January 29, 2009 Issue
Boone Addresses Agency Comments on Water Intake Project
In mid-October, engineering firm WK Dickson prepared a document that outlined the scope of Boone’s proposed raw water intake project on the South Fork New River and provided a number of specific project parameters. The document was circulated to several state and federal agencies and departments for review, and 11 of them have responded with detailed comments, requirements and recommendations.
At the time the project document was submitted for review, Town Manager Greg Young said that some aspects of the project plans could change based on agency comments.
The divisions of Water Resources, Forest Resources and Environmental Health of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources provided a number of comments related to more adequately assessing secondary and cumulative impacts of the project, including impacts outside the service area. DENR also wants more engineering data and a graphical presentation of the proposed plans, as well as a justification for the town’s request for a 7 million gallon per day withdrawal capacity when the anticipated 2030 average daily demand is 2.75 million gallons per day.
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission raised concerns about the potential negative impacts from the increased water withdrawal and wastewater discharge, as well as the effects of pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic wastewater contaminants that are not effectively removed by wastewater treatment. The Wildlife Resources Commission also pointed out that any electrical infrastructure involved with the project could pose hazards to birds and bats and detract from aesthetics. The commission called for public hearings on the project, as well as coordination with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Wildlife Resources Commission also questioned the need for the project, commenting that avoidance of a South Fork New River intake should be fully evaluated, and adding that coordinating current water supplies could negate the need for the additional intake.
“Although this project is primarily a water supply improvement, there are significant wastewater and water quality concerns due to the listed species in the New River, the potential for increased impaired waters, and the significant local and national value of the New River,” the commission reviewer wrote.
The NC Division of Water Quality emphasized the need for adequate riparian buffers and asked for information to show how water withdrawal at the intake site will not impact aquatic life, considering that the water will be returned to the river 23 river miles upstream.
The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources pointed out that the proposed intake site is within the viewshed of the A.S. Cooper Farm, a National Register Historic District, and requested a detailed site plan, as well as a comprehensive archeological survey.
Other agencies such as the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of the Interior emphasized the importance of riparian buffers, floodplain and wetlands protection, aquatic species protection and prevention of sediment runoff.
The town is applying for federal money to fund this project, Young said, and the next steps involve responding to directives from the USDA that are based on the comments from the state and federal agencies.
One of those directives was to conduct a phase one archeological survey, and that survey was conducted last Friday. When it’s completed, the archeologist’s report will become part of the material assembled to respond to the comments and the USDA’s requirements.
The USDA has also requested, among other things, a bathymetric survey (the underwater equivalent of an above-water topographic map) and a 3-D rendering of the proposed intake. Young said the town will fully comply with the federal requirements.
Once the response document is complete, Young said, it will be made available to the public and the town will solicit public comment.
Then, the documents and the comments will be assembled into an environmental assessment package that the USDA will review to make a determination (or not) of no significant impact. If the USDA does reach a finding of no significant impact, the environmental review portion of the project will be complete.
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