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Herbert C. Bonner Bridge Replacement Project

Special Permitt Issued for Beach Nourishment in Buxton

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National Park
Service News
Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  DATE: June
17, 2015

CONTACT: Cyndy M. Holda, Public Affairs Specialist,
252-475-9034252-475-9034 or 252-473-2111252-473-2111

 

Federal
Register Notice Published for EA on Issuance of Special Use Permit to Local
Government for Beach Nourishment Project

 

Manteo, NC – The National Park Service (NPS) has
announced in the Federal Register, published on June 17, 2015, the intent to
prepare an environmental assessment (EA) instead of an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to evaluate Dare County’s application for a special use permit
for the purpose of beach nourishment activities in the Buxton area of Cape
Hatteras National Seashore.

 

Dare County plans
to request a separate Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the associated dredge and fill activities needed
to accomplish the proposed beach nourishment activities.  After public scoping and a preliminary impact
analysis was completed over the winter months, the NPS decided to further
streamline this process, and will be collaborating with the USACE to produce a
single combined Environmental Assessment to assist the agencies in determining
whether, where and under what conditions the NPS and USACE would issue permits
to Dare County.  Combining regulatory
compliance efforts will be more efficient for all agencies involved and the
public’s review of the proposed action.  The
USACE is now the lead federal agency responsible for preparing the EA
consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.

 

For more
information, contact Dennis Brookie, Project Manager for the National Park
Service at 303-969-2493303-969-2493 or Raleigh Bland, Project Manager with the USACE at 910-251-4564910-251-4564.  Information may also be found on the park’s
PEPC website at:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=55120.

________________________________________________________________________

 

NCDOT locates deeds that give right of way for less costly bridge option

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The Phased-in approach to the bridge replacement was necessitated by USFWS refusal to grant new right of way required to relocate highway 12.  NCDOT located deeds that allow NCDOT right aways as needed for the road into perpetuity thus allow NCDOT to revert to the original preference Road North/Bridge South.

The advantages/disadvantages and the savings associated with the Road North/Bridge South alternative are outlined in the following document.

Member Comment

Bonner Bridge Update/Comment Period

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NCDOT has presented 5 alternatives for the replacement of the Bonner Bridge.  These alternatives have a wide range of costs associated with them, have the potential to reduce public access to Pea Island, and have the potential to result in a significant increase in your electric bill (electric company estimates 28% if they have to move the power lines from Pea Island).  The alternatives are summarized below.  A more complete description can be found at www.obtf.org  — select OBTF DOCUMENTS. 

  1. A bridge parallel to the current bridge with highway 12 unchanged until you approach Rohdanthe.  A short bridge will be constructed in the area of the s-curves
  2. A bridge parallel to the current bridge with the northern end of highway moved westward.  A short bridge will be constructed in the area of the s-curves.
  3. A bridge parallel to the current bridge with a second bridge constructed at the northern end of Pea Island.  A third short bridge will be constructed in the area of the s-curves.
  4. A 17 mile bridge with a T type intersection with highway 12 in the Rohdanthe area.
  5. A 17 mile bridge with a curved intersection with highway 12 in the Rohdanthe area.
The selection criteria was given as follows:
"After comments from citizend, local government, and state and Federal regulatory and resource agencies are reviewed, the NCDOT, the FHWA, and the agencies will identify the least evironmentally damaging practicable alternative from thos studied in the SDEIS.  The NCDOT will then select a preferred alternative."
The public comment period ends December 10, 2005.  It is not clear whether there will be another opportunity for comment.  Comments may be sent to:
Mr. Carl Goode, PE
Head, Human Environment Unit
NCDOT
1583 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC   27699-1583
 
It is not clear whether a second comment period will be provided.