highway 158, and west of Poplar Creek Road in Vance County, North Carolina. This site visit was conducted in response to your request to determine if the stream feature on your property was subject to the Tar-Pamlico River Riparian Buffer Rules. During the November 20th site visit, Ms. Myott and Dr. Van Der Wiele observed impacts to riparian buffers along the both sides of an intermittent stream leading to an unnamed tributary to Poplar Creek and to Zone 2 of the riparian buffer of the unnamed tributary to Poplar Creek. The entire property (with the exception of 20 to 30 feet of riparian buffer on the unnamed tributary) had been logged and cleared. No erosion control measures were in place and erosion was occurring. At the time of the site inspection, it was estimated that riparian buffers had been removed from along approximately 3001inear feet of the intermittent stream and approximately 25 feet of the outer riparian buffer had been removed along approximately 800 feet of the unnamed tributary to Poplar Creek. Based on review of DWQ files, we have not identified any Pre-Construction Notification or any Tar- Pamlico Riparian Area Authorization, US Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit, or 401 Water Quality Certification from the Division of Water Quality. As a result of the site inspections and file review, the following violation is noted: 1) Tar-Pamlico River Riparian Buffer Violations and Failure to Secure a Riparian Buffer Authorization Item I. Tar-Pamlico River Riparian Buffer Violations The Tar-Pamlico River Basin is a river basin that is subject to riparian (streamside) buffer rules. The purpose of these rules is to protect and preserve riparian buffers in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. That is, these rules help to maintain the nutrient removal functions of the streamside areas necessary to protect surface waters. Specifically, this Rule applies to the 50-foot wide riparian buffer directly adjacent to surface waters (intermittent streams, perennial streams, lakes, ponds, and estuaries). N~one~Carolina 401 Oversight /Express Review Permitting Unit dVktura~r!l~ 1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone: 919-733-1786 /FAX 919-733-6893 /Internet: httn://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/] 0% Post Consumer Paper Cameron & Associates Page2of3 December 20, 2006 The protected riparian buffer has two zones as follows: (a) Zone 1 [measured from each stream bank landward for 30 feet] shall consist of a vegetated area that is undisturbed except for uses provided for in Subparagraph (6) of 15A NCAC 2B.0255, and (b) Zone 2 [the outer 20 feet, landward~from the outer 30 foot edge of Zone 1] shall consist of stable vegetated area that is undisturbed except for activities and uses provided for in Subparagraphs (4) and (6) of 15A NCAC 2B.0255. The site visit and file review of this tract confirmed no Pre-Construction Notification was received for this project and riparian buffer impacts associated with clearing of vegetation, grading and grubbing were not authorized by DWQ. Specifically, no request, or a DWQ practical alternative determination, variance or authorization had been issued for these impacts to the riparian zone. As a result, the following riparian buffer rule violations are noted: Tar-Pamlico River Buffer Rule 15A NCAC 2B.0255: Vegetation has been removed from the riparian zone, a violation of the requirement that Zone 1 and Zone 2 consist of a stable, vegetated area that is undisturbed except for activities and uses provided for in Item (6) of the Rule. Impact 1: Vegetation was removed in Zone 1 and 2 for a total length of approximately 300 feet. Therefore, an estimated 30,000 square feet (0.7 acres) of buffer impact was observed. Impact 2: Vegetation was removed in Zone 2 and approximately 5 feet of Zone 1 for a total length of approximately 800 feet. Therefore, an estimated 40,000 square feet (0.9 acres) of buffer impact was observed. The two impact areas result in at total of 1.6 acres of riparian buffer impact. No variance or Practical Alternative Request was received prior to the riparian zone impacts. Requested Response On December 20, 2006, this office received a buffer restoration plan from S&EC, PA for this site. The restoration plan included a planting plan for the intermittent stream, but not for the impacts to the buffer of the unnamed tributary to Poplar Creek. This Office requests that you respond to this letter in writing within 20 days of receiving this Notice. Your response should be sent to both this office at the letterhead address and to the attention of Mr. Danny Smith at the NC Division of Water Quality, Non-Point Source Assistance and Compliance Oversight Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC, 27699-1617. Your response should address the following items: 1) Please provide your plans to delineate and avoid any further buffer impacts on the site. This delineation should include the generation of a detailed site plan survey showing the stream channel and Zones 1 and 2 of the riparian buffers for all streams on the two tracts. 