Agenda - 05-29-2012 - C4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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041 North. Carolina Wildlife Resources - Coins- nzss-i.on , Gordon Myers, Execui:ive Director MEMORANDUM TO: Melba McGee, Environmental Coordinator Office of'Legislittive.aud 1nterguvt.•mrnenml AfFaits FROM: Shari L. Bryant, Piedmont - Region Coordinator --8hz,-- -A, f%N --� Habi.tat.Conservation Program DA1T-: 28 Fdbruary 2012 .SUBJECT: Application of White Cross-Fann,'LLC fora Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Construct. a 5.0 NjW Solar Array: Orange County, Docket .N ; SP 1621, Sub, 0. DENR Project N6. t 2 =0200_ Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject document and we are familiar with the habitat values of the area. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act- (48 Scat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661- 667e:), and North Carolina General,Statvtes (G.S. 11,3 -131 ebseq,). The, applibarii proposes-to c onstruct-a ph.oiovoltaic solar facility. The system would include approximately 26;000, 240 -ft PV modules• affixdd to ground moulted raclts-supported.on driven-piles. The system wouid•use 1•Q, 500'•kW. inverters and be lied to -the °grid operated by Duke: Energy. The entire facility would-be fenced and located on White -Cross Read in Chapel.Hill, Details . regading.site design, facility operation -and maintenastce, and tho.need for additional infrastructure. {e,g,., transmissionlincs) were not included. - It appears the site drains to either Wildcat Branch or Terre-119 (FeiTelis) Creek in the Crape Fear, River Basin. Wildcat Branch is a tribiitary-to' Collins C:re6k and there are• records-for the feiicial :species of concern and state endangered brook flaater'(A-1 asmidbnra variroka) in Collins Creek. It is unclear whether there are any wetlands or streams on the site. We oiler the following general recon6mendations to minimize •impaats-to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources. Maintain a minimum 1,0046oi undisturbed, native forested buffer along each side of perennial streams and'50 -font undisturbed, native ,forested -buffer along each side of intermittent streanis and wetlands. Riparian bulYers provide.habitat'areas for aquatic and terrestrial•wildlif:'e,species and travel corridors for terrestrial wildlife. In addition, riparian buffers protect water quality by stabi lizing stream banks and filtering stormwater runoff. Mauling Address: Division, ofTnland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Certtcr - Raleigh, NC. 2.7699 -1721 Telephone: (319) 707 -0220 - Fax: (919) 707 -0028 .