1803_INSP_20211102

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 4

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID YW X Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Catawba
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods 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: November 2, 2021 Date of Last Inspection: February 11, 2021

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. An Approval to Operate Unit 3,
Phase 2 was issued on January 22, 2021.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
Resolved Violation - 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 had not yet been submitted to the Solid Waste Section as of the date of the previous inspection. Therefore,
Catawba County was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1632(i) as sampling results were not submitted to the
Division within 120 from the date of sampling.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 4

To achieve compliance, Catawba County was required to submit all sampling results to the Division as required by 15A
13B .1632(i).

Information received by Mr. Hamby on February 15, 2021via e-mail showed that sampling results should be submitted to
the Division by February 22, 2021.

Since the previous inspection performed on February 11, 2021, semiannual sampling data for 2020 had been submitted
to the Solid Waste Section as required. Therefore, this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your
cooperation in this matter.

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(2)(b) states: “Except as provided in Sub-Item (c) of this Item,
the owners or operators of all MSWLF units shall cover disposed solid waste with six inches of earthen material at the
end of each operating day, or at more frequent intervals if necessary to prevent the escape of waste and the attraction of
vectors and scavenging, and to minimize fires and the generation of odors.”

During the inspection, exposed waste was observed protruding from soil cover on the eastern portion of Unit 3, Phase 2.
Mr. Hamby explained that waste had been placed in the subject area on October 28, 2021. As a result, Catawba County
is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(2)(b).

11/2/21: View of exposed waste looking north- 11/2/21: View of exposed waste looking south.
west. (photo by C. Gerstell) (photo by C. Gerstell)

The achieve compliance, within 10-days of issuance of this inspection report, Catawba County must cover all waste
with a minimum of 6-inches of earthen material.

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 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.
4. This was a partial inspection to observe the operations of the facility.

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

5. Waste was being placed in the western portion of Unit 3, Phase 2 at the time of inspection.
6. The working face was small and compact.
7. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
8. Multiple mobile wind screens were in being utilized at the time of inspection adjacent to the working face to
control windblown waste.
9. Windblown waste was well managed.
10. Edge-of-waste markers were in place and maintained.

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

11. Waste was being placed in northern portion of Unit 2, Phase 1 at the time of inspection.
12. The working face was less than one-half acre in size.
13. No unacceptable waste steams were observed.
14. All inactive portions of the landfill were provided with soil cover at the time of inspection.
15. Windblown waste was well controlled.
16. Edge-of-waste markers were in place and maintained.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

17. White goods are collected on a concrete pad south of the MWLF Unit 2.
18. All white goods were maintained in an upright condition.
19. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Scrap Tire Area:

20. Tires are stored uncovered on a combination of concrete and gravel pad on the north side of the Treatment and
Processing Unit.
21. All tires were maintained to the designated area at the time of inspection.

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

22. The facility is permitted to receive land clearing waste and wooden pallets constructed of unpainted and untreated
natural wood.
23. Unground land clearing debris and pallets are maintained in separate stockpiles.
24. Ground mulch was kept in separate windrows and spaced well for access by firefighting equipment.
25. No objectionable odors were observed.
26. No dust was observed.
27. 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.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 4

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

28. This facility is permitted to receive yard waste, silvicultural waste, untreated and unpainted wood waste.
29. One small stockpile of finished compost and one windrow of recently ground leaves and grass were on site at the
time of inspection.
30. Good access was observed around the stockpile and windrow to allow for access by firefighting equipment.
31. No dust was observed.
32. No objectionable odors were observed.

Supporting Comments:

33. Leachate tanks were observed.
x Leachate was shown to be at 3.6-feet in both tanks.
x The secondary containment area surrounding the tanks was well managed.
34. 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: 11/5/21 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: 2021.11.05 14:40:23 -04'00'