Public Notice 2017-03-10 (401 Program)

March 10, 2017

TO:    DENR-DWR-Wetlands-Public Listserv

FROM:     Karen Higgins, 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
              Amy Chapman, Transportation Permitting Branch

RE:    Revised Water Quality General Certifications and Isolated and Other non-404 Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waters Permit; Proposed MBI in the Neuse River Basin – Wildlands Holdings III, LLC; Proposed Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset BPDP in the Neuse River Basin – Wildlands Holdings III, LLC

The purpose of this Public Notice is outlined below.  This notice is available electronically at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/401-wetlands-buffer-permits/401-public-notices.

I.  Revised Water Quality General Certifications and Isolated and Other non-404 Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waters Permit 

The new 401 Water Quality General Certifications (GC’s) and Isolated and Other non-404 Jurisdictional Wetlands Permit (IWP) are available online at http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/fol/493390/Row1.aspx.  

On March 20, 2017 they will also be available on the DWR website at http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permi….  

These GC’s and the IWP have an effective date of March 19, 2017.  Below is a list of the new numbers:

Proposed GC    New GC        Proposed GC    New GC        Proposed GC    New GC
 3883REV    4085         3891REV    4093         3901REV    4101
 3884REV    4086         3893REV    4094         3902REV    4102
 3885REV    4087         3894REV    4095         3903REV    4103
 3886REV    4088         3895REV    4096         3899REV    4104
 3887REV    4089         3900REV    4097         3904REV    4105
 3888REV    4090         3898REV    4098         3905REV    4106
 3889REV    4091         3908REV    4099         3906REV    4107
 3890REV    4092        RGPAREV    4100         3907REV    4108

Please note that written approvals for 401 Certifications will be issued in accordance with the General Certification in effect on the date of authorization, not the date of application.

Please direct questions or comments to Karen Higgins (919-807-6360, karen.higgins@ncdenr.gov) or Sue Homewood (336-776-9693, sue.homewood@ncdenr.gov)

II.  MBI for Riparian Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset Credits in the Neuse River Basin

A Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) has been prepared by Wildlands Holdings III, LLC (WHIII) for review and approval by the Division of Water Resources under the Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 and the Nutrient Offset Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0240.  This MBI, if approved, will allow WHIII to sell riparian buffer mitigation and nutrient offset credits within the Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03020201 of the Neuse River Basin, excluding the Falls Lake Watershed.  A site-specific Bank Parcel Development Package has been submitted for review and approval (see Item III below).   

The proposed MBI can be found online at http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/489850/Page1.aspx.  Persons wishing to comment are invited to submit their comments in writing to Katie Merritt at (katie.merritt@ncdenr.gov or 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617).  All comments received by DWR by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on March 25, 2017 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final MBI.  If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.

III .  Proposed Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset Bank Parcel Development Package in the Neuse River Basin

A Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) for the Falling Creek Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank for Wildlands Holdings III, LLC (WHIII) has been submitted for review and approval (see Item II above)

WHIII has submitted a proposed Bank Parcel Development Package (BPDP) for the Falling Creek Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel, which is located in the Neuse River Basin (8-digit USGS HUC 03020201) in Wayne County.  Stormwater runoff from this Bank Parcel drains into unnamed tributaries of Falling Creek.

The proposed bank parcel will be used to generate approximately 63.6 acres of Neuse riparian buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation.   Enhancement via cattle exclusion and Preservation of Neuse riparian areas will provide approximately 37.9 acres (593,722.8 ft2) of Neuse riparian buffer credits.  Restoration of other riparian areas will generate approximately 25.7 acres of nutrient offset credits which yields 58,416.61 pounds of nitrogen.  

Nutrient offset credits generated at this proposed site can be used to satisfy nutrient offset requirements for development projects pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0240 and located within the 8-digit USGS HUC 03020201, excluding the Falls Lake Watershed.  Neuse riparian buffer credits generated at this proposed bank site can be used to satisfy buffer mitigation requirements for impacts pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0295 within the Neuse River Basin, primarily within the USGS HUC 03020201 and excluding the Falls Lake Watershed.  

The proposed Falling Creek Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank BPDP can be found online at: http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/489848/Page1.aspx .  Persons wishing to comment are invited to submit their comments in writing to Katie Merritt at (katie.merritt@ncdenr.gov or 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617).  All comments received by DWR by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on March 25, 2017 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final BPDP.  If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.