The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About5601_ROSCANS_2000NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES A14 ENVIRONMENT AND DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT Nk JAMES B. HUNT JR. GOVERNOR February 4, 2000 Mr. Mike Gladden 13ILL HOLMAN McDowell County Public Works Director SECRETARY 10 East Court Street Marion, NC 28752 WILLIAM L. MEYER SUBJECT: Review of Site Suitability Application DIRECTOR Proposed McDowell Co. C & D Landfill Dear Mr. Gladden, A site visit was made at the aforementioned site on June 30, 1999. In attendance, in addition to myself, was George Jensen of Jensen Engineering, Mike Gladden of McDowell County, and Al Hetzell and Tim Jewett of the Solid Waste Section. A review of the application was then made according to Rules 15A NCAC 13B .0503(l) and .0504(l) in order to determine if the site proposed is suitable for disposal of construction and demolition waste. Construction and Demolition landfills are not required to demonstrate that the groundwater standards will not be exceeded in the uppermost aquifer at the compliance boundary during the design phase of the permit application [Rule .0503(2)], as are other types of landfills. The siting criteria are, therefore, of the utmost importance. The site review included the following determinations: I . whether the hydrogeological characterization is sufficient and appropriate to ensure that the groundwater can be adequately monitored in order to detect contamination before it leaves the landfill property, and 2. that the natural hydrogeological characteristics must provide adequate protection for the groundwater. It is apparent from my review that this site will, in all probability, never be found suitable for a construction and demolition landfill. The understanding of the hydrogeology, necessary to adequately design a monitoring system, is incomplete. The interpretation in the application relies on too little site information. For example, a potentiometric surface was not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ........ established for the site. The proposed landfill location, upon a topographicall 1646 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1 646 401 OBERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605 PHONE 91 9 -733-4996 FAX 919-715-3605 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER high area suggests that the groundwater flow could be radial (in all directions) from under the landfill. Groundwater flow could be towards Jacktown Creek (west), Youngs Fork (south), or Bledsoe Branch (Northeast) if it is discharging locally. It could possibly also be discharging further away, as is sometimes the case when groundwater flow is within fractured rock, as it is on this site. Monitoring would be reliant on monitoring wells in the fracture system where the water movement (and therefore possible contamination) would be most likely. A thorough understanding of the fractured bedrock lithologies and structures in order to design such a monitoring system would require an investigation which would generally not be economically feasible for a C & D landfill. The hydrogeological characterization, although it was not e,xtensive enough to predict groundwater movement does indicate a scenario that would require a thorough subsurface investigation in order to design and install an extensive monitoring system. In addition to the monitoring considerations, it appears that there would be a lack of any and/or adequate separation of the bottom of the proposed waste from rock. Outcropping of weathered and hard rock is apparent throughout the site. This is especially of concern along the southwestern ridge (see cross sections I and 2). This causes extra concern because soil serves to naturally attenuate contaminants within the landfill discharge. The lack of this soil separation would allow discharge from the proposed landfill to enter directly into the fractured rock system and from there into the groundwater. The absence of the soil separation could greatly undermine the integrity of the groundwater. Engineering devices are often used to ensure a separation of waste from rock. The employment of engineering devices for this purpose tends also to create the need for further investigation. Engineered subgrade designs and hydrogeological investigations tend to be expensive and time-consuming processes. Please note that additional hydrogeological investigations or engineering devices will not ensure that the site will be found suitable for waste management activities. There is not enough detailed information provided to establish site suitability. The amount of field data needed to approve (or deny) site suitability may be prohibitive to a site of this size. Additional investigations will not ensure that this site will be found suitable for a construction and demolition landfill. Please call me for more information or to answer your questions. I can be reached at (919) 733-0692 ext. 345. Sincerely, Ellen Lorscheider, Hydrogeologist CC: Tim Jewett, SWS Al Hetzell SWS George Jensen, Jensen Engineering Phil Kimbrell, Kimbrell & Associates, Inc. j NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES March 7, 2000 DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT Mr. Mike Gladden Fac/Perm/Co ID # Date 7Doc ID# McDowell County Public Works 6) 107 166 DIN 10 East Court Street Marion, N.C. 28752 Re: Post -Closure Monitoring Requirements, McDowell County Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (.Permit #56-01). Dear Mr. Gladden, This letter is in response to your letter dated December 21, 1999, requesting a review and a determination on the continuation of post -closure monitoring at the McDowell County landfill. Upon reviewing the available ground water sample data the Solid Waste Section has determined that continued monitoring is necessary. This determination was made based upon the consistent presence of volatile organic compounds in monitoring well MW-2. Until such time that a water quality assessment has been conducted, a full extent of the plume has been determined and an evaluation of the contaminant impacts have been determined, semi-annual monitoring, at a minimum, will be required. If there are any further questions regarding the post -closure monitoring requirements, please contact me at 919-733-0692, extension 261. Sincerely, Mark Poindexter Environmental Compliance Solid Waste section C: Philip Prete Brent Rockett Al Hetzell central file C:\Documents\COLJNI'IES\MCDOWELL\56-01 mon.%vpd F196-r �91 JA - 1646 MAIL SERVJ(;E CENTER, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1646 401 013ERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605 PHONE 9 1 9-733-4996 FAX 919-71 5-3605 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY I AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/iO% POST-CONSUMCR PAPER NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES Division of Solid waste Kanagement Solid Waste Section SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT Type of Facility Permit County Name of Facility. Location Date of Last Evaluation I- Permit Conditions Followed Yes No N/A A- Specific Condition(s) Violated II. Operational Requirements Followed Yes 15A N-C. Admin. Code 13B Section A. Specific VioLation(s) by number and Letter. III. other Violations of Rule or Law IV. Evaluator's Comments No V. Continuation Page RequirecP Yes No Receiving Signature Evaluation Date Solid Waste Section DEHUR 3793 (Part I White: Facility Part II Canary. Central Office Part III Pink: Regional Office) Solid Waste Section (Review 7/916)