Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

SECTION 4 – DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT IN PLANNING AREA

basic soils. Repeated disturbance is necessary to provide open areas for this plant to be successful. Remaining populations are found along maintained roadway rights-of-way and areas managed with frequent fires. Threats to remaining populations include habitat loss resulting from development and fire suppression. The species has been located elsewhere in the county; no NHEO sites have been recorded within the Planning Area (NCNHP, 2014). The NHEO database includes both state and federally listed species and populations, as well as natural communities. The SNHA database identifies exemplary or unique natural ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic). There are no SNHAs within the Town’s Planning Area (NCNHP, 2014). Figure 4-1 illustrates the distribution of NHEO occurrences within the Planning Area. Appendix E includes a complete list of species occurrences from the NHEO database within Wake County as well as within the Planning Area. Other sources of information regarding the presence of species or habitat include special surveys and the NCWRC. According to NCWRC, the Crabtree Creek watershed provides suitable habitat for many State-listed mussel species, including the creeper ( Strophitus undulatus ), triangle floater ( Aslasmidonta undulata ), and notched rainbow ( Villosa constricta ) mussel species (NCWRC, 2014). Based on data received in 2014 from the NCNHP, there are no rare mussel species in the Planning Area (NCNHP, 2014). 4.13.2 Natural Vegetation Within the Planning Area, natural vegetation is typical of piedmont upland and bottomland communities. The NCGAP data, provided by North Carolina State University, were used to analyze land cover within the Planning Area (NCGAP, 2006). These data depict the various types of natural vegetation and agriculture present within the Planning Area. Further descriptions are included in Section 4.11. According to data received from NCNHP, there are no SNHAs, aquatic habitat, or natural communities identified within the Planning Area (NCNHP, 2014). 4.14 Introduction of Toxic Substances Toxic substances and their cleanup are regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The goals of these programs are to eliminate or reduce toxic waste; clean up waste that has been leaked, spilled, or improperly disposed; and protect people from harmful waste. One cleanup site is present within the Planning Area. Koppers Company, Inc., operated a wood treatment process that ceased operation in 1975 (USEPA, 2014). Pentachlorophenol and isopropyl ether were used in the process. Wastewater lagoons were present at the site, leading to groundwater, surface water, and soil contamination. A groundwater treatment system is currently operating and will continue to do so until cleanup standards are met. Surface water and soil cleanup has been completed. This site is important because groundwater in the area was a source of drinking water for approximately 2,200 residents. In 1989, public water supply lines were installed in the area and use of groundwater as a public drinking water supply was halted. A third 5-year review was completed in 2012; it recommends continued monitoring because of a recent, more stringent standard for pentachlorophenol (USEPA 2012b).

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