The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register (6/29/15) defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA or the Act). The rule will become effective on August 28, 2015.
Archives for 2015
Wilmington District Implementation of the North Carolina Stream Assessment Method and North Carolina Wetland Assessment Method
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District (District) is issuing this public notice to inform the public on the implementation of the North Carolina Wetland Assessment Method (NC WAM) and the North Carolina Stream Assessment Method (NC SAM). With the issuance of this public notice, the District will begin to utilize NC WAM and NC SAM for our internal reviews of permit applications, including decisions regarding the amount and type of compensatory mitigation, avoidance and minimization of impacts, or other decisions pertaining to aquatic resource quality and functions.
For more information, visit the Public Notice Page for the 21 April 2015 notice concerning NC wetland and stream assessment methods.
NEPA / SEPA Compliance
ClearWater Environmental has successfully prepared numerous Environmental Assessment and Categorical Exclusions for North Carolina State Agency (SEPA) and Federal Agency (NEPA) Environmental Assessments (EA) while working with different lead agency’s including the EPA, Bureau of Indian Affairs, NCDOT, and NCDENR.
Footer – Locations Served – Don’t Delete
Serving North Carolina, Western North Carolina,Upstate South Carolina & East Tennessee, including:
Asheville NC, Hendersonville, NC, Black Mountain NC, Waynesville, NC, Statesville NC, Hickory NC,
Charlotte NC, Winston-Salem NC, Greenville-Spartanburg SC, Kingsport TN, Johnson City TN & Bristol TN
Wetlands-Stream Delineation
ClearWater Environmental has conducted wetland and stream delineations including GPS mapping of these features on over 100,000 acres in North Carolina. Our delineation and subsequent verification with the Corps of Engineers are a key part of successful land development planning.
Section 404/401 Permitting
Regulatory Compliance and Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 Permitting of the required for the discharge of fill material into streams, wetlands and open waters.
Wetlands-Stream Mitigation
ClearWater Environmental conducts wetlands and Stream Mitigation Planning and Implementation as required to replace the loss of wetland and stream function and values. Compensatory mitigation is defined as the restoration, creation, enhancement, or in exceptional cases preservation of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable impacts.
The Mitigation Sequence
- Avoid – Adverse impacts to aquatic resources are to be avoided and no discharge shall be permitted if there is a practicable alternative with less adverse impact.
- Minimize – If impacts cannot be avoided, appropriate and practicable steps to minimize adverse impacts must be taken.
- Compensate – Appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation is required for unavoidable adverse impacts which remain. The amount and quality of compensatory mitigation may not substitute for avoiding and minimizing impacts.
Endangered & Threatened Species Surveys
- Protected Species Assessments and Monitoring
- Habitat Conservation Plans
- Protected Plant Surveys and Relocations
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 7 and Section 10 Consultations
- GIS/GPS Mapping
Mitigation Banking
Wash Creek Mitigation Bank
Laurel Park, NC
ClearWater provided consulting services for a new stream mitigation bank in Laurel Park, Henderson County, NC. The mitigation bank provides credits in the Upper French Broad River Basin (06010105). Construction is complete and the restored stream has already withstood two bankfull events while functioning well.
Wash Creek Stream Bank
Stream Credits Available Now – Contact Clement Riddle at (828) 698-9800