1803_INSP_20210119

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 5

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID YW X Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Catawba
Closed
MSWLF X HHW White
goods X Incin T&P X FIRM PERMIT NO.: 18-03
CDLF X Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: January 19, 2021 Date of Last Inspection: February 3, 2020

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility
4017 Rocky ford Road
Newton, North Carolina 28658

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.60662 Long.: -81.30966

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Rodney Hamby, Landfill Superintendent
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 389
Newton, North Carolina 28658

PARTICIPANTS:
Rodney Hamby, Landfill Superintendent – Catawba County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit to Construct 1803-MSWLF-1997, Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility – Unit 3, Phase 2, a Permit to
Operate 1803-MSWLF-1997, 1803-CDLF-, 1803-TP-, and 1803-COMPOST-, and a Permit for Closure for 1803-
MSWLF-1981 and 18H-LCID-1989 was issued to Catawba County on June 12, 2018.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .0542(f)(1) states: “Except as provided in Subparagraph (3) of this
Paragraph, the owners and operators of all C&DLF units must cover the solid waste with six inches of earthen material
when the waste disposal area exceeds one-half acre and at least once weekly. Cover must be placed at more frequent
intervals if necessary to control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging. A notation of the date and
time of the cover placement must be recorded in the operating record as specified in Paragraph (n) of this Rule.”

Inspection found exposed waste on the inactive east facing and south facing slopes of the construction and demolition
landfill unit. Mr. Hamby explained that waste was last placed on the east facing slopes in the summer of 2020 and on the
south facing slopes in October of 2020. Catawba County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .05429(f)(1) for failure to
cover waste with six inches of earthen material as required.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 5

11/19/20: View of exposed waste on south facing 1/19/21: View of exposed waste on east facing slope.
slope. (photo by C. Gerstell) (photo by C. Gerstell)

To achieve compliance, within 7-days of issuance of this inspection report, all exposed waste within the inactive
portions construction and demolition landfill must be covered with a minimum of 6-inches of earthen material.

15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1632(i) states: “Within 120 days from the date of sampling or as
specified in the facility permit, whichever is less, the owner or operator shall submit to the Division a report that includes
all information from the sampling event; including field observations relating to the condition of the monitoring wells,
field data, laboratory data, statistical analysis (if utilized),sampling methodologies, quality assurance and quality control
data, information on ground-water flow direction, calculations of ground-water flow rate, for each well any constituents
that exceed ground-water standards, as defined in Rule .1634(g) through (h) of this Section.”

Semiannual sampling events for 2020 were performed on May 29, 2020 and September 23, 2020. These sampling results
have not yet been submitted to the Solid Waste Section as of the date of the inspection. Therefore, Catawba County is in
violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1632(i) as sampling results were not submitted to the Division within 120 from the date of
sampling.

To achieve compliance, all sampling results must be submitted to the Division as required by 15A 13B .1632(i).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Unit, Construction and Demolition Landfill Unit,
Treatment and Processing Unit, Small Type 1 Compost Unit, Scrap Tire Collection Area, White Goods Collection
Area, and a convenience area for the collection of used paint, electronics, used batteries, and cell phones.
2. The facility is permitted to receive solid waste generated within Catawba County only.
3. Gates are provided at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Records Review:

4. The permit and operations plan were verified via the Division document database.
5. Tonnage records for January 2020 through December 2020 were verified. The facility received 164,282-tons
during this time.
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 5

6. Groundwater sampling was being performed semiannually as required. The 1st semiannual sampling event was
performed on March 26-27, 2019. Second semiannual sampling event for 2019 was performed on September 19,
2019. Semiannual sampling events for 2020 were performed on May 29, 2020 and September 23, 2020.
x Mr. Hamby explained that delays in the submittal of 2020 sampling results were in part due to a change in
the laboratory used for testing samples.
7. Methane monitoring was being performed quarterly as required. Records for sampling events performed on
6/6/19, 9/11/19, 12/12/19, 3/12/20, 6/12/20, 9/24/20, and 12/22/20 were verified. No exceedences above
applicable standards were observed.
8. Waste screening reports for June 2020 through December 2020 were verified. Separate screenings are performed
at the MSWLF Unit and the CDLF Unit. Screenings were performed with good frequency and provided good
documentation as to the make-up of the waste loads.
9. Temperature logs for the compost operation were verified. It appeared that proper temperatures were being
obtained. However, multiple temperatures were recorded greater than 160 ˚F. Please ensure that temperatures are
maintained below 160 ˚F to prevent anaerobic conditions.
10. A random sampling of Tire Certification Forms was observed. All reports reviewed appeared to be properly
completed.
11. MOLO Certifications:
x Rodney Hamby (expires 8/25/22)
x Daniel Isenhour (expires 5/26/21)
x Dallas Sigmon (expires 9/10/23)
x Jeff Sigmon (expires 9/5/21)
12. Landfill Operations Specialist Certificaitons:
x Ray Blackburn (expires 12/13/21)
x Reid Burlson (expires 9/16/22)
x Kyle Earls (expires 6/21/22)
x Travis Goforth (expires 9/8/23)
x John Jacques (expires 10/6/26)
x Tyler Lutz (expires 3/10/23)
x Mark Parker (expires 6/13/22)
x Todd Walker (expires 2/26/22)

