EFFECTIVE JANUARY 25TH 2011 MARC BASNIGHT WILL RESIGN FROM THE SENATE.
The environmental studies and financial planning for the Mid-Currituck Bridge. The bridge, located in Currituck County, is a seven-mile, two-lane toll project crossing the Currituck Sound and connecting the mainland at U.S. 158 near Aydlett with N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks south of Corolla. The preliminary construction cost estimate for the project is between $580 million and $670 million, with final costs to be determined during design. Since April 2009, the Authority has been working with the Currituck Development Group, LLC (CDG) on the development, design and financial assessment of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. Working under a pre-development agreement as part of a
public-private partnership, potential capital cost savings of $100 million have been identified to date. CDG and the Authority are now examining the feasibility of a joint venture to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project. The Authority will determine over the next few months whether to proceed with the public-private partnership option
or utilize municipal financing to build the project. Since the March release of the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the Authority has been in discussions with state and federal environmental agencies regarding selection of a preferred alternative route. Refining the bridge project to address natural resource and community impact concerns raised in public and agency comments is a substantial part of the efforts related to these discussions. The Authority expects to adopt a preferred alternative early in 2011, to be followed by the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Record of Decision from the Federal Highway Administration. The Authority is also preparing an investment-grade Traffic and Revenue Study for the project. The study is expected to be complete in 2011 and will provide
revenue forecasts central to developing the plan of finance and receipt of investment-grade credit rating. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2011 with completion in 2014.
Schedule Snap Shot
Publish Final Environmental Impact Statement: 2011
Record of Decision: 2011
Complete Project Financing: 2011
Begin Construction: 2011
Open to Traffic: 2014
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4 RALEIGH OFFICE
Terry Sanford Federal Courthouse
310 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Date: November 30,2010
Ms. Jennifer Harris, P.E.
North Carolina Turnpike Authority
North Carolina Department of Transportation
5400 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 400
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612
SUBJECT: EPA Follow-up Comments to TEAC Meeting for R-2576, Mid-Currituck Bridge, Dare and Currituck Counties, N.C.
Dear Ms. Harris:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing comments consistent with Section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2XC) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Turnpike Authority requested comments from agency representatives on the current proposals for the preferred Alternative MCB4/C1.
EPA’s review comments dated June 4,2010, on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the above referenced project remain unchanged.
EPA has reviewed the Turnpike Authority’s handouts #26, #27, #28 and other information presented during the TEAC meetings since the issuance of the DEIS. Specifically, EPA continues to have substantial environmental concerns for the following aspects of Altemative MCB4/C1 as proposed:
– All dredging in Currituck Sound should be avoided by using a top-down’ construction method.
– Maple Swamp should be bridged to avoid and minimize jurisdictional impacts to high quality wetlands.
– Floodplain encroachment needs to be completely addressed and potential impacts avoided and minimized.
– Storm water runoff from the new bridge needs to be collected and treated. Alternative methods of keeping the bridge free from the build-up of sediment and pollutants have not been adequately demonstrated. While some ‘sweeping’ and ‘vacuuming’ may be environmentally acceptable in lieu of total collection and treatment of storm water, the current plans as proposed are not believed to be adequate and are not presented as formal environmental commitments.
– Based upon comments received following the issuance of the DEIS, EPA’s concerns for indirect and cumulative impacts resulting from the new bridge are further heightened. Potential measures to avoid and minimize these impacts, including formal environmental commitments from other parties, have not been addressed.
– The issue concerning the control of invasive exotic plant species has not been fully explored.
– Compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to jurisdictional
wetlands has not been fully addressed or proposed. As previously requested, EPA believes that compensatory mitigation should be ‘in-kind’ and within the same hydrologic catalog unit.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please feel free to call me should you have any questions concerning these comments at 919-856-4206. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Christopher A. Militscher, REM, CHMM
USEPA Region 4 Raleigh Office
Merger Team Representative
For:
Heinz J. Mueller, Chief
NEPA Program Office
USEPA Resion 4
Cc: G. Hoops. FHWA
W. Biddlecome, USACOE
November 2010 TEAC MEETING MINUTES
Date: November 2, 2010
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
NC Turnpike Authority Board Room (Suite 400)
Project: STIP R-2576 Mid-Currituck Bridge Study
Mid-Currituck Bridge Spotlight:
Attendees:
Bill Biddlecome, USACE
Scott McLendon, USACE
Gary Jordan, USFWS
Chris Militscher, USEPA
Ron Sechler, NMFS (by phone)
George Hoops, FHWA
Amy Simes, NCDENR
Cathy Brittingham, NCDENR-DCM
Kevin Hart, NCDENR-DMF (by phone)
David Wainwright, NCDENR-DWQ
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Jennifer Harris, NCTA
Ted Devens, NCDOT-PDEA
Brian Yamamoto, NCDOT-PDEA
Doug Taylor, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Tony Houser, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Jose Luque, CDG-ACSID
Bernardo Palicio, CDG-Dragados USA
James Hinda, CDG-Dragados USA
Roy Bruce, CDG-Lochner
Steve Browde, CDG-Lochner
Ron Ferrell, CDG-PBS&J
Tracy Roberts, HNTB
John Burris, HNTB
Spencer Franklin, HNTB
Neal Williams, CDG-Weeks Marine
John Page, PB
Bobby Norburn, PB
Persons Who Were Provided Materials but Were Unable to Attend:
Steve Lambert, Albemarle Commission
Bill Brazier, USCG
Ted Bisterfield, USEPA
Jim Hoadley, NCDENR-DCM
Sara Winslow, NCDENR-DMF
Brian Wrenn, NCDENR-DWQ
Peter Sandbeck, NCDCR-HPO
Renee Gledhill-Early, NCDCR-HPO
Presentation Materials: (All materials posted on the TEAC website)
· Meeting Agenda
· Preferred Alternative Report (including previous and new handouts)
· Assessment of Maple Swamp Groundwater System (Handout 28)
· Supplemental Assessment of Mid-Currituck Bridge Impacts to Flood Elevations in Maple Swamp (Handout 29)
· PowerPoint slides
Purpose:
Discuss new studies of groundwater and surface water hydrology in Maple Swamp and FHWA/NCTA’s Preferred Alternative.
General Discussion:
The following information was discussed at the meeting:
· Introduction and Previous Meeting Comments – Tracy Roberts opened the meeting by noting meeting handouts and asking the attendees to introduce themselves. He also reviewed the
meeting agenda. John Page started the slide presentation and asked if there were any comments on the September 8 meeting handouts. Kevin Hart and Ron Sechler said they are going to send written comments on the September 8 and November 2 meeting handouts. Bill Biddlecome also said that he already sent NCTA his comments on the September 8 handouts, but NCTA has not received them yet. (Bill had a copy of his comments and copies were made and distributed to the
meeting attendees.) Travis Wilson and Cathy Brittingham also will be providing comments on the September 8 meeting handouts. continue reading…
09-08-2010 TEAC MEETING MINUTES
Date: September 8, 2010
12:30 PM to 1:50 PM
NCTA Board Room
Project: STIP R-2576 Mid-Currituck Bridge Study
Mid-Currituck Bridge Spotlight:
Attendees:
Bill Biddlecome, USACE
Scott McLendon, USACE
Brad Shaver, USACE
Gary Jordan, USFWS
Ron Sechler, NMFS (by phone)
George Hoops, FHWA
Cathy Brittingham, NCDENR-DCM
Kevin Hart, NCDENR-DMF (by phone)
Brian Wrenn, NCDENR-DWQ
David Wainwright, NCDENR-DWQ
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Jennifer Harris, NCTA
Lonnie Brooks, NCDOT-Structure Design
Anne Gamber, NCDOT-Hydraulics Unit
Doug Taylor, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Scott Slusser, NCDOJ
Elizabeth Lusk, NCDOT-NEU
Bruce Ellis, NCDOT-NEU
Kathy Herring, NCDOT-NEU
Logan Williams, NCDOT-NEU
Matt Lauffer, NCDOT-Hydraulics Unit
Jose Luque, CDG-ACSID
Bernardo Palicio, CDG-Dragados USA
Jose M De Iturriaga, CDG-Dragados USA
Roy Bruce, CDG-Lochner
Brian Eason, CDG-Lochner
Ron Ferrell, CDG-PBS&J
John Page, PB
Don Brown, PB
Tracy Roberts, HNTB
Max Price, CDG-Wetherill Engineering
Neal Williams, CDG-Weeks Marine
Mark Redderodd, CDG-Weeks Marine
Persons Who Were Provided Materials but Were Unable to Attend:
Christopher Militscher, USEPA
Sara Winslow, NCDENR-DMF
Presentation Materials: (All materials posted on the TEAC website)
· Meeting Agenda
· Reasons for a Determination that ER2 is Not a Practicable Alternative to a Bridge Across
Currituck Sound (Handout 25)
· Mid-Currituck Bridge Stormwater Management (Handout 26)
· Construction Methodologies for Mid-Currituck Bridge (Handout 27)
· PowerPoint slides
· Elgin Sweeper Guide
Purpose:
Discuss agency comments on materials distributed at the August 10 meeting, as well as bridge stormwater management, bridge construction, and the practicability of ER2.
General Discussion:
The following information was discussed at the meeting:
· Big Picture – PB (John Page) gave a brief description of the steps NCTA is following to provide information needed for selection of a Preferred Alternative. He indicated that in August, funding was discussed, the focus on bridge corridors was narrowed to C1 only, and it was decided MCB2 could not be the Preferred Alternative or Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) because its impacts are greater than MCB4, it lacks public support and it could not be funded at this time. continue reading…
Page 5 of 11
Turnpike Environmental Agency Coordination Meeting – 08/10/10
MEETING MINUTES
Date: August 10, 2010
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
NC Turnpike Authority Office Board Room (Suite 400)
Project: STIP R-2576 Mid-Currituck Bridge Study – BRS-OOOS(35)
Mid-Currituck Bridge Spotlight:
Attendees:
Bill Biddlecome, USACE
Scott McLendon, USACE
Chris Militscher, USEPA
Gary Jordan, USFWS
Ron Sechler, NMFS (by phone)
Amy Simes, NCDENR (by phone)
Cathy Brittingham, NCDENR-DCM
Stephen Lane, NCDENR-DCM (by phone)
Kevin Hart, NCDENR-DMF (by phone)
Brian Wrenn, NCDENR-DWQ
David Wainwright, NCDENR-DWQ
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Renee Gledhill-Earley, NCDCR-HPO (by
phone)
Steve Lambert, Albemarle Commission
(by phone)
Steve DeWitt, NCTA
Reid Simons, NCTA (by phone)
Jennifer Harris, NCTA
Lonnie Brooks, NCDOT-SDU
Missy Pair, NCDOT-PDEA
Brian Yamamoto, NCDOT-PDEA
Ted Devens, NCDOT-PDEA
Anne Gamber, NCDOT-Hydraulics Unit
BenJetta Johnson, NCDOT-TMS
Doug Taylor, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Sam St. Clair, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Herman Huang, NCDOT-HEU
Scott Slusser, NCDOJ
David Miller, PFM
Jose Luque, CDG-ACSID
Steve Browde, CDG-Lochner
Roy Bruce, CDG-Lochner
Kristin Maseman, CDG-Lochner
Spencer Franklin, HNTB
Christy Shumate, HNTB
Jerry McCrain, PBS&J
Roy Ferrell, PBS&J
John Page, PB
Bobby Norburn, PB
Presentation Materials: (All materials posted on the TEAC website)
• Meeting Agenda
• Handout 20 – Summary of Agency Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• Handout 21 – Summary of Public Participation and Comment
• Handout 22 – Summary of Positions and Additional Needs Derived from DEIS Comments
• Handout 23 – Preferred Alternative Identification Information Package
• Handout 24 – Financial Feasibility Assessment of the Mid-Currituck Bridge Project
• Financial Feasibility Assessment Presentation PowerPoint Slides
• Final Meeting Minutes for March 9, 2010, TEAC Meeting
Purpose:
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Preferred Alternative Identification Information Package and discuss “practicable” as it relates to project funding and selection of the LEDPA/Preferred Alternative. continue reading…
The proposed Mid Currituck Bridge in any of it forms is a bad idea for the North Banks, a bad idea for the State of North Carolina and a bad idea for the tax payers of the United States.
