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- Non-Permitted WTS Site Road Construction via email letter February 26, 2008 <br /> - Wetlands, Vernal Pools, and Streams on WTS Site via email letter March 3, 2009 <br /> Mike Hughes continued the presentation. He said that he sent emails to Board of <br /> County Commissioners with pictures of a non-permitted WTS construction site. He went over <br /> his resume and career. He said that the improvements to NC 54 for the WTS would actually <br /> cost $150,000-200,000, as would the engineering and infrastructure. <br /> What is the NC Natural Heritage Program <br /> - Part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources <br /> - Inventories and maintains databases on significant natural areas including rare <br /> species and natural communities across the state <br /> - Works with County planners and a wide variety of public and private landowners to <br /> secure protection <br /> Why is the EA flawed in terms of rare species and natural community analysis? <br /> - The EA cites a 21-year old natural areas inventory (1988) as its only scientific basis <br /> of rare species and natural area locations <br /> - NHP in coordination with the Orange County Environment and Resource <br /> Conservation Department updated this inventory in March of 2005 <br /> - The NHP database was not consulted for up to date rare species and natural area <br /> information <br /> - The EA therefore does not address the Haw River Significant Aquatic Habitat and <br /> its rare species and may have omitted additional information <br /> NHP RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> - NHP submitted comments (3/18/09) on the WTS EA through the state <br /> clearinghouse indicating the need to assess and avoid/minimize impacts to rare <br /> species populations and significant aquatic habitats. Other agency (WRC and <br /> FWS) recommendations are pending. <br /> - The proposed WTS site is just upstream of a Federal Species of Concern mussel <br /> population (the Brook Floater) and the Nationally Significant Haw River Aquatic <br /> Habitat (including the lower reaches of Collins Creek) which supports a Federally <br /> Listed species and other rare species. <br /> - They have also recommended further inventory prior to site development. <br /> WTS Costs and Alternatives Building a WTS <br /> Olver estimates $5 million to build a WTS at the Howell Forest— considerably lower than <br /> estimates by the County and OCV <br /> - County estimates of $5-7 million plus land (based on 2006 estimates for Eubanks <br /> Road facility) <br /> - New estimates ignore priorities and cut essential features <br /> o County to condemn 25 acres for$375,000 (no `willing seller') <br /> o Facility downsized to single-bay— eliminating important features <br /> • No recycling recovery <br /> • No educational resources <br /> o Building and infrastructure costs underestimated <br /> o No estimates for environmental mediation <br />