2) For the Tar-Pamlico Buffer Impacts, please submit the following Restoration Plans to this office for review and approval. a.) Riparian Buffers - A planting plan must be developed and implemented in order to ensure that at least three native tree species are planted at a density sufficient to provide 320 trees per acre at maturity. This density is usually achieved by planting approximately 436 trees/acre on a 10 x 10 ft. grid or 681 trees/acre on an 8 x 8 ft. grid. Please see the Guidelines for Riparian Buffer Restoration (October 2004) for assistance in developing your plan (available on the web site at http://www.nceep.net/news/reports/buffers.pdf). This plan must include the types of native woody vegetation selected, methodology of planting, and a site map indicating the location of the replanting efforts. Also, the plan must address the measures that will be used for temporary stabilization/sediment control while this work is under way. Cameron & Associates Page 3 of 3 December 20, 2006 In addition, DWQ. requests that at least 20% of the trees planted be balled and burlapped, 1.5 - 2.0-inch caliper nursery stock, to provide variation in the size of the trees in the restoration area. ' b.) Please indicate in your response a detailed schedule with dates explaining when the restoration will be accomplished. As a part of this schedule you should detail/include a three-year monitoring plan. c.) Please measure (or GPS) the existing riparian buffer on the Unnamed Tributary to Poplar Creek to determine the width of the existing buffer as it appears that Zone 2 will need to be replanted as well as portions of Zone 1 in some areas. In addition, please provide written details regarding the protection of the riparian buffers (both Zones 1 and 2) through capture of all buffers with deed restrictions specifying protection of the buffers and/or placement of a conservation easement on the buffers. 3) It is required that you contact the Raleigh Regional Office of the Division of Land Resources at (919) 571-4700, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (919) 876-8441. These contacts are necessary to ensure that your restoration efforts are in compliance with Land Resources and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requirements. You are encouraged to secure a consultant to assist you with your planting plan, permit, water quality certification or authorization necessary to achieve compliance. Thank you for your attention to this matter. This Office is considering sending a recommendation for enforcement to the Director of the Division of Water Quality regarding these issues and any future/continued violations that may be encountered. Your above-mentioned response to this correspondence will be considered in this process. This Office requires that the violations, as detailed above, be abated immediately. These violations and any future violations are subject to civil penalty assessment of up to $25,000.00 per day for each violation. Should you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact Lia Myott at 919.733.9502. Sincerely, 1 ~, Cyndi B. Karoly, Manager NCDWQ 401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting CBK/lem cc: Danny Smith - DWQ NPS Assistance and Compliance Oversight Unit Ken Krulik -Vance County Planner, 156 Church St, Suite 003, Henderson, NC 27536 Thomas Brown, USACE Raleigh Field Office Mike Horan, DWQ Raleigh Regional Office RRO Karen Pageau, Raleigh Regional Office -Division of Land Resources File Copy Central Files ~~F W A r~RQ Michael F. Easley, Governor ,`~ ~i William G. Ross Jr., Secretary ~ r North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources ~ ~ t7 ~ Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality December 21, 2006 DWQ EXP# 06-1592 Vance County CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Charlie Keeter Cameron & Associates P.O. Box 1612 Henderson, NC 27536 Subject Property: NOTICE OF CONTINUING VIOLATION Cameron & Associates Tract Parcel ID: 040902002 (Tract lA) Dear Mr. Keeter: On November 7, 2006, a Notice of Violation (NOV) was issued from the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) for your parcel located approximately 'h mile west of Poplar Creek Road in Vance County, North Carolina. This office received a response letter on November 30, 2006, three days past the 20-day deadline specified in your NOV. The response letter did not contain all of the items requested in the NOV. Additionally, a letter was received on December 19, 2006 via facsimile requesting an appeal to a stream on-site determination conducted on October 17, 2006. The determination letter expressly stated, "You must act within 60 days of the date that you receive this letter." Sixty days from October 17, 2006 was December 16, 2006. The Division of Water Quality has determined the following: 1) A stream determination appeal will be granted (the stream determination appeal does not halt the NOV process since the majority of the violation is along the uncontested perennial stream) 2) A 15-day extension will be granted from this date (due January 5, 2006) for the NOV response items originally requested. Requested Response This Office requests that you respond to this letter in writing within 15 days of receiving this Notice. Your response should be sent to both this office at the letterhead address and to the attention of Mr. Danny Smith at the NC Division of Water Quality, Non-Point Source Assistance and Compliance Oversight Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC, 27699-1617. Your response should address the following items: 1. Please provide your plans to delineate and avoid any further buffer impacts on the site. This delineation should include the generation of a detailed site plan/survey that shows the stream channel, Zones 1 and 2 of the riparian buffer, and the stream portions that have been filled. 