In order to comply with NCDOT’s Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department must provide certification that projects with structures crossing FEMA streams have been completed in accordance with the agreed project commitments. The Hydraulics Unit is responsible for insuring that the Department meets FEMA compliance. In order to assist the Hydraulics Unit in this task, the person administering the project must provide a certification that the project has been constructed in accordance with the approved plans. Any alignment or grade deviation from the original plans that could affect hydraulic conveyance must be approved by the Hydraulic engineer prior to construction. An approved deviation should be marked on the appropriate plan sheet prior to certification.
Projects which require certification will be identified in three ways. Examples of the three identifications are included at the end of this section.
- There will be Hydraulics project commitment and a Division commitment in the green sheets of the contract.
- An email will be sent from the Hydraulics Unit to the project administrator once FEMA approval has been met outlining the As-Built requirements.
- The appropriate sheets of the plans requiring certification will have a title block for the certification as follows.
- For bridges, the general layout sheet will contain the title block.
- For culverts, the following plan sheets will contain the title block.
The certification consists of a Professional Engineer’s seal and the following note placed above the area:
I hereby certify these plans are the as-constructed plans.
The certification should be made upon completion of the work in the floodplain. All approach fills, unclassified structure excavation, bents, and superstructure members should be complete prior to making the certification. The certification should be made on half-sized plan sheets and sent to the State Hydraulics Engineer. It is preferred that the certification be transmitted electronically (PDF) to the following email address:
NCDOT_Hydraulics_As-Built_Plans@ncdot.gov; however, a hard-copy through the courier service is also acceptable.
GREEN-SHEETS FEMA CERTIFICATION COMMITMENT
HYDRAULICS PROJECT COMMITMENT REGARDING FEMA COORDINATION:
The Hydraulics Unit will coordinate with the NC Floodplain Mapping Program (FMP), to determine status of project with regard to applicability of NCDOT’S Memorandum of Agreement, or approval of a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) and subsequent final Letter of Map Revision (LOMR).
DIVISION COMMITMENT:
This project involves construction activities on or adjacent to FEMA-regulated stream(s). Therefore, the Division shall submit sealed as–constructed constructions plans to the Hydraulics Unit upon completion of project construction, certifying that the drainage structure(s) and roadway embankment that are located within the 100-year floodplain were built as shown in the construction plans, both horizontally and vertically.
AS-CONSTRUCTED CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST FOR FEMA-REGULATED STREAM CROSSINGS
BRIDGES:
- Verify rail type and rail height (nominal). Examples: 32” Alaska Rail; 42” Oregon Rail; 42” Standard Bridge Rail;
- Note low chord elevations at all four corners of bridge. If interior bent caps are on a crest vertical curve, provide low chord elevations of at all interior bents.
- Verify final “grade-to” excavation elevations associated with the proposed bridge opening. Only note if a “grade-to” excavation elevation differs from what was specified in the bridge plans.
CULVERTS:
- Verify culvert location sketch
- Verify culvert length, size (opening), and number of barrels.
- Verify sill dimensions if applicable.
- Note inlet and outlet invert elevations (top of bottom slab)
- Verify roadway profile grade(s) agrees with plans. Provide roadway profile sheet and note any grade changes if applicable.
Reference the following sample plan sheets for clarification:
