HomeMy WebLinkAbout20191251 Ver 1_USFWS Email Reply_201909231
Williams, Paul C
From:Jordan, Gary <gary_jordan@fws.gov>
Sent:Monday, September 23, 2019 10:58 AM
To:Williams, Paul C
Cc:Wilson, Travis W.; Barnes, Kyle W SAW; Daisey, Greg; Ward, Garcy; Brittingham, Cathy; Henry, Sabrina
Subject:Re: [EXTERNAL] RE: Ocracoke NC 12 Dune and Road Repairs - Hurricane Dorian
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Paul,
As per our phone conversations, I'm still treating this as an emergency Section 7 consultation. Based on the
information provided in these emails and from our phone conversations, and provided that NCDOT
implements the stated commitments, the USFWS can concur with a biological conclusion of May Affect, Not
Likely to Adversely Affect for all the sea turtle species, piping plovers, and red knots.
Gary Jordan
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Liaison to NCDOT
US Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636‐3726
Phone: 919‐856‐4520 x.32
Email: gary_jordan@fws.gov
NOTE: This email correspondence and any attachments to and from this sender are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and
may be disclosed to third parties.
On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 10:46 AM Williams, Paul C <pcwilliams2@ncdot.gov> wrote:
Travis,
I will have that included in the permits.
Thanks,
Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Division Environmental Officer
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Division One
NC Department of Transportation
(252) 482-1861 office
(252) 333-9812 mobile
(252) 482-8722 fax
pcwilliams2@ncdot.gov
113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Wilson, Travis W. <travis.wilson@ncwildlife.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2019 10:26 AM
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To: Williams, Paul C <pcwilliams2@ncdot.gov>; Gary_Jordan@fws.gov
Cc: Barnes, Kyle W SAW <Kyle.W.Barnes@usace.army.mil>; Daisey, Greg <Greg.Daisey@ncdenr.gov>; Ward, Garcy
<garcy.ward@ncdenr.gov>; Brittingham, Cathy <cathy.brittingham@ncdenr.gov>; Henry, Sabrina
<sabrina_henry@nps.gov>
Subject: RE: Ocracoke NC 12 Dune and Road Repairs ‐ Hurricane Dorian
Paul,
In conversation the our sea turtle biologist with an estimated 8‐10% error rate in finding and marking nest sites there is
some concern that an unmarked nest could be uncovered. Our recommendation is to also include the following
language:
“if eggs and/or hatchlings are uncovered during project work, all construction activity in that area must stop and the NC
WRC Sea Turtle Hotline (252‐241‐7367) must be called to make arrangements for the eggs/hatchlings, in consultation
with NPS (and viable eggs might be left in place, meaning no work can occur within 300 ft until the incubation ends or
the nest is determined to be no longer viable).”
Travis W. Wilson
Eastern Region Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
1718 Hwy 56 West
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Phone: 919-707-0370
Fax: 919-528-2524
Travis.Wilson@ncwildlife.org
ncwildlife.org
4
From: Williams, Paul C <pcwilliams2@ncdot.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2019 9:24 AM
To: Gary_Jordan@fws.gov; Wilson, Travis W. <travis.wilson@ncwildlife.org>
Cc: Barnes, Kyle W SAW <Kyle.W.Barnes@usace.army.mil>; Daisey, Greg <Greg.Daisey@ncdenr.gov>; Ward, Garcy
<garcy.ward@ncdenr.gov>; Brittingham, Cathy <cathy.brittingham@ncdenr.gov>; Henry, Sabrina
<sabrina_henry@nps.gov>
Subject: Ocracoke NC 12 Dune and Road Repairs ‐ Hurricane Dorian
Gary and Travis,
Due to the impacts of Hurricane Dorian, NC 12 on Ocracoke was severely damaged in an area on the north end of the
island. This included significant erosion to the adjacent dune and beach. NCDOT is planning a repair project that will
include rebuilding the roadway, roadway shoulders, and dune for approximately 2 miles. All fill material will be trucked
from the dredge spoil site at the South Dock Ferry Terminal. Additionally, the 2 most significantly eroded sites will have
sand bags installed as a temporary measure to protect the roadway until a long term solution has been selected to
maintain traffic. Sand bags would be hydraulically filled from the swash zone of the adjacent beach.
In our coordination with NPS in their post storm assessment, three viable Loggerhead nests have been identified within
the project area near the end of the project. Their locations and probable hatch dates have been depicted on the
attached permit drawing and aerial map. In addition, due to limited access to the island, NPS is currently monitoring
for nests on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of every week.
In order to not adversely affect the existing nests, NCDOT makes the following commitments
1. If NPS hasn’t surveyed prior, the NCDOT inspector would survey the project area each morning for turtle nest
crawls before work begins. If a nest is identified, NCDOT would coordinate with NPS. USFWS and NCWRC
would be notified.
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2. Equipment and off road dump trucks would not be allowed on the beach within 300 feet of the nests until NPS
has notified NCDOT of the nest hatching or NPS has determined the nest is not viable.
3. All work would be conducted during daylight hours. Work at night would not be permitted.
The project could start as early as September 27th, with traffic scheduled to start back before Thanksgiving. Project
completion date will be January 31st, 2020 for all dune reconstruction and sprigging. In my opinion, the project area
would not be suitable nesting area for sea turtles nor provide suitable habitat for piping plovers and red knots at this
time due to the severely eroded and narrow beach. Due to the record number of turtle nests this year and the recently
laid turtle nest on Hatteras Island, NCDOT would still monitor the work area for nests through November 15th of this
year.
Thank you for your coordination on the project. Please let me know if you need any additional information during the
permitting process of this project.
Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Division Environmental Officer
Division One
NC Department of Transportation
(252) 482-1861 office
(252) 333-9812 mobile
(252) 482-8722 fax
pcwilliams2@ncdot.gov
113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932
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Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.