20190179 Ver 1_01_OldAiport_ResponseToComments_20190712_20190712

Kimley»>Horn
July 12, 2019
Ms. Emily Thompson
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Washington Regulatory Field Office
2407 West Fifth Street
Washington, NC 27889
Mr. Garcy Ward
NC Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
RE: Old Airport Road 4041401 Application — Response to Comments
New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina
Dear Ms. Thompson and Mr. Ward:
On behalf of our client, the City of New Bern, Kimley-Horn is providing the following clarifications
related to the 401/401 permit application for the above referenced project in Craven County, NC
(Figure 1). The Old Airport Road 404/401 permit application was submitted on May 10, 2019. The
NCDWR requested clarification via email on 3 portions of the permit application on June 27, 2019.
The following provides detail on these 3 questions raised by NCDWR:
Ditches are shown being cut through the wetlands at the culvert crossing at Impact Site 1. Is
it possible to eliminate the portion of the ditches through the wetlands? If ditches are
required in the wetlands, it would constitute a permanent impact in the form of excavation. A
portion of the ditch in the NE corner where it ties into the stream is shown in the temporary
wetland impact area. This needs to be shown as a permanent impact if a ditch is needed
here. Please adjust accordingly.
o The proposed vegetated ditches along Old Airport Road at Impact Site 1 have been
designed to tie in to the existing channels (SC and SB). These ditches are being cut
through a utility easement area that appears to be frequently maintained and rutted
by equipment. The vegetated ditches will allow the water a direct path to the stream
and culvert. This will reduce the potential for future corrective work resulting from
utility easement maintenance impact and eliminate any potential erosion and scour
from heavy flow events.
o The attached permit drawings have been updated to show permanent impacts at the
northeastern quadrant of Site 1 where the roadside ditch continues through wetland
WJ. This change resulted in an increase of 0.002 acre of permanent wetland impacts
and therefore a reduction of 0.002 acre of temporary wetland impacts. Rounded to
the hundredth, these numbers did not change the previously requested totals.

Kimley»>Horn
Page 2
At impact Site 2, an F symbol for fill is shown in the temporary wetland impact (TW) area In
the SW corner of the crossing. If fill is going in the wetlands in this area, it would constitute a
permanent impact. Please clarify.
o The Fill symbol (F) shown at the southwestern quadrant of Impact Site 2 outside of
the easement line was a CAD annotation error. The F has been moved to the slope
stake line in the attached permit drawings to clarify. No impact changes were made
at this location.
The application states that the temporary wetland impacts are needed for construction
access. Are these impacts in the form of hand clearing, temporary fill or both?
o These temporary wetland impacts will result from hand clearing for construction
access, temporary fill as necessary, and utility easements. A construction method
note has been added to the plan set to ensure only hand clearing will be done within
wetlands. The updated plan sheet (1-A) has been attached.
If there is any additional information you need to assist in the processing of this request, please do
not hesitate to contact me at 919-677-2113 or [e-mail].
Sincerely,
William Sullivan
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