5106_BlackwwodWest Farms_applic_20190319

March 11, 2019
Ms. Donna J. Wilson
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Solid Waste Section
Division of Waste Management
1646 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
RE: Permit to Operate Application
Blackwood Associates, LLC
Newton Grove, North Carolina
Dear Ms. Wilson:
On behalf of Blackwood Associates, LLC please find enclosed a permit to operate application
for a wood material treatment and processing facility in Newton Grove, North Carolina.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and if there are any questions regarding the
application or if you need additional information, please contact me. My email address is
[e-mail]. You may reach me at 812-676-8770 (office) or 812- 327-9181
(cell).
Sincerely,
Brian Beall
Enclosure
Blackwood Solutions, Inc. Bloomington, IN [phone]

IN 41,
T MMM
Prepared for:
Ms. Donna J. Wilson
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Prepared by:
Brian Beall
Blackwood Solutions
699 E. Dillman Road
Bloomington, Indiana 47401

APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO OPERATE
Blackwood Associates, LLC
Wood Material Treatment & Processing Facility
West Farms Wood Products
Newton Grove, NC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Facility Overview 2
Land Use and Regulatory Compliance 3
Site Design 4
Site Operations 5
Record Keeping and Reporting 6
Operating Plan 7-9
Attachments
Total Property Footprint — Drawing 1
Total Property Layout & Staging Area — Drawing 2
FEMA Flood Hazard Information Page 1
FEMA Flood Hazard Information Page 2
Water Table Test Pit #1
Water Table Test Pit #2
Copy of Deed
Zoning & Water Supply Watershed Determination Letter
Braston Newton, Planning Director, Johnston County Planning Dept., dated March 8, 2019.
Fire Department Jurisdiction Letter
Frankie Hobson, Fire Chief, Meadow Volunteer Fire Department, dated March 8, 2019
Rev. March 2019
1
Blackwood Associates, LLC

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
FACILITY OVERVIEW
Name of Facility: West Farms Wood Products
Address: 1683 Barefoot Road
Newton Grove, NC 28366
Office: 919-524-5737
Website: www.westfarmswoodproducts.com
Landowner: Ms. Jamie Feagans
BWS Real Estate, LLC
1370 That Road
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
Office: 812-676-6770
General Manager: Mr. Bob Stancombe
Cell: 812-320-2373
Email: pcdinc1953(c gmail.com
Administrative Contact: Mr. Ryan Conrad
Office: 812-676-8770
Cell: 812-327-4934
Email: r an .bwoodsolutions.com
The West Farms Wood Products facility is an existing business which produces high quality pine
shavings used for animal bedding. Blackwood Associates, LLC purchased this facility in February of
2019. Blackwood Associates plans to expand the operation to include the carbonization of clean wood,
grinding of used utility poles and collection of clean wood.
Carbonization of Clean Wood:
Clean wood and vegetation are carbonized in a device called a Carbonator. The biomass is significantly
reduced in volume and converted into a product called biochar. This occurs at a high temperature in an
oxygen deprived state known as thermal conversion. Carbon dioxide is sequestered and stored in the
biochar and will be sold to end use consumers of this product.
Grinding of Utility Poles:
We will collect and deliver used utility poles to this facility. These are used Duke Energy utility poles
which have been treated with creosote. The poles will be ground and sent to the Craven County Wood
Energy plant to be used as boiler fuel. The grindings will be conveyed directly into trailers and
transported to the plant.
Collection of Clean Wood:
We plan to receive untreated and unpainted clean wood, vegetation (stumps, trees, limbs). poles. Yard
trash, leaves and other high nitrogen wastes will not be accepted. The wood will be delivered to this
facility in trucks and on trailers. The clean wood will be accumulated in piles to be used as feed stock for
the Carbonator. The facility will accept material from the public and charge tipping fees.
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC
FA

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
LAND USE AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
FEMA Floodplain Map:
FEMA Floodplain map is attached. The facility is not located in a 100-year floodplain.
Minimum Buffer Requirements:
The facility meets the following minimum buffer requirements from the waste boundary.
® 50 feet from all surface waters of the state as defined in G.S. 143-212.
• 50 feet from property lines.
® Wood grinder - a property line buffer of more than 50 feet will be in place to prevent
flying debris from leaving the property.
® 200 feet from residential dwellings and commercial or public buildings.
• 100 feet from water supply wells.
Zoning:
The site is in consistent with all applicable zoning ordinances. Refer to the attached letter from
Braston Newton, Planning Director, Johnston County Planning Department, dated March 8, 2019.
Watershed:
The site is not located in a water supply watershed. Refer to the attached letter from Braston
Newton, Planning Director, Johnston County Planning Department, dated March 8, 2019.
Water Table:
The permanent, seasonal or perched water table in more than 12 inches from the soil surface. Two
separate test pits were excavated on site. Refer to the attached photographs dated March 7, 2019.
Fire Protection:
The Meadow Volunteer Fire Department will respond to the site if a fire occurred. Refer to the
attached letter from Frankie Hobson, Fire Chief, Meadow Volunteer Fire Department, dated March
8, 2019.
Rev. March 2019
3
Blackwood Associates, LLC

