1806_INSP_20190108

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 2

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Catawba
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 1806-COMPOST-
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: January 8, 2019 Date of Last Inspection: December 6, 2017

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
City of Hickory Compost Facility
702 Cloninger Mill Road
Hickory, North Carolina 28601

GPS COORDINATES: N: 35.78609 W: 81.30431

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Andrew Ballentine, Solid Waste Manager
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 398
Hickory, North Carolina 28603

PARTICIPANTS:
Andrew Ballentine, Solid Waste Manger – City of Hickory
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit to Operate a Large Type 1 Solid Waste Compost Facility was issued to the City of Hickory on January 3,
2018. The permit shall expire on June 8, 2022.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

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.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 2

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a Large Type 1 Solid Waste Compost Facility. Compost is produced from brush, leaves,
limbs, and grass clippings. Mulch is produced from land clearing debris.
2. Gates were provided at each entrance to prevent unauthorized access. Both gates were open at the time of
inspection as City of Hickory vehicles were actively bringing loads of leaves to the site.
3. The facility had proper signage.
4. The Permit to Operate and Operations Plan were verified. The subject documents were being maintained in a
three-ring binder located inside a locked storage shed on the west side of the site. Both documents were current
and available upon request.
5. During the inspection, one stockpile of unground leaves, one stockpile of finished compost, and one large stockpile
of ground mulch were on site. Mr. Ballentine explained that grinding of mulch was completed just before the
Christmas holiday.
6. All temperature records were housed within the locked storage shed on the west side of the site. It appeared that
the required temperature requirements were being met. All leaves on site at the time of the inspection were being
maintained within a stockpile. Mr. Ballentine explained that once the leaves are ground, they will be placed into
one or multiple windrows for composting. Temperatures will be monitored and logged once active compost
operations begin.
7. Site conditions were very wet during the inspection due to wet conditions experienced in the area over recent
months. However, no off-site sedimentation was observed.
8. Survey stakes were observed on the south side of the site during the inspection. Mr. Ballentine stated that these
stakes were marking the location of a new sediment basin that is to be constructed within the near future.
9. Due to the extreme wet conditions, unground wood waste was being stored along the access road. Mr. Ballentine
stated that this was a temporary solution. Wood debris will be stored in the designated receiving area once
conditions dry allowing equipment to regrade the site. During the inspection, a city vehicle had to be pulled out of
the receiving area due to the wet conditions.
x Please ensure that all required setbacks are maintained during this temporary practice.
10. One bag of clothing was observed within a load of wood waste on site. Please ensure that this material is removed
for proper disposal. Mr. Ballentine stated that the material would be removed and placed in the designated
dumpster on site. No other unacceptable waste streams were observed.
11. It appeared that adequate access had been provided around stockpiles of ground and unground material to allow for
access by firefighting equipment.
12. All stockpiles of pre-processed material and processed material appeared to meet the maximum allowable
dimensions of 30-feet high and 50-feet wide.
13. It appeared that all setbacks were being maintained. As noted on the previous inspection report, please give special
attention to the location of compost activities on the east side of the site where residences are closest to the
operation.

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

________________________________________ Phone: [phone]
Charles T. Gerstell
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: 1/18/19 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Digitally signed by Charles T. Gerstell
DN: cn=Charles T. Gerstell, o=Divsion of
Waste Management, ou=Solid Waste
Section,
email=[e-mail], c=US
Date: 2019.01.18 11:11:18 -05'00'