TO:
Sen. Tom Apodaca
Sen. Keith Presnell
Sen. Martin Nesbitt
Sen. Jim Jacumin
Sen. John Snow
Sen. Walter H. Dalton
Rep. Mitch Gillespie
Rep. Bob England
Rep. Tim Moore
Rep. Phillip Haire
Rep. Ray Rapp
FROM:
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
RE:
Stream Restoration Projects
DATE:
February 28, 2005
Rep. Edgar V. Starnes
Rep. Phillip Frye
Rep. Susan Fisher
Rep. Bruce Goforth
Rep. Wilma Sherrill
Rep. Walter C. Church, Sr.
Rep. Debbie Clary
Rep. Carolyn K. Justus
Rep. Trudi Walend
Rep. Roger West
I know that your districts experienced stream damage as a result of the fall hurricanes.
Our department plans to work closely with local governments to insure that stream
restoration projects receiving state and federal funds under the Emergency Watershed
Protection (EWP) program move as smoothly as possible through the environmental
review and permitting process. We have provided each of the affected counties a brief
summary of the types of permits and approvals that may be required for these projects. A
copy of the summary is attached. For projects that involve work directly affecting the
streambed, the United States Army Corps of Engineers will be the primary environmental
permitting agency. For those projects, DENR staff in the Division of Water Quality and
the Division of Land Resources play a supporting role and issue related state approvals.
I have asked DENR staff to meet with all of the western counties, either individually or in
small groups, to talk about each county’s proposed stream restoration projects and answer
questions about permit requirements. We will ask the Corps of Engineers and Soil and
Water Conservation District staff to join in those meetings in an effort to put together a
plan of action for reviewing and approving stream restoration projects as quickly as
possible.
February 25, 2005
Page 2 of 2
I have also directed our staff to waive fees for state water quality certifications and for
approval of erosion and sedimentation control plans for stream-clearing projects funded
under EWP. Fees will be waived for all EWP permits requested by September 1, 2005.
I hope these efforts will ease the burden on county governments already challenged by
the demands of hurricane reconstruction and recovery. If we can help in any other way,
please do not hesitate to call. I have asked Assistant Secretary Robin Smith to be a
primary contact on these projects for DENR; you can reach Ms. Smith at (919) 715-4141.
The enclosed information sheet also provides contact information for DENR staff in both
the Asheville and Winston-Salem Regional Offices and for the Corps of Engineers office
in Asheville.
Cc:
Sen. Marc Basnight
Rep. James B. Black
Rep. Richard T. Morgan