Field Operations

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  • Our Mission

    ​​"To protect our state's streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, and other waterways from sedimentation by controlling erosion along NCDOT land disturbing projects. To promote programs that enhance our roadsides, create useful habitat for wildlife, and that preserve threatened or endangered species."

  • Delegation Agreement with SCC and NCDEQ

    On February 25, 1991 the NC Sedimentation Control Commission (SCC) granted the authority to the NCDOT to administer its own Sediment and Erosion Control Program within the jurisdiction of its activities. The Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources - Land Resources Section within the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) reviews the NCDOT's program on an annual basis. Land disturbing activities within the NCDOT must be in compliance with the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act (SPCA) of 1973. 

  • Inspection Process and Grading System

    Construction and Maintenance projects are reviewed on a monthly basis to check for compliance with the SPCA. These inspections will be done by either the Roadside Environmental Field Operations Engineer or Technician. A report is filled out discussing any comments or actions that may need to be addressed. The four areas that are concentrated on are Installation, Maintenance and Effectiveness of the EC measures, and Plan Implementation. Then an overall grade is given. The grading scale is a follows: 10-Excellent, 9-Very Good, 8-Good, 7-Fair, 6 or below is unacceptable.

  • ICA and NOV Process

    • If the Field Operations Engineer or Technician gives a project an overall grade of 6 or below, the project will receive an Immediate Corrective Action (ICA). When an ICA is issued the Division must respond and begin corrective actions within 24 hours. It is recommended that grading operations be suspended until the ICA is lifted. The Field Ops personnel will revisit the site within 5 working days or 7 calendar days (whichever is shorter) and review the site to see if appropriate actions were taken. The ICA will either be lifted or continued.
    • A Notice of Violation (NOV) is given by the Land Resources Section of NCDEQ for projects that are out of compliance with the SPCA. Corrective actions should be taken immediately to resolve the NOV.

  • KNOW BEFORE YOU MOW!

    ​DON'T FORGET YOUR ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES

    If your Division has Endangered Species sites, have you checked to see if.....

    • The "DO NOT MOW" signs are still in place?
    • The mowing pattern stakes are still up?
    • Maintenance personnel are aware of the sites?
    • The current mowing contractors are aware of their location?
    • District Office personnel know where the areas are when permitting encroachments?

    Contact Cheryl Knepp, 919-707-6102, for more information

    Threatened and Endangered Species of NC

    Threatened and endangered plant populations may consist of plant groups located one half mile or more apart. Population numbers are subject to change as new populations are discovered, some die off, and occasionally nearby groups of plants are combined into one population for tracking purposes. The following guidelines shall be used at the identified rare plant locations:

    1. No mowing April 1-November 15, SITES MAY BE MOWED FROM NOVEMBER 15 - MARCH 31 to prevent woody species encroachment. The rare populations typically grow at the ditch line and are delineated with metal signage. Routine mowing is from the edge of the road to the ditch, and is typically mowed during the growing season for safety or visibility. The area to be avoided during the growing season is from the signs to the back of ditch.
    2. No herbicides, no fertilizers (exceptions can be made for herbicides under special circumstances and should be discussed with Roadside Environmental Unit and Environmental Analysis Unit prior to use).
    3. Mowing should not be conducted when the soil is wet, as compaction and rutting will occur and could change the hydrology of the rare site conditions.
    4. Prior to entering the site, mowers and equipment should be cleaned off, removing any accumulated vegetative debris that contains weed seeds.​
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