3404_INSP_20180213

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 5

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Forsyth
Closed
MSWLF X HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 3404
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: 02/13/2018 Date of Last Inspection: 04/25/2012

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Town of Kernersville Landfill - Closed
7385 Freeman Road
Kernersville, NC 27284

GPS COORDINATES: N: 36.193395° W: -80.038412°

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Thad Buck, Solid Waste Superintendent – Town of Kernersville
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
P. O. Box 728
Kernersville, NC 27284

PARTICIPANTS:
Mark Brown, Senior Geologist – Withers Ravenel, on behalf of the Town of Kernersville
Susan Heim, Environmental Senior Specialist – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Closed

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Post-closure Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
None

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:

1. 15A NCAC 02C .0108(k) states: “All non-water supply wells, including temporary wells, shall be secured with a
locking well cap to ensure against unauthorized access and use.”

The Town of Kernersville is in violation of 15A NCAC 02C .0108(k) for failure to secure all landfill gas and
groundwater monitoring wells against unauthorized access and use.

The following deficiencies were observed during this inspection, with regard to securing landfill gas and groundwater
monitoring wells:
• Groundwater monitoring well MW-5 and MW-6 had broken hinges on the caps of the steel casing;
• Groundwater monitoring wells MW-1, MW-2R and MW-4 either had a lock on the cap that was not
functional or no lock at all;
• Groundwater monitoring well MW-4 was not capable of being closed and secured because the length of the
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 2 of 5

well pipe exceeds the height of the cap on the steel casing, so the cap cannot be closed and locked;
• Landfill gas monitoring wells GW-2, GW-4, GW-5, GW-6 and GW-7 had no locks on the well caps.

To achieve compliance, the Town of Kernersville must secure all landfill gas and groundwater monitoring wells
with a locking cap.

2. 15A NCAC 02C .0108(l) states: “All non-water supply wells shall be equipped with a steel outer well casing or flush-
mount cover, set in concrete, and other measures sufficient to protect the well from damage by normal site activities.

The Town of Kernersville is in violation of 15A NCAC 02C .0108(l) for failure to equip all landfill gas and
groundwater monitoring wells with a steel outer casing set in concrete.

During this inspection, the following deficiencies were observed with regard to monitoring well construction:
• Groundwater monitoring well MW-1 was not set in concrete;
• Groundwater monitoring well MW-5 has been destabilized by the growth in tree roots, causing the concrete
pad to raise up and crack, the hinge on the steel casing to break, and the well pipe to bend;
• Landfill gas monitoring wells GW-6 and GW-7 have no steel casing set in concrete.

To achieve compliance, the Town of Kernersville must equip all monitoring wells with a steel outer casing set
in concrete and repair the damage to MW-5.

3. 15A NCAC 02C .0108(o) states: “Each non-water supply well shall have permanently affixed an identification plate.
The identification plate shall be constructed of a durable, waterproof, rustproof metal or other material approved by
the Department as equivalent and shall contain the following information:
(1) well contractor name and certification number;
(2) date well completed;
(3) total depth of well;
(4) a warning that the well is not for water supply and that the groundwater may contain hazardous materials;
(5) depth(s) to the top(s) and bottom(s) of the screen(s); and
(6) the well identification number or name assigned by the well owner.”

The Town of Kernersville is in violation of 15A NCAC 02C .0108(o) for failure to ensure that all landfill gas
and groundwater monitoring wells have a permanently affixed identification plate constructed of a durable,
waterproof, rustproof metal or other approved material that includes all of the information required by this
rule.

At the time of this inspection, groundwater monitoring wells MW-3S and MW-3D had permanent metal identification
plates affixed to the steel casings, but no data was included on the plates. Groundwater monitoring well MW-4 and
landfill gas monitoring well GW-2 had no rustproof metal identification plates affixed to the steel casings.

To achieve compliance, the Town of Kernersville must affix a permanent metal identification plate, as specified
in 15A NCAC 02C .0108(o), to the steel outer casings of groundwater monitoring well MW-4 and landfill gas
monitoring well GW-2.

4. 15A NCAC 13B .0505(5)(b) states: “Surface water shall not be impounded over or in waste.”

The Town of Kernersville is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .0505(5)(b) for allowing surface water to be
impounded over waste on the top of the landfill.

