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R-9 <br /> 24 <br /> Potential impacts on the reservoir related to the proposed project <br /> are: (1) the runoff of highway pollutants into the reservoir and (2) the <br /> potential of hazardous materials reaching the reservoir from accidental <br /> highway spills. These impacts will be minimized through the filtering of <br /> roadway drainage pollutants by grassed shoulders, ditches, and slopes and <br /> other vegetated areas. The Division of Highways will investigate in- <br /> stalling guardrail to prevent errant vehicles from entering tributaries <br /> to the reservoir. No major water degradation impacts are expected to <br /> result from the project. <br /> Orange County, in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of <br /> Crime Control and Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, has <br /> established an emergency response plan to contain and clean up hazardous <br /> material spills. That plan will further minimize potential contamination <br /> of the reservoir as a result of hazardous material spills. <br /> H. Wetlands <br /> At several locations along the project, deposition of fill to <br /> accommodate earlier highway construction, in combination with natural . <br /> topography, has resulted in the expansion of narrow floodplain wetlands <br /> to slightly broader seasonally saturated seepage wetlands. The more <br /> extensive wetland areas are associated with Back Creek and the Haw River. <br /> These areas are characterized by a canopy of green ash (Fraxinus oenn- <br /> sylvanica) , sweet gum (Licuidambar stvraciflua) , boxelder (dicer ne- <br /> °undo) , American elm•(U mus americana) , sycamore (Platanusdgn- <br /> taiis , and walnut (Jug' 7F-77—Typical understory species include <br /> je elweed (Impatiens capensis , poison ivy (Rhus radicans) , and spicebush <br /> (Lindera benzoin . <br /> Steep drainageways are characterized by well-drained soils. Broader <br /> floodplains and depressions are characterized by nearly level , poorly <br /> drained silt and sandy loams of the Wehadkee and Worsham series and by <br /> Chewacla loams that may contain hydric inclusions. Soils of the Wahadkee <br /> and Worsham series are classified as hydric by the USDA-SCS. <br /> Approximately 0.93 acre of the above wetlands will be filled as a <br /> result of the project. That figure includes approximately 5600 linear <br /> feet of stream channels that closely parallel the existing I-85 roadway <br /> fill . <br /> I . Wetland Findings <br /> Executive Order 11990 established a national policy to avoid, to the <br /> extent possible, adverse impacts on wetlands and to avoid direct or <br /> indirect support of new construction in wetlands wherever there is a <br /> practicable alternative. <br /> The project will impact approximately 0.93 acre of bottomland <br /> forest. Impacts on wetlands will be minimized by the use of best <br /> management practices throughout the project during construction. In <br /> addition, the contractor will be required to follow the provisions of the <br />