2. Please provide a plan to remove the fill (approximately 30 linear feet) from the unauthorized stream crossing that was used for heavy equipment passage (see Photo 4). This plan should involve the least invasive clearing method possible, ensuring that heavy equipment do not have access to the streambed. The plan should include a bank stabilization procedure following the fill removal. 401 Oversight /Express Review Permitting Unit 1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone: 919-733-1786 /FAX 919-733-6893 /Internet: htto://h2o.enr.state.nc.uslncwetlands None Carolina ~trrra!!y An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer- 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper Cameron & Associates Page2of2 December 21, 2006 3. Please provide a plan to stabilize and replant the intermittent stream crossing location. . 4. For the Tar-Pamlico Buffer Impacts, please submit the following Restoration Plans to this office for review and approval. a.) Riparian Buffers - A planting plan must be developed and implemented in order to ensure that at least three native tree species are planted at a density sufficient to provide 320 trees per acre at maturity. This density is usually achieved by planting approximately 436 trees/acre on a 10 x 10 ft. grid or 681 trees/acre on an 8 x 8 ft. grid. Please see the Guidelines for Riparian Buffer Restoration (October 2004) for assistance in developing your plan (available on the web site at http://www.nceep.net/news/reports/buffers.pdf). This plan must include the types of native woody vegetation selected, methodology of planting, and a site map indicating the location of the replanting efforts. Also, the flan must address the measures that will be used for temporary stabilization/sediment control while this work is under way. In addition, DWQ requests that at least 20% of the trees planted be balled and burlapped, 1.5 - 2.0-inch caliper nursery stock, to provide variation in the size of the trees in the restoration area. b.) Please indicate in your response a detailed schedule with dates explaining when the restoration will be accomplished. As a part of this schedule you should detaiUinclude a three-year monitoring plan. In addition, please provide written details regarding the protection of the riparian buffers (both Zones 1 and 2) through capture of all buffers with deed restrictions specifying protection of the buffers and/or placement of a conservation easement on the buffers. If the requested response is not received, this Office will make a recommendation for enforcement to the Director of the Division of Water Quality regarding these issues and any future/continued violations that may be encountered. Your above-mentioned response to this correspondence will be considered in this process. This Office requires that the violations, as detailed above, be abated immediately. These violations and any future violations are subject to civil penalty assessment of up to $25,000.00 per day for each violation. Should you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact Lia Myott at 919.733.9502. Sincerely, u ~ ~~~~ Cyndi B. Karoly, Manager NCDWQ 401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting CBK/lem cc: Danny Smith - DWQ NPS Assistance and Compliance Oversight Unit Ken Krulik -Vance County Planner, 156 Church St, Suite 003, Henderson, NC 27536 Thomas Brown, USACE Raleigh Field Office Eric Kulz, DWQ Raleigh Regional Office RRO RRO -Division of Land Resources File Copy Central Files SENDING CONFIRMATION DATE DEC-21-2006 THU 12:50 NAME DFI~WETLANDS TEL 9197336893 PHONE : 912524384062 PAGES : 6~6 START TIME : DEC-21 12:47 ELAPSED TIME : 02'17" MODE ECM RESULTS : OK FIRST PAGE OF RECENT DOCUMENT TRANSMITTED... ~p W n rE9 Nliclaa l P. Fxl•Y. ~4aYRnr ~'' 9G wn~ama.Rrnxh.,seaelarx p1 g. North Csellna Dgewiment of pa,lrpnma4 and NanvalRam,m y p r Alan W. KNmek P.E. LMearn nn5olm orwelerQn•~In EXPRESS PERMIT REVIEW PROGRAM Division of Water Quality Department of Environmental end Natural Resources 401 Oversight/Express Rerlew Permitting Unit StreN Addrai: 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 230 Raleigh, NC 27604-2260 Mailing Address: 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1630 Contact lnforma6oa: Phone #: 919-733-0203 Fax #: 919-733-6893 Fax To: Charlie Keefer Fa: iF: 252-438062 Subject: Cameron & Associates Tracts Date: December 21, 2006 Number of pages including cover sheet: 6 Notes or special instructions: I'he original will be sent in the mail. If you have questions. please corrtaM Lia Mvoa at 919-733-9303. .n' ~y 401 OamIp~VR prw Rr¢a' 14nMini UnA IiSU MYI9arcka Cceier, Raidi;hh, ~nrTh Grpl~m17G99-I6~0 U21 Cnbeec aauk,aN. Sahe 3511, Ra1Nrp. NerOi Crol:~ r]4w Plgnc @19) 733-17rR I Fr /919) 733bi93 arkmcl', ~tl ~~m2ern ney,ryq..,Na_n~ An iNal granrMW AaYrn•auar ACiOn r+nala>r~- alit P ydc910!6 Pql Can~n~Pagr