1403_INSP_20210219

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Caldwell
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 1403-MSWLF-1998
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: February 19, 2021 Date of Last Inspection: December 17, 2020

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Foothills Regional Landfill
2800 Cheraw Road
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 35.91531 Long.: -81.59568

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Owner: Caldwell County
Contact: Stan Kiser, County Manager
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

Operator: Republic Services of North Carolina, LLC d.b.a. Foothills Regional Landfill
Contact: Steven Hunter, Operations Manager, Foothills Regional Landfill
Telephone: [phone]
Email Address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Stan Kiser, Caldwell County Manager
Post Office Box 2200
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645

CT Corporation System, Registered Agent
Republic Services of North Carolina, LLC d.b.a. Foothills Regional Landfill
160 Mine Lake Court, Suite 200
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

PARTICIPANTS:
Steven Hunter, Operations Manager – Republic Services of NC, LLC
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval to Operate Landfill Phases 1 – 4 was issued to Caldwell County (Owner) and Republic Services of
North Carolina, LLC, (Operator) a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc, d.b.a. Foothills Regional
Landfill on December 7, 2018. An Approval to Construct Phase 5 was issued on February 11, 2021.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 3

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:

15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(11)(c) states: “Methods such as fencing and diking shall be
provided within the area to confine solid waste subject to be blown by the wind. 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.”

During an inspection on November 4, 2020, windblown waste was observed south of the active portion of the landfill on
each side of the access road and east of the active working face along the access road. The waste had not been collected at
the conclusion of the previous day of operation. Therefore, Caldwell County and Republic Services of North Carolina,
LLC d.b.a. Foothills Regional Landfill were found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(11).

Inspection of the facility on December 17, 2020 found severe windblown waste along the southern and eastern slopes of
the landfill. Mr. Hunter explained that the facility received strong winds in excess of 25 – 30 mph on December 14th and
15th. Facility staff were collecting windblown waste at the time of inspection.

Inspection of the facility on February 19, 2021 found windblown waste well controlled. A small amount of waste was
observed at the top of the eastern slope along the access road in thick vegetation. Mr. Hunter provided photos via email
on February 22, 2021, showing the windblown material previously observed along the access road at the top of the eastern
slope had been removed. Therefore, this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your cooperation in this
matter.

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
No new violations observed.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a lined MSWLF, Tire Management Area, White Goods Area, and Mulching and Grinding
Area.
2. The facility had proper signage.
3. A gate was located at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.
4. This was a partial inspection to evaluate the facility’s efforts to comply with the violations documented in the
Notice of Violations issued on November 10, 2020. Please see “Status of Past Noted Violations” for comments.
5. Soils were very wet at the time of inspection.
6. Posi-Shell was being utilized on the southern and western slopes of the active portion of the landfill. The material
was well applied.
7. The facility operates a second working face for use by the general public in order to separate this waste from
commercial loads and associated traffic. Waste in this area was covered with Posi-Shell which was well applied.
8. Mobile wind screens were in place to control windblown waste.
9. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

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

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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: 3/3/21 X Email Hand delivery US Mail

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: 2021.03.03 14:37:03 -05'00'