There are innumerable reasons why this Bridge should never be constructed, but here are the top three.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is Inadequate and Not Legally Supportable.
The combined State and Federal EIS is a full disclosure statement which is designed to give decision makers and the public a full and fair view of the potential impacts of a project, in this case the Mid Currituck Bridge. In addition to the direct impacts of the Bridge, the EIS is required under Federal Law to analyze the consequences of the “indirect and cumulative impacts”. The direct impacts of the Bridge are fairly straight forward. It is the indirect or growth inducing impacts that are the real issue. The Bridge will bring more day trippers, more vacationers and more permanent residents to the Currituck Outer Banks and with it the attendant fast food joints, “fun parks” and other sprawl related urban facilities. continue reading…
From: Carova Corner Blog
While there is nothing new to really report regarding the Mid-Currituck Bridge, I recently received an email for John Page, Project Manager for the NCTA regarding the timing of the record of decision and found it noteworthy to post. It appears the official decision on the EIS will be in the first quarter 2011. For more information you can visit their website here
Dear Mr. Summerton:
The Turnpike Authority is working with environmental regulatory agencies to resolve key environmental concerns associated with a Mid-Currituck Bridge. Other design refinements are being made to the bridge project to address a variety of concerns raised during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) comment period. It is currently expected that a Preferred Alternative will be selected by the end of the year. If a bridge project is selected, the Turnpike Authority will issue a Final EIS, followed by a Record of Decision (sometime next year). I do not have a more precise time right now.
John Page
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Project Manager
Posted by Jason Summerton at 3:13 PM
NCDOT PRESENTATION 11-09-2010 TO JOINT LEGISLATIVE TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Transportation reform
Policy to Projects
WHY NOW?
• Public wanted politics removed from transportation decision-making
• Gov. Perdue strongly believes in reform
• Wants NCDOT to be open, accessible, accountable and reliable
• Necessary for NCDOT to work effectively and improve delivery
• Ensures limited resources used wisely and increased
accountability
• Increasing needs without increased financial resources
Posted to: News North Carolina
By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 14, 2010
CURRITUCK, N.C.
Opponents of a new $1 billion bridge over the Currituck Sound have new momentum after Republicans promising to cut spending won control of the North Carolina General Assembly on Nov. 2.
Under the direction of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, the controversial bridge – debated for more than 20 years – appeared on its way to construction using a combination of tolls, private investment and public money.
The state set aside $15 million a year, called gap funding, to make up for an expected shortfall from tolls and private money. Annual state funding is to increase to $28 million in 2013 and continue for as long as 40 years. Without it, the project could stall.
Democrat Marc Basnight, who pushed for bridge funding, will no longer serve as president pro tempore of the state Senate when Republicans take charge. The General Assembly will be looking for ways to close a $3 billion to $4 billion budget deficit next year.
“The reality of the political situation on the ground is the state is hurting for money and looking to cut spending – and a billion-dollar bridge is a good place to start,” said John Woodard, a Republican who lost in a close House race against Democrat Bill Owens. continue reading…
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