0303T_RES_20200117

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer X Compost SLAS COUNTY: Alleghany
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods X Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 0303T-TRANSFER-
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: January 17, 2020 Date of Last Inspection: December 11, 2019

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Alleghany County Transfer Facility
419 Osbourne Road
Sparta, North Carolina 28675

GPS COORDINATES: Lat.: 36.49343 Long.: -81.14980

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Michael Carter, County Manager
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 366
Sparta, North Carolina 28675

PARTICIPANTS:
Josh Greene, Public Works Director – Alleghany County
Mark Pardue– Alleghany County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval To Operate the Alleghany County Transfer Facility was issued to Alleghany County on October 11,
2019. This permit was for the life-of-site of the facility.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
A. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .0402(7) states: “Appropriate method shall be provided to confine
material subject to be blown by the wind within the area. At the conclusion of each day of operation, all windblown
material resulting from the operation shall be collected and returned to the area by the owner or operator.”

15 North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .0203(d) states: “By receiving solid waste at a permitted facility, the
permittee(s) shall be considered to have accepted the conditions of the permit and shall comply with the conditions of
the permit.”

x General Facility Permit Condition #17(e)(ii) states: “Windblown materials must be collected by the end of
the day and no windblown material may be allowed to leave the facility boundary.”

During an inspection on December 11, 2019, a large amount of windblown waste was observed in multiple locations.
Areas of most concern included the eastern perimeter of the closed MSWLF landfill (0302-MSWLF-1981), and areas
immediately surrounding the transfer facility building. Waste was also observed outside of the facility boundary on
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 4

the opposite side of Osbourne Road near the entrance to the facility. The volume of windblown waste indicated it had
accumulated over a period of multiple days.

Alleghany County was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .0402(7) and .0203(d) in that windblown waste had
not been collected at the conclusion of each day of operation.

To achieve compliance, Alleghany County was required to pick up all windblown waste and return it to the transfer
station for proper disposal with 15-days of receipt of the Notice of Deficiency.

Minimal windblown waste was observed at the facility during the inspection performed on January 17, 2020.
Therefore, this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

B. 15 North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .0203(d) states: “By receiving solid waste at a permitted facility, the
permittee(s) shall be considered to have accepted the conditions of the permit and shall comply with the conditions of
the permit.”

x General Facility Permit Condition #17(b) states in part: “Waste must only be deposited on the “tipping
floor” or directly into a transfer container.”

During an inspection on December 11, 2019, two bags of waste (one containing pillows and cushions and one of
unknown contents) were observed in the grassed area on the south side of the transfer station building.

Alleghany County was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .0203(d) in that waste was not deposited on the
tipping floor as required by permit.

To achieve compliance, Alleghany County was required to ensure that all waste received at the facility be deposited
on the “tipping floor” only. All waste observed during the December 11th inspection was to be collected and
properly disposed.

Inspection of the facility on January 17, 2020 found all waste being deposited on the tipping floor as required. The
bags of waste previously observed on the south side of the transfer station building had been removed. Therefore,
this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
No new violations observed.

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 3 of 4

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a transfer facility, a convenience area for the collection of recyclables, a used oil collection
area, white goods collection area, tire collection area, metal collection area, and a Small Type-1 Compost Facility.
2. The facility is permitted to receive municipal solid waste generated within areas consistent with the service area of
the receiving landfill. Waste must be transported for disposal to an appropriately permitted sanitary landfill.
3. A recycling center is located in a building adjacent to the transfer station. The recycling center is used for the
collection of cardboard, paper, glass bottles, steel and aluminum cans, and plastic containers.
4. A gate was located at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.
5. This was a partial inspection to evaluate the facility’s efforts to comply with the violations documented in the
Notice of Deficiency issued to Alleghany County on December 19, 2019. Please refer to “Status of Past Observed
Violations” for comments.

Operations Inspection of the Transfer Facility:

6. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
7. During the previous inspection, several pieces of plywood at the top of the push walls had been displaced on both
sides of the transfer facility tipping floor. This condition had not improved since the previous inspection. As
noted on the previous inspection report, this condition must be repaired to prevent waste from being deposited
behind the push walls. Any waste trapped behind the push walls must be removed
8. All waste was being deposited onto the tipping floor at the time of inspection.
9. As noted on the previous inspection report, it is recommended that steps be taken to prevent collection of waste on
the transfer station tipping floor such as reinstallation of the deflector located above the transfer trailer loading bay.
10. During the previous inspection, a portion of the steel above the small office area in the transfer facility had been
pulled back allowing waste to be caught between the steel and the top of the push wall. Inspection on January 17,
2020 found no change in this condition. However, no waste was observed at the top of the push wall. As noted on
the previous report, the steel should be repaired to prevent additional waste from being caught.
11. A heavy buildup of residues was observed on the walls of the facility and were in need of pressure washing.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

12. White goods are collected on a covered concrete pad south of the transfer station building.
13. All white goods on site during the inspection had been marked with an “X” indicating that chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) had been removed.
14. During the previous inspection, food wastes such as packs of chicken, salad dressing, and a pack of hotdogs was
observed on the concrete floor. It appeared that this waste was removed from a refrigerator. Facility staff could
not provide information as to how long this waste had been left on the concrete floor. The previous inspection
report noted that any food waste from white goods should be immediately taken to the transfer station for proper
disposal.
x Inspection of the facility on January 11, 2020 found that all food waste observed during the previous
inspection had been removed.
15. Please continue efforts to improve the condition of this area to prevent the creation of a nuisance. Efforts
can include, but not be limited to, removing all pieces of broken material (plastic glass, and insulation)
associated with collection of white goods once they have been loaded on the metal trailer for transport.

Operations Inspection of the Scrap Tire Collection Area:

16. Scrap tires are collected into a covered trailer on southeast of the transfer facility building.
17. All tires were maintained within the designated trailers at the time of inspection. This area was well managed.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 4

Supporting Comments:

18. During the previous inspection, it appeared that much of the windblown waste originated from recycling activities
on site. When asked, Mr. Greene stated that none of the doors on the recycling building were able to close.
x As noted on the previous inspection report, it is recommended that all recycling activities be evaluated to
determine how recyclables subject to being windblown can be maintained to the designated collection
area. Any necessary repairs needed to the recycling building should be completed as soon as possible.

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: 1/22/20 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No.

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor