February 9, 2018

TO: DENR-DWR-Wetlands-Public Listserv

FROM: Karen Higgins, 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch

Public Notice:

Online Pre-construction Notification Form Available;
Proposed MBI in the Neuse – Wildlands Holdings III, LLC;
Proposed Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset BPDP in the Neuse – Wildlands Holdings III, LLC;
Two Proposed Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset BPDPs in the Neuse – EBX-Neuse I, LLC; and
Proposed UMBI in the Haw River Sub-Watershed – Wildlands Holdings IV, 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. Online Pre-construction Notification Form Available

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District (Corps) and the N.C. Division of Water Resources (DWR) have developed an online Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) form that can be used in lieu of the paper PCN form. This online PCN form became available for use by all applicants on February 1, 2018.

The online PCN form is available online at: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/Pre-Construction_Notification_Form. The help document is also available online: http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/edoc/624704/PCN%20Help%20File%202018-1-30.pdf.

Once the online PCN form is submitted, DWR will assign a project number and an email will be sent with directions on how to submit payment of the application fee. The 60-day statutory clock will begin on the date payment is received. If you have any questions, please contact Beverly Strickland by email at bev.strickland@ncdenr.gov or call 919-707-8789.

When a paper application is submitted to DWR instead of using the online PCN form, DWR will require only one (1) copy of the complete application package.

Please address mail as follows:

For government (NCDOT/municipal) transportation projects:

sent by the US Postal Service:

NC DWR, Transportation Permitting Unit

1617 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699 - 1617

sent by delivery service (UPS, FedEx, etc.):

NC DWR, Transportation Permitting Unit

512 N. Salisbury St, 12th floor

Raleigh, NC 27604

For government (NCDOT/municipal) transportation projects:

sent by the US Postal Service:

NC DWR, 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit

1617 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699 - 1617

sent by delivery service (UPS, FedEx, etc.):

NC DWR, 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit

512 N. Salisbury St, 9th floor

Raleigh, NC 27604

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

A Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) for the Grantham Branch Mitigation Bank has been prepared by Wildlands Holdings III, LLC (WHIII) for review and approval by DWR 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/620178/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 February 26, 2018 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 Buffer & Nutrient Offset Bank Parcel Development Package in the Neuse River Basin – Wildlands Holdings III, LLC

An MBI for the Grantham Branch 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 Grantham Branch Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel, located in the Neuse River Basin (8-digit USGS HUC 03020201) in Goldsboro, 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 15.16 acres of Neuse riparian buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation. Preservation of riparian areas will generate approximately 0.01 acres (435.60 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits. Restoration of riparian areas will generate approximately 10.80 acres (470,448 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits and 4.03 acres (9,160.27 lbs-Nitrogen) of nutrient offset credits.

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 Grantham Branch Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank BPDP can be found online at: http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/620602/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 February 26, 2018 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final BPDP. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.

IV. Proposed Buffer & Nutrient Offset Bank Parcel Development Package in the Neuse River Basin – EBX-Neuse I, LLC

EBX-Neuse I, LLC (EBX) has submitted a proposed BPDP for the Polecat Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel, located in the Neuse River Basin (8-digit USGS HUC 03020201) in Smithfield, in Johnston County. Stormwater runoff from this Bank Parcel drains into unnamed tributaries of Polecat Branch.

The proposed bank parcel will be used to generate approximately 21.88 acres of Neuse riparian buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation. Preservation of riparian areas will generate approximately 0.44 acres (19,166 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits. Restoration of riparian areas will generate approximately 10.33 acres (449,975 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits and 11.11 acres (25,253.25 lbs-Nitrogen) of nutrient offset credits.

This project is being proposed under the RES Neuse Umbrella Mitigation Banking Instrument (UMBI) approved on January 31, 2018. A copy of the UMBI can be found online at http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/625408/Page1.aspx.

The proposed Polecat Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank BPDP can be found online at: http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/624134/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 February 26, 2018 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final BPDP. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.

V. Proposed Buffer & Nutrient Offset Bank Parcel Development Package in the Neuse River Basin – EBX-Neuse I, LLC

EBX-Neuse I, LLC (EBX) has submitted a proposed BPDP for the Hannah Bridge Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel, located in the Neuse River Basin (8-digit USGS HUC 03020201) in Four Oaks, in Johnston County. Stormwater runoff from this Bank Parcel drains directly into Hannah Creek.

The proposed bank parcel will be used to generate approximately 9.73 acres of Neuse riparian buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation. Enhancement of riparian areas via cattle exclusion will generate approximately 0.16 acres (6,952 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits. Preservation of riparian areas will generate approximately 0.21 acres (8,284 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits. Restoration of riparian areas will generate approximately 4.51 acres (196,238 ft²) of Neuse riparian buffer credits and 4.85 acres (11,012.78 lbs-Nitrogen) of nutrient offset credits.

The proposed Hannah Bridge Nutrient Offset and Buffer Mitigation Bank BPDP can be found online at: http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/624308/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 February 26, 2018 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final BPDP. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.

VI. Proposed UMBI for Riparian Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset Credits in the Haw River Sub-Watershed

An Umbrella Mitigation Banking Instrument (UMBI) has been prepared by Wildlands Holdings IV, LLC (WHIV) for review and approval by DWR under the Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 and the Nutrient Offset Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0240. This UMBI, if approved, will allow WHIV to sell riparian buffer mitigation and nutrient offset credits within the Haw River Sub-Watershed of the Jordan Lake. Three (3) site-specific Bank Parcel Development Packages are anticipated to be submitted for review and approval under this UMBI.

The proposed UMBI can be found online at http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/0/doc/630959/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 February 26, 2018 will be considered during preparation and approval of the final UMBI. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Merritt at 919-807-6371.