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit (1803-MSWLF-1997):

13. Waste was being placed into Unit 3, Phase 1 at the time of inspection.
14. The working face was of manageable size.
15. Overall windblown waste was well controlled. A small amount of windblown waste was observed on the northeast
facing slope of the landfill just below the working face. Please ensure that this material is returned to the working
face for proper disposal at the end of the operating day.
x Mobile catch-fences were being utilized to control windblown waste.
16. Inactive portions of the landfill were covered with earthen material.
17. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
18. Edge-of-waste markers were in place at the time of inspection.
19. Construction of the new Unit 3, Phase 2 have been completed. A virtual pre-operations meeting was performed on
January 13, 2021. No concerns were observed with the new cell construction.
x Disturbed areas used for soil borrow east of the new construction had been seeded with good germination
of see, but some erosion was observed. Continue efforts to stabilize all disturbed areas east of the new
construction with a groundcover sufficient to restrain erosion.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 5

Operations Inspection of the CDLF Unit (1803-CDLF-):

20. Waste was being placed into Unit 2, Phase 1 at the time of inspection.
21. The working face was less than one-half acre in size.
22. No unacceptable waste streams were observed within the active working face. However, one tire was observed in
the inactive Unit 2, Phase 2. Please ensure that this tire is removed from the landfill area and properly disposed.
23. Windblown waste was well controlled.
24. Edge-of-waste markers were in place.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

25. White goods are collected on a concrete pad south of the MSWLF Unit 2.
26. Few white goods were present on site at the time of inspection. Mr. Hamby explained that metal had been
collected the week prior to the inspection.
27. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Scrap Tire Area:

28. Tires are stored uncovered on a combination of concrete and gravel pad on the north side of the Treatment and
Processing Unit.
29. Majority of tires were maintained to the designated area at the time of inspection. A small number of tires were
observed on the opposite side of the concrete containment walls made of concrete buttresses. Please ensure that
tires are maintained to the designated area to ensure all tires are collected for disposal.

Operations Inspection of the Treatment and Processing/Wood Grinding Area (1803-TP-):

30. The facility is permitted to receive land clearing waste, wooden pallets constructed of unpainted and untreated
natural wood, and yard trash. Ground yard trash may not be distributed to the public unless it has been composted
in accordance with Rule .1400.
31. All ground mulch was placed in designated windrows at the time of inspection.
32. Please ensure that adequate access is provided between windrows and stockpiles of unground material to allow for
access by firefighting equipment.
33. A small amount of standing was observed due to recent rains.
34. No objectionable odors were observed.
35. Land clearing waste and pallets were placed into separate stockpiles. Ground, untreated and unpainted pallets and
wood/lumber are not mixed with ground mulch. This material is used within the lined MSWLF unit for access
when soils are wet.

Operations Inspection of the Small Type 1 Compost Unit (1803-COMPOST-):

36. This unit is permitted to receive only yard waste, silvicultural waste, untreated and unpainted wood waste.
37. One stockpile of finished compost and one stockpile of unground leaves was observed on site at the time of
inspection.
38. Good access was observed around stockpiles of unground leaves and finished compost at the time of inspection to
allow for access by firefighting equipment.
39. A small amount of standing water was observed due to recent rains.
40. No objectionable odors were observed.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 5 of 5

Inspection of the Closed MSWLF Unit (1803-MSWLF-1981):

41. The landfill consisting of Unit 1 stopped receiving waste in December 1997
42. The landfill was stabilized with native vegetation.
43. No significant settling was observed on the landfill cap.
44. No standing water was observed on the landfill cap.
45. Edge-of-waste markers were in place around the landfill.
46. Quarterly methane monitoring is included within the monitoring events for the active landfill (1803-MSWLF-
1997).
47. Semiannual groundwater monitoring is performed as part of the monitoring events for the active landfill (1803-
MSWLF-1997).

Supporting Comments:

48. Electronics are collected on a covered concrete pad near the scale house.
x Upon receipt, electronics are placed on wooden pallets and shrink wrapped in preparation for removal by
the facility’s electronics vendor.
x Electronics collection was well managed at the time of inspection.
49. Used paint is collected on the same covered, concrete pad as electronics.
x Individual cans of latex and oil-based paint are poured into designated 55-gallon drums and then collected
by a hazardous waste collector.
50. Leachate tanks were observed.
x Leachate was shown to be at 6.5-feet in both tanks.
x The secondary containment area surrounding the tanks was well managed.
51. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

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: 1/27/21 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: 2021.01.27 10:58:54 -05'00'