SAW-2013-00201

Streams identified within the project area, which include Cates Creek and unnamed tributaries (C; NSW), New Hope Creek and unnamed tributaries (WS-V; NSW), Old Field Creek and unnamed tributaries (WS-V; NSW), Rocky Run (WS-II; HQW; NSW; CA), Sevenmile Creek and unnamed tributaries (WS-II; HQW; NSW; CA), as well as unnamed tributaries to the Eno River (C; NSW), are all part of the Jordan or Falls Lake Water Supply Watersheds. Water Quality Classifications referenced above are defined as the following:

Class C (C) refers to waters protected for uses such as secondary recreation, fishing, wildlife, fish consumption, aquatic life including propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity, and agriculture. Secondary recreation includes wading, boating, and other uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental manner;

Water Supply II (WS-II) refers to waters used as sources of water supply for drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes where a WS-I classification is not feasible. These waters are also protected for Class C uses. WS-II waters are generally in predominantly undeveloped watersheds. All WS-II waters are HQW by supplemental classification;

Water Supply V (WS-VI) refers to waters protected as water supplies which are generally upstream and draining to Class WS-IV waters or waters used by industry to supply their employees with drinking water or as waters formerly used as water supply. These waters are also protected for Class C uses.

High Quality Waters (HQW) is a supplemental classification intended to protect waters which are rated excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through Division monitoring or special studies, primary nursery areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission, and other functional nursery areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission;

Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) is a supplemental classification intended for waters needing additional nutrient management due to being subject to excessive growth of microscopic or macroscopic vegetation;

Critical Area (CA) is a supplemental classification intended for waters needing additional protection.

No waters within the Study Area have been identified by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) as trout waters; therefore, no moratoria are anticipated for the proposed project. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has not identified any streams within the Study Area as an Essential Fish Habitat. There are no streams within the Study Area determined by the USACE as Navigable Waters under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Further environmental features in the project vicinity are shown on Figure 2.

Applicant’s Stated Purpose

The primary purpose of improving this section of I-40 is to relieve peak hour congestion on this facility such that a Level of Service (LOS) D can be achieved for the 2040 build condition. Other desired outcomes from this would be to improve the traffic flow and continuity between the eight-lane section at I-85 and the six-lane section at the Durham County line.

NCDOT proposes to widen I-40 to six lanes and install ITS facilities from I-85 in Orange County to the Durham County line, a distance of approximately 11.4 miles. Two alternatives are under consideration: a “No Build” alternative and a “Best-Fit Widening Build” alternative.

Detailed Study Alternatives (DSA)

Best-Fit Widening Build Alternative (Figure 3, A-O): This alternative would widen I-40 at locations that “best fit” the current road location and surrounding land uses, from an existing four-lane facility to a six-lane facility with a 22-foot median. The widening would involve adding an additional lane in each direction along I-40, predominately within the existing median which would require minor additional right of way. Full depth, twelve-foot paved outside shoulders would also be provided. Improvements to interchange areas would be provided as needed to accommodate future traffic demand.

Alternatives that provide widening only on the right side, widening only on the left side, or widening on both sides equally were not considered because the “Best-Fit” alternative allows the design engineers an opportunity to minimize the impacts to the human and natural environments by shifting the alignment as necessary to accommodate the proposed improvements. “Best Fit” locations were evaluated and selected to improve the existing road alignment, minimize impacts, and allow traffic to remain on I-40 and the roads that intersect I-40 during project construction.

For construction, right of way, and utilities, the Best-Fit Widening Build Alternative is estimated to cost a total of $161.2 million. Based on a 25-foot buffer from the preliminary design slope stake limits, and excluding the existing I-40 facility footprint, approximately 2,567 linear feet of stream and 0.17 acre of wetland impacts are proposed for this alternative.

The No-Build Alternative was also retained as a baseline against which the benefits, costs, and impacts of the Build Alternatives could be compared. The No-Build Alternative assumed the continuation of routine road repairs and maintenance to existing I-40. Although the estimated construction, right of way, and utilities cost would be $0, this alternative would not provide any substantial improvements to the I-40 project area and would not improve traffic flow.

Avoidance, Minimization and Compensatory Mitigation

Through development of the preliminary functional design within the Best-Fit Widening Build Alternative, NCDOT has attempted to avoid impacts to streams and wetlands to the greatest practicable extent. To this point, those efforts include:

·       Using the existing, disturbed median to accommodate the majority of the widening;

·       Retaining and extending all existing major hydraulic structures, minimizing stream and wetland impacts;

·       Using 2:1 slopes where possible.

 NCDOT will continue to seek ways to avoid and minimize impacts in further design efforts for the selected Alternative.

The purpose of compensatory mitigation is to offset unavoidable functional losses to the aquatic environment resulting from project impacts to waters of the United States.

NCDOT will investigate potential on-site compensatory mitigation opportunities for the selected alternative. If on-site mitigation is not feasible, NCDOT intends to coordinate with the North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services to provide the required compensatory mitigation.

Essential Fish Habitat

Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, this Public Notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements. The Corps’ initial determination is that the proposed project would not effect  EFH or associated fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils or the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Cultural Resources

Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), Appendix C of 33 CFR Part 325, and the 2005 Revised Interim Guidance for Implementing Appendix C, the District Engineer consulted district files and records and the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places and initially determines that:

No historic properties, nor properties eligible for inclusion in the National Register, are present within the Corps’ permit area; therefore, there will be no historic properties affected. The Corps subsequently requests concurrence from the SHPO (or THPO).

The applicant states that no historic architecture resources were identified within their Area of Potential Effect (APE) and no eligible historic properties would be impacted by the proposed project. NCDOT defined the APE as the 150-foot radius away from I-40 starting at the toe of fill where streams are crossed. Twelve previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within or adjacent to the APE during the initial map review and file search conducted by the NCDOT Archaeology Group. Of these twelve, eight had been destroyed by the construction of I-40 completed in 1986, while the four remaining sites are outside the current Study Area or would not be disturbed by the current project. Additional field surveys were conducted within the project Study Area; these surveys did not reveal the presence of any archeological resources. The final determination of the of the NCDOT’s Archaeology Group’s report indicated there were No National Register Eligible or listed archaeological sites present or affected by this project.

The District Engineer’s final eligibility and effect determination will be based upon coordination with the SHPO, as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the Corps-identified permit area.

Endangered Species

Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Corps reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on available information:

The Corps determines that the proposed project may affect, not likely to adversely affect  federally listed endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.

The Corps initiates consultation under Section 7 of the ESA and will not make a permit decision until the consultation process is complete. As of October 3, 2018, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists four federally protected species for Orange County, including the dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii), smooth cone flower (Echinacea laevigata), and Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas). The applicant has indicated that habitat does exist for this species in the project area, although no specific information on surveys for these species were submitted.

Northern Long-Eared Bat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a programmatic biological opinion (PBO) in conjunction with FHWA, USACE, and NCDOT for the northern long-eared bat in eastern North Carolina (which includes Wake County). The PBO went into effect in 2016 and covers all NCDOT projects and activities in NCDOT Divisions 1 to 8. The programmatic determination for the bat is “May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect”. The PBO involves a research and tracking program to establish conclusive information concerning the existence of the northern long-eared bat in the eastern part of North Carolina. The PBO also requires that upon completion of clearing activities for each project with federal funds, NCDOT will report on the estimated acres of clearing to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.