Agenda - 04-21-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Robert Davis, Current Planning Supervisor From: Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager Date: March 31, 2009 Re: Environmental Assessment for Proposed Solid Waste Transfer Station Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the Environmental Assessment of a site being considered for the proposed Orange County Solid Waste Transfer Station. The Environmental Assessment (February 2009) was conducted for Site 056, which is comprised of two adjacent parcels (151 acres total) located on the north side of NC 54, approximately 1,500 feet west of the intersection of NC 54 and Orange Grove Road. The Environmental Assessment (EA) provides an excellent overview of the property and its known environmental and historic/archaeological resources. The EA points out, however, that three additional surveys of the properly have yet to be conducted: a) wetlands delineation, b) flora and fauna survey, and c) Historic Value survey. a) Wetlands -the EA states the proposed development will not disturb streams that were identified by the Orange County Erosion Control Division (Page 14). But the ,.,.~ Erosion Control Division also noted in its findings that.+~hare are severa!• isolated pools .- ,, -.. -.°~Y` located in the southeastern part of the property that drair~~to-an-identifed-stream: ~ The •~ County staff advised that those pools could be wetlands and should be evaluated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE). Some of those pools are clearly visible on aerial photos of the property contained in the EA report. The EA states "Fol%w up with the USACOE regarding the iso/ated poo/s %ated in the parcel wi/l be comp/eted prior to construction, However, construction is not p/armed to impact the area referenced by the County Staffas requiring USACOEinput." It appears that the access road to the transfer station identified on Exhibit A would cross through the area with possible wetlands. It's likely that the facilities could be designed to avoid the wetlands, but ERCD feels the wetland survey is needed before one should conclude that the development would not affect the wetlands. b) Plora and Fauna -the EA identifies a number of significant plants and animals known to exist in the White Cross area based on inventories maintained by the NC Natural Heritage Program. No such species of plants or animals are known to exist on the subject property. The EA states on Page 9 "A site specific flora and fauna survey will be conducted on the site prior to acquisition...", and on Page 10 "The flora and fauna survey wi/l a//ow the County to determine whether impacts from the construction and operation of a solia' waste transfer station at this site wil/significantly affect the wildlife and natural vegetation of the - site." ERCD concurs with that fi_ndnq, and recommends that the planned survev include streams that could be affected by the proposed development, including tributaries of Collins Creek-a downstream portion of which is a designated Natural Heritage Area known to support federally and state listed species (Haw River Aquatic Habitat),. ~ Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box 8981 /306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590