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
SITE DESIGN
The West Farms Wood Products wood material treatment and processing facility is in the east
central portion of the site and occupies about 2.0 acres (see Total Property Layout & Staging Area
- Drawing 2). Access to the facility is provided by an all-weather road.
The facility is situated on the east central side of the 53-acre site, opposite the existing wood
shaving facility further to the east.
The remaining surrounding land is mostly wooded and undeveloped.
Buffers have been provided as follows: 50 feet from property lines, 1000 feet from the nearest
residence, 200 feet from the nearest well, and 1000 feet from streams.
Wood material treatment and processing operations consist of sorting and segregating incoming
material by type. Separate stockpiles will be established for clean wood and used utility pole
pieces.
Most of the area is used to segregate incoming clean wood material prior to carbonizing and used
utility pole pieces prior to grinding. Stockpiles averaging 15 feet high by 40 feet wide at the base
are utilized. The design layout calls for 20-foot fire lanes around and between the stockpiles.
Rev. March 2019
0
Blackwood Associates, LLC

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
SITE OPERATIONS
Though inflow of wood materials to the facility cannot be accurately predicted due to the
commercial nature of the operation and the cyclical nature of land development, inflow is initially
predicted to be 10,000 tons monthly or around 2,500 tons per week.
A storage and processing area (about 2.0 acres) is located in the eastern portion of the site for
processing operations (see Total Property Layout & Staging Area - Drawing 2). The design layout
allows for 20-foot fire lanes around and between storage piles. The wood material piles will be 15
feet tall and 40 feet wide.
The facility is operated to minimize dust, noise and vectors. Dust is controlled by the application of
water spray on facility roads during hot, dry weather. Material processing may be postponed during
periods of high wind to reduce dusting.
Noise during operation of the carbonator is not a problem as it is no louder than other conventional
equipment in operation at the site. Only a few pieces of conventional heavy equipment operate at
the facility and the site is relatively isolated. It is anticipated the CBI grinder will not be in regular
operation. It will be brought to the site on an as needed basis.
Rev. March 2019
9
Blackwood Associates, LLC

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTING
Records are kept at the site regarding material received and processed and sold (biochar).
Records include customer or vendor name and address, type and volume of material received and
sold and the date of transaction.
Copies of all applicable permits (with supporting documentation from approved permit applications)
and of approved operating plans will be kept on site.
An annual report is prepared each year for the period July 1 st through June 30th and submitted to the
Division of Waste Management by August 1st. The annual report will document the total quantity
and types of material received, including material received from local governments, and the
quantities of biochar sold.
For reporting of volume -based transactions on a weight basis, processed volumes will be
converted using a factor of 400 pounds per cubic yard (0.2 tons / CY). The annual report will be
submitted on the reporting form provided by the Division of Waste Management for treatment and
processing facilities.
Rev. March 2019
X
Blackwood Associates, LLC

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
OPERATING PLAN
Blackwood Associates, LLC
Wood Material Treatment & Processing Facility
West Farms Wood Products
Newton Grove, NC
Owner: Ms. Jamie Feagans
Blackwood Associates, LLC
1370 That Road
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
Office: 812-676-6770
General Manager: Mr. Bob Stancombe
Office: 919-524-5737
Cell: 812-320-2373
Email: [e-mail]
Newton Grove Fire Department: 910-594-0211 (Fire Station)
Fire / Rescue Emergencies 911 (EMS)
Physical Address: 1683 Barefoot Road
Newton Grove, NC 28366
Operating Hours: Monday — Saturday: 7:00 am — 7:00 pm
Site Personnel: General Manager:
Supervises site operations and site personnel.
Also controls access and directs vehicles.
Equipment Operator:
Operate equipment associated with processing operations.
Office Manager:
Manages office and checks in trucks delivering material.
The facility accepts only the following solid wood material:
Land -clearing debris (stumps, trees, limbs), untreated and unpainted wood waste
(including dimension lumber), uncontaminated pallets and storm debris. Used utility
pole pieces.
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC
7