During this inspection, large areas of ponded water were observed on the top of the landfill cap, two of which were
found to be 6” or greater in depth.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 3 of 5

To achieve compliance, the Town of Kernersville must repair areas of the cap where settling has occurred and
reshape the top of the landfill to eliminate the depressions that permit water to pond over waste, and to allow
surface water to sheet flow off the cap.

SUMMARY OF CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED:

1. By April 15, 2018, submit a plan for post-closure maintenance of the closed MSW landfill that will address the
following:
• repair of the landfill cap to eliminate the depressions that are currently impounding water over waste
within the disposal area;
• repair and upgrade the existing landfill gas and groundwater monitoring wells to ensure compliance with
15A NCAC 02C .0108(k), (l) and (o), as described above in Observed Violations 1, 2 and 3 above.

The plan will be reviewed by the Solid Waste Section and, once approved, will be implemented by the
Town of Kernersville according to the time table set forth. Please submit the plan to Susan Heim,
Environmental Senior Specialist, NCDEQ-DWM, Winston-Salem Regional Office, 450 W. Hanes Mill
Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.

Ponding water on top of landfill (foreground and background left) near the center.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 4 of 5

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility is a closed, unlined sanitary landfill. A closure letter was issued for the facility by the Solid Waste
Section on December 10, 1991.
2. The landfill is located on the south side of Freeman Road at the Guilford County line. All of the permitted landfill
facility is located within Forsyth County.
3. The facility is performing semi-annual groundwater monitoring, as required. Monthly landfill gas monitoring is
taking place, due to continuing methane gas exceedances at the facility.
4. The facility is secured by means of a chain link fence with a locked, gated entrance.
5. Mr. Buck, the facility operator, was indisposed at the time of this inspection; however, Mr. Brown was present to
represent the Town of Kernersville.
6. All of the wells in the groundwater monitoring system and the landfill gas monitoring system were inspected.
Landfill gas monitoring wells GW-9 and GW-10 are located on property owned by Waste Management, Inc. Both
of these wells appeared to be properly constructed and maintained. However, Waste Management has fenced these
individual wells to prevent direct access to them. Therefore, sampling is not conducted from either well.
7. Several deficiencies were observed in the environmental monitoring systems. Please ensure that any deficiencies
The item(s) listed above were observed by Section staff and require action on behalf of the facility in order to come into or maintain compliance
with the Statutes, Rules, and/or other regulatory requirements applicable to this facility. Be advised that pursuant to N.C.G.S. 130A-22, an
administrative penalty of up to $15,000 per day may be assessed for each violation of the Solid Waste Laws, Regulations, Conditions of a Permit,
or Order under Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the N.C. General Statutes. Further, the facility and/or all responsible parties may also be subject to
enforcement actions including penalties, injunction from operation of a solid waste management facility or a solid waste collection service and any
such further relief as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act and Rules.
Area of ponded water
near southwestern end
of landfill top.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 5 of 5

in the monitoring well standards, as set forth in 15A NCAC 02C .0108(k), (l) and (o) are resolved. (See the
Observed Violations section of this report for additional information.)
8. Edge-of-waste markers were observed along the top of the slopes of the landfill that delineate the waste disposal
boundary of the facility. The markers were white and easily visible from all areas of the facility. During a
conversation following the inspection, Mr. Buck explained that a large amount of dirt had been brought to the
facility during the construction of the neighboring Piedmont Landfill (Permit #34-06). The dirt had been used to
construct a bowl around the fill area, ensuring that no waste was contained in the exterior slopes. Mr. Buck stated
that the markers had been located at least 5’ outside the waste disposal area.
9. Briars and underbrush, along with other woody plants and some mature trees, were observed along the slopes
surrounding the landfill. A portion of the western slope had been bush hogged and cleared. Mr. Buck explained that
he was undertaking this maintenance work gradually, cleaning off the slopes one section at a time.
10. The cap of the landfill was covered with well-established vegetation that is mowed regularly. Several areas of
ponding water were observed on the top of the landfill. Ensure that maintenance is performed on the cap to fill
in the depressed areas with clean soil, repair the final landfill cover and reshape the cap to eliminate water
being impounded, as required by 15A NCAC 13B .0505(5)(b). (See the Observed Violations section of this
report for additional information.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report.

__________________________________________ Phone: [phone]
Susan Heim
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: March 2, 2018 to
Thad Buck.
X Email Hand delivery US Mail

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor – Solid Waste Section
Jaclynne Drummond, Hydrogeologist – Solid Waste Section
Mark Brown, Senior Geologist – Withers Ravenel