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Marc Seelinger, PWS <br />"~~ THE <br />~ ~ ~ _ The swamp school <br />621 Starburst Lane <br />~ . ; Raleigh, NC 27603 <br />r- S(~}-~QQL 919-302-6900 <br /> March 10, 2009 <br />Ms. Susan Walser <br />2224 Western Park Lane <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Reference: Orange County Solid Waste Transfer Station <br />Site 056 <br />Orange County, North Carolina <br />Dear Ms. Walser: <br />At your request I have preformed a preliminary investigation to determine the presence or absence of wetlands on the <br />referenced property. For your consideration, I offer the following observations. <br />The presence of hydric soils is a major determinant for the presence of wetlands. The Natural Resource Conservation <br />Service (NRCS) has published a soil survey for Orange County. A Custom Soil Resource Report for Orange County, North <br />Carolina, Orange County Solid Waste Transfer Station is attached. The NRCS has identified that the majority of the site is <br />composed of the Lignum soil series. This soil series is partially hydric and has hydric inclusions of Wehadkee in <br />depressions on flood plains. <br />' !, The site photography that you sent me indicates a number of depressional areas ti~at ire inundated. If is a reasonable <br />expectation that these areas would contain inclusions of the~~hydric~Wehadkee~~series:''The photography documents a <br />prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation. This would meet all three criteria that define a wetland pursuant to the US Army <br />Corps of Engineers (USACOE) WetlandsDelineation Manual (1987). <br />The suspected wetland areas are adjacent to an unnamed tributary to Collins Creek. The unnamed tributary appears to <br />be a relevantly permanent water with perennial flow. It is shown on the US Geological Survey as a "blue-line" stream. <br />Collins Creek is a relevantly permanent water that flows directly into a traditionally navigable waterway, the Haw River. <br />Pursuant to the recent USACOE Guidance on Jurisdictional Waters, the unnamed tributary and the adjacent wetlands <br />would be considered "waters of the US"and subject to regulation under the Federal Clean Water Act. <br />Please note that the USACOE, the NC Divison of Water Quality and the US Environmental Protection agency are the final <br />authority as to the determination of what wetlands and waterways are subject to Federal and State regulation. It is <br />strongly urged that these agencies be consulted though the Jurisdictional Determination process for verification of this <br />assessment. <br />Please let me know if you have any further questions. <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Marc Seelinger, PWS <br />'The Swamp School <br />Attachment <br />