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
All unscheduled vehicles entering the facility are directed to the nearby West Farms Wood
Products office, where pertinent information is recorded on a ticket and / or customer log, with the
hauler name, vehicle type and size, type of wood materials and weight noted. When the facility is
open to the public an attendant is on duty to prevent acceptance of unauthorized materials.
The office attendant then directs the vehicle driver to the site, where the General Manager directs
the vehicle to the appropriate off-loading area. The General Manager selects vehicles on a random
or targeted basis and conducts an inspection of materials as they are being off-loaded. The visual
inspection helps assure that received materials are compatible with the intent and goals of the
facility.
Off-loaded material is sorted by incoming material type and moved to the appropriate stockpile
area.
All non -conforming waste and non -recyclable material is stored on site in a designated (small)
area, then transferred to a roll -off container when enough volume accumulates. Any household
garbage or other putrescible wastes will be containerized daily and properly disposed of at least
weekly. Facility personnel are responsible for transporting all non -conforming wastes to an
appropriate and properly permitted solid waste disposal facility.
The following equipment is available for use at the facility:
2011 CBI 6400 Grinder
2011 John Deere 437C Trailer mounted log loader with grapple
2012 John Deere 650J LGP Bulldozer with 6-way blade
2013 Hyundai 740-9 Wheel Loader with cab and bucket
2015 International Pro -Star Day cab
2016 Neuenhauser Star Screener
2018 John Deere 311 Skid Steer with 3-yard bucket
2019 ROI Carbonator 500
Water Truck - 1500 Gallon
Truck Weight Scale
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC
8

BWA Application for Permit to Operate
In the event of equipment failure, broken equipment will be repaired or replaced.
Access roads are of all-weather construction and are well maintained.
Stormwater is naturally diverted from the facility work area due to the slope of the site and runs off
into forested riparian buffers. There is presently no pooling of water at the site. Stormwater best
management practices are utilized to prevent soil and other pollutants from accessing surface
waters and to prevent excessive on -site erosion. Silt fences are presently in place to prevent silt
from leaving the site.
The facility staff can facilitate drainage and eliminate standing water to reduce the potential for
mosquito breeding. There is currently no pooling or standing water at the site. The materials being
processed are not likely to attract other vectors since they are not putrescible.
A sign is posted at the facility entrance showing the contact name and telephone number in case of
an emergency, acceptable materials accepted and the permit number.
Fire, ambulance and police telephone numbers are posted in a readily accessible place. The
facility personnel are trained in basic on -site fire response procedures and have access to heavy
equipment, water, water truck and extinguishers to aid in the early suppression of fire. Fire
suppression may include isolating and spreading burning material, application of water or chemical
suppressant, and / or covering with soil.
If market conditions become unfavorable, we will cease to accept material at the facility and
process and remaining material stockpiled on -site.
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC
9

Total Property Footprint — Drawing 1
LEFT: Total Property Footprint
RIGHT: 2018 Flood Zone
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC

LEFT: Zoom out
RIGHT: Close up
Yellow Box: Staging
and Processing
Area. Approx 2ac.
BLUE: Total
Property
BLACK: Driveway
and easement
Total Property Layout & Staging Area — Drawing 2
Rev. March 2019
100'
Blackwood Associates, LLC

National Flood Hazard Layer FIRMette FEA
35° 18'34.93"N
0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
Legend
SEE FIS REPORT FOR DETAILED LEGEND AND INDEX MAP FOR FIRM PANEL LAYOUT
Without Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
zone A, Y, ASS '.
SPECIAL FLOOD
With BFE or Depth Zan. AE, Ali, AH, vZ Art
HAZARD AREAS
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0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard, Areas
of 1%annual chance flood with average
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areas of less than one square mile zone x
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-- --' Chance Flood Hazard zcn� x
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FLOOD HAZARD Area with Flood Risk due to Leveez— D
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OTHER AREAS Area of Undetermined Flood Hazard zone D
GENERAL ---- Channel, Culvert, or Storm Sewer
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117-s Water Surface Elevation
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Limit of Study
Jurisdiction Boundary
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OTHER _ Profile Baseline
FEATURES Hydrographic Feature
i.. Digital Data Available
No Digital Data Available
MAP PANELS }; Unmapped
Q The pin displayed on the map is an approximate
point selected by the user and does not represent
an authoritative property location.
This map complies with FEMA's standards for the use of
digital flood maps if it is not void as described below.
The basemap shown complies with FEMA's basemap
accuracy standards
The flood hazard information Is derived directly from the
authoritative NFHL web services provided by FEMA. This map
was exported on 3/7/2019 at 12:38:44 PM and does not
reflect changes or amendments subsequent to this date and
time. The NFHL and effective Information may change or
become superseded by new data over time.
This map image is void if the one or more of the following map
elements do not appear: basemap Imagery, flood zone labels,
legend, scale bar, map creation date, community identifiers,
FIRM panel number, and FIRM effective date. Map Images for
unmapped and unmodernized areas cannot be used for
regulatory purposes.
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC

