20260529_SAS_2025_00895_NWP Verification Lett.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, SAVANNAH DISTRICT

100 W. OGLETHORPE AVENUE

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31401-3604

May 29, 2026

Regulatory Division

SAS-2025-00895

Mr. Ron Nelson Bulloch County Board of Commissioners 115 North Main Street Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Dear Mr. Nelson:

I refer to the Pre-Construction Notification submitted on your behalf by Resource and Land Consultants (RLC) requesting verification for use of Nationwide Permit (NWP) No.

14 (NWP 14) for impacts to 0.016 acres of wetland to remove the seven (7) existing 84” x 60” elliptical reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) culverts and roadway fill and install a new 135 linear foot cored slab bridge structure mounted on pilings with riprap bank stabilization. The project site is located at the GW Oliver Road crossing of Little Lotts Creek approximately 720 feet east of Sinkhole Road (no physical address), near Statesboro, Bulloch County, Georgia (Latitude 32.348508, Longitude -81.806137). This project has been assigned number SAS-2025-00895 and it is important that you refer to this number in all communication concerning this matter.

We have completed coordination with other federal and state agencies as described in Part C (32)(d) of our NWP Program, published in the January 8, 2026, Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 5, Pages 768-886 (91 FR 768). The NWPs and Savannah District’s Regional Conditions for NWPs can be found on our website at https://www.sad.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Georgia/#permitting. During our coordination procedure, no adverse comments regarding the proposed work were received.

As a result of our evaluation of your project, we have determined that the proposed activity is authorized as described in Part B of the NWP Program. Your use of this NWP is valid only if:

a. The activity is conducted in accordance with the information submitted and meets the conditions applicable to the NWP, as described at Part C of the NWP Program and the Savannah District’s Regional Conditions for NWPs.

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b. All work will be completed in accordance with the attached exhibits prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. and entitled, “Roadway and Bridge Wetland Impact Exhibit” Exhibit A dated May 7, 2026, “Roadway Typical Section and Wetland Impact Cross Section” Exhibit B dated May 7, 2026, and “Proposed Stream Crossing” Exhibit C dated May 7, 2026.

c. The Permittee shall avoid the 0.44-acre stream area onsite and shall avoid the remaining 4.324 acres of wetlands onsite, as detailed on the attached exhibit entitled, “Roadway and Bridge Wetland Impact Exhibit,” Exhibit A dated 7 May 2026, prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. These wetland areas were avoided as part of the permit application review process and therefore will not be disturbed by any dredging, filling, mechanized land clearing, or other construction work whatsoever. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reserves the right to deny review of any requests for future impacts to these natural wetland areas.

d. You shall notify the Corps, in writing, at least 10 days in advance of commencement of work authorized by this permit.

e. You fill out and sign the enclosed certification and return it to our office within 30 days of completion of the activity authorized by this permit.

This proposal was reviewed in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Based on the information we have available, we have determined that the project is not likely to jeopardize the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), or the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus); may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi);

and would have no effect on any other listed threatened or endangered species nor any critical habitat for such species. Authorization of an activity by a NWP does not authorize the "take" of threatened or endangered species. In the absence of separate authorization, both lethal and non-lethal "takes" of protected species are in violation of the Endangered Species Act. See Part (C) of 91 FR 768 for more information.

This verification is valid until the NWP is modified, reissued or revoked. All of the existing NWPs are scheduled to expire on March 14, 2031. It is incumbent upon you to remain informed of changes to the NWPs. Furthermore, if you commence or are under contract to commence this activity before the date that the relevant NWP is modified or revoked, you will have 12 months from the date of the modification or revocation of the NWP to complete the activity under the present terms and conditions of this NWP.

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This authorization should not be construed to mean that any future projects requiring Department of the Army authorization would necessarily be authorized. Any new proposal, whether associated with this project or not, would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Any prior approvals would not be a determining factor in making a decision on any future request.

Revisions to your proposal may invalidate this authorization. In the event changes to this project are contemplated, I recommend that you coordinate with us prior to proceeding with the work.

This communication does not relieve you of any obligation or responsibility for complying with the provisions of any other laws or regulations of other federal, state or local authorities. It does not affect your liability for any damages or claims that may arise as a result of the work. It does not convey any property rights, either in real estate or material, or any exclusive privileges. It also does not affect your liability for any interference with existing or proposed federal projects. If the information you have submitted and on which the Corps bases its determination/decision of authorization under the NWP is later found to be in error, this determination may be subject to modification, suspension, or revocation.

An electronic copy of this letter is being provided to the following party: Mr. Hunter Perry, Resource and Land Consultants.

Thank you in advance for completing our on-line Customer Survey Form located at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/. We value your comments and appreciate your taking the time to complete a survey each time you interact with our office.

If you have any questions, please call me at 912-652-5651.

Sincerely, Crystal K. Joyce, CEP, CPESC Regulatory Specialist Coastal Branch

Enclosures

Regulatory Division

CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

WITH

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

NATIONWIDE PERMIT 14

PERMIT FILE NUMBER: SAS-2025-00895

PERMITTEE/ADDRESS: Mr. Ron Nelson, Bulloch County Board of Commissioners, 115 North Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.

LOCATION OF WORK: The project site is located at the GW Oliver Road crossing of Little Lotts Creek approximately 720 feet east of Sinkhole Road (no physical address), near Statesboro, Bulloch County, Georgia (Latitude 32.348508, Longitude -81.806137).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The removal of seven (7) 84” x 60” elliptical RCP culverts and roadway fill and the installation of a 135 linear foot cored slab bridge structure mounted on pilings with riprap bank stabilization.

ACRES AND/OR LINEAR FEET OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES IMPACTED:

0.016 acres

DATE WORK IN WATERS OF UNITED STATES COMPLETED:__________________

COMPENSATORY MITIGATION REQUIRED: N/A.

DATE MITIGATION COMPLETED OR PURCHASED (include name of bank): N/A.

I understand that the permitted activity is subject to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Compliance Inspection. If I fail to comply with the permit conditions at Part C of the Nationwide Permit Program, published in the January 13, 2021, Federal Register, Vol.

86, No. 8, Pages 2744-2877 (86 FR) and/or the December 27, 2021, Federal Register, Vol. 86, No. 245, Pages 73522-73583 (86 FR), it may be subject to suspension, modification or revocation.

I hereby certify that the work authorized by the above referenced permit as well as any required mitigation (if applicable) has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the said permit.

Signature of Permittee Date