NTIA NEPA ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NCREN Fiber Expansion Project Southeastern and Western, North Carolina Routes Prepared For: MCNC/NCREN 3021 East Cornwallis Road Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Prepared By: S&ME, Inc. 9751 Southern Pine Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28273 In Cooperation With: 3315 Atlantic Avenue Raleigh, NC 27604 July 2010 NTIA NEPA ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NCREN FIBER EXPANSION PROJECT SOUTHEASTERN AND WESTERN NC ROUTES JULY 2010 Table of Contents ITEM Page No. 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................ 1 1.2 CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED.......................................................................... 2 1.3 CHAPTER 2 – PROPOSED ACTION............................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Project Description.............................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.3 Preferred Alternative........................................................................................................... 8 1.3.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Discussion ...................................... 8 1.4 CHAPTER 3 – EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 8 1.4.1 Noise................................................................................................................................... 9 Southeastern NC Route .......................................................................................................... 9 Western NC Route .................................................................................................................. 9 1.4.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 9 Southeastern NC Route ........................................................................................................ 10 Western NC Route ................................................................................................................11 1.4.3 Geology and Soils............................................................................................................. 12 Physiographic Region ........................................................................................................... 12 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 12 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................12 Soils....................................................................................................................................... 12 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 12 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................16 Prime or Unique Farmland .................................................................................................... 20 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 20 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................21 1.4.4 Water Resources.............................................................................................................. 22 Surface Water........................................................................................................................ 22 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 22 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................24 Groundwater.......................................................................................................................... 27 Coastal Zone Water Resources ............................................................................................ 27 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 27 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................27 Floodplains ............................................................................................................................ 28 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 28 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................28 i Wild and Scenic Rivers ......................................................................................................... 28 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 28 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................28 1.4.5 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................ 28 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................... 28 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 28 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................29 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 29 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 29 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................30 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................................. 30 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 31 Vascular Plant Species ......................................................................................................... 35 Vertebrate Animal Species.................................................................................................... 37 Invertebrate Animal Species ................................................................................................. 38 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................39 Vascular Plants...................................................................................................................... 44 Nonvascular Plants ............................................................................................................... 46 Vertebrate Animal Species.................................................................................................... 46 Invertebrate Animal Species ................................................................................................. 48 Critical Habitats ..................................................................................................................... 49 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 49 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................49 Wetlands................................................................................................................................ 50 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 50 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................51 Ecoregions............................................................................................................................. 52 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 52 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................53 Fishery Resources ................................................................................................................ 54 Southeastern NC Route ...................................................................................................... 54 Western NC Route ..............................................................................................................55 1.4.6 Historic and Cultural Resources ....................................................................................... 55 Southeastern NC Route ........................................................................................................ 56 Western NC Route ................................................................................................................56