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FLOOD HAZARD INFORMATION
SEE FIS REPORT FOR ZONE DESCRIP IONSAND INDER MAP
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West Farm Wood Products — Water Table Test Pit # 2
March 7, 2019
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associated, LLC

Filed in JOHNSTON COUNTY, NC CRAIG OLIVE, Register of Deeds Filed 02/1912019 10:11:01 AM
DEED BOOK: 5295 PAGE: 203-205 INSTRUMENT # 2019601647
Real Estate Excise Tax: $668.00 Deputy/Assistant Register of Deeds: Pauline Sanders
Excise Tax: $668.00
Parcel Identification Number: 09J16085A
Mail after recording to:
Narron Wenzel, PA
P.O, Box 1567
Smithfield, North Carolina 27577
This instrument was prepared by: Benton G. Sawrey, Attorney at Law [no title exam)
Brief Description for the Index:
if I lei All A
Recording Time, Book and Page
THIS DEED IS MADE TfffSTHE -DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2019, BY AND AMONG THE FOLLOWING:
GRANTOR:
WILLIE A. WEST, JR. and wife, JOYCE H. WEST
1683 Barefoot Road
Newton Grove, North Carolina 28366
GRANTEE:
BWS Real Estate, LLC
An Indiana Limited Liability Company
1370 W That Road
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
The designation Grantor and Grantee as used herein shall include said parties, their heirs, successors, and assigns, and shall include
singular, plural, masculine, feminine or neuter as required by context.
WITNESSETH, that the Grantors, for a valuable consideration paid by the Grantee, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
have and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the Grantee in fee simple, all that certain lot or parcel of land
situated in the Johnston County, North Carolina and more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein
by reference,
(NO 143316,DOC; 1) Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC

DEED B: 5295 P: 204
This is not the primary resident of the Grantors.
TO HAVE AND 7OHOLD the aforesaid lot,01' Pal -eel of land and all Privileges. _and :appurtenances thereto beloriging,to the Grantee in
f
And the Grantors covenant with,the Grantee, that Grantors have done nothing to impair such title as Grantors received,. and Grantors
will warrant and defend the title against the lawful claims of all persons claiming;by,
exceptions hereinafter bunder Or through. Grantors, except 6or the
Title.to the property hereinabovt described is subject to the following exceptions:
Ad valorumtaxes for current and subsequent years; and
2. to any easements and restrictions of record.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantors have caused this instrument to be signed the day and year first above written,
$ 0,
(S F-A L)
Willie A.
,oyoe 4. West.
Z0 TI-1 CAkOLINA
johm—COUNTY
a Notary Public, in arldfibr said County and State do certify that Willie A. West, Jr. and
Joyce H.
est, personal ly appeared before "lie this dayandacknowledged the, due execution of tile foregoing instrument;
4A
Witness my hand and notarial seal/starnp, this if'day b4ty. 2019:
MY Commission expires: tary t),Iic
cql
W01411816.1)(7(I., II
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC

DEED B: 5295 P: 205 END OF DOCUMENT
EXHIBIT A — PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
BEING all Of that triangular shaped tract of lard comprised of 7,759 re a shown Survey map dated March 27,
Stantonassengill,PLS, -which is recorded ill -Map Book 74, Page 437, Johnston County Registry,
2008 by W, t acres s Ila n on that
Together with that 30 foot wide access easement as it extends from Barefoot Road (SRI 132) to the northern boundary of
the above described 7.759 acre tract as shown on those survey maps recorded as MB
74, Page 437, Johnston. County Registry. Map ook 64, Page 407, andM ap Book
The above described 7,759 acre real property tract and access easement is a portion of those tracts conveyed to Willie A.,
West, Jr. and wife, Joyce H, West in those deeds recorded in .Book 1398, Page 555, and Book 1844, Page 591, Johnston
County Registry,
(N0141816.00C; 1)
Rev. March 2019 Blackwood Associates, LLC

March 8, 2019
Mr. Bob Stancombe
West Farms Wood Products
1683 Barefoot Road
Newton Grove, NC 28336
RE: Zoning and Water Supply Watershed Determination Letter
Dear Mr. Stancombe:
The proposed wood material treatment and processing facility at the property referenced above
is consistent with all applicable zoning ordinances. This property is not located in a Water
Supply Watershed.
If there are any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Braston Newton
Planning Director

March 8, 2019
Mr. Bob Stancombe
West Farms Wood Products
1683 Barefoot Road
Newton Grove, NC 28336
RE: Fire Department Jurisdiction Letter
Dear Mr. Stancombe:
The proposed wood material treatment and processing facility at the property referenced above
is in the jurisdiction of the Meadow Volunteer Fire Department. Our department located at 7409
NC Highway 50 South in Benson, NC 27504 would respond if a fire were to occur at this facility.
If there are any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Frankie Hobson
Fire Chief