5701_ROSCANS_1998

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
NCDENR
t
.:
September 8, 1998
JAMEB B. HUNTJR.
;.,GOVERNOR -
"'
Mr. Larry Lackey
.
�r
Macon County Solid Waste Director
5 West Main Street
WAYNE MCDEVITT
Franklin, N.C. 28734
SECRETARY
=h
Re: Landfill Gas Assessment Proposal for the County's Closed Franklin and
Highlands Sanitary Landfills (Permits # 57-01 and 57-02).
WILLIAM L. MEYER
-- DIRECTOR _
Dear Mr. Lackey,
This correspondence is to acknowledge that the Section has received the
McGill Associates August 24, 1998 letter written on behalf of Macon County.
Please proceed with the proposed landfill gas assessment at the closed Highlands
and Franklin Co. landfills. The initial results will be reviewed and a decision
can then be made about future steps to insure that gas coming from the landfill
does not pose a threat to public health or environment.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please call
me at 919-733-0692, extension 261.
Sincerely,
Mark Poindexter, Hydrogeologist
Groundwater Compliance Unit
ri y Solid Waste Section
m3'
c: Philip Prete
' - Julian Foscue
vs Jim Patterson
F
Y�r ` central file
C:\WPD0CS\C0UNTIES\MAC0N\57-01&#5.AST
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401 OBERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605
PHONE [phone] FAX [phone]
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER

McGill
A S S O C I A T E S
August 24, 1998
Mr. Mark Poindexter
North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Solid Waste Section
401 Oberlin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
RE: Landfill Gas Assessment Proposal
Old Highlands and
Old Franklin Landfill
Macon County, North Carolina
Dear Mr. Poindexter,
McGill Associates, on behalf of Macon County, is submitting this proposal for
conducting landfill gas assessments for the Old Highlands Landfill and the Old Franklin
Landfill. This letter is in response to your letter dated March 13, 1998 that requested a
proposal for the landfill gas assessments.
We intend to conduct gas surveys at each of the landfill sites before September
30, 1998. The surveys will consist of placing a series of holes around the perimeters of
the landfill properties and measuring the methane levels present at each of the holes. The
holes will be placed approximately 25 to 50 feet inside the property boundary in order to
determine if landfill gas could be migrating from the property. The holes will be spaced
approximately 250 feet apart and at essential monitoring points such as property corners.
The groundwater monitoring wells will also be tested to determine if landfill gas is
currently present within any of the wells.
The monitoring holes will be placed by driving a 0.5" to 1.0" diameter metal
probe approximately 3 feet into the ground and placing the methane detection device into
the hole. The methane levels will be recorded and the hole immediately backfilled. If
methane gas is found to be present at any of the original monitoring holes, additional
holes will be placed between the original monitoring hole and the property line to
determine if landfill gas is reaching the property line.
We will also conduct a field survey of the landfill caps to locate areas where
landfill gas may be venting. Venting areas will be located by smell and by locating areas
of stressed vegetation. Monitoring holes will be placed in areas of the landfill cap that
appear to be venting landfill gas in order to determine the concentration of the gas that is
E n g i n e e r i n g • P l a n n i n g • F i n a n c e
McGill Associates, P.A. • P.O. Box 2259, Asheville, NC 28802 • 55 Broad Street, Asheville, NC 28801
704-252-0575 • FAX [phone]

venting from the landfill. Holes placed in the landfill cap will be immediately backfilled
with a mixture of soil and bentonite clay.
The gas surveys will allow us to determine if landfill gas is migrating from the
landfill property or contributing to the contamination of the groundwater monitoring
wells. The surveys will also allow us to locate potential locations for permanent
monitoring points and/or gas vents.
Mr. Poindexter, McGill Associates would like to complete this work as soon as
possible. We hope this satisfies your request and would appreciate your review and
comments at your earliest convenience. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any
questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
McGILL ASSOCIATES, P.A.
MARK CATHEY, E.I.T.
cc: Sam Greenwood
Larry Lackey
Bill Collins
Jim Patterson
orsillo\93141.00\mp24ag8

3 NCDENR
JAMES B. HUNTJR.
GOVERNOR
WAYNE MCDEVITT
SECRETARY
WILLIAM L. MEYER -
DIRECTOR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
May 28, 1998
Mr. Charles Button
Macon County Solid Waste Director
5 West Main Street
Franklin, N.C. 28734
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
Re: Phase II Activities for the Closed Franklin and Highlands County
Sanitary Landfills (Permits # 57-01 and 57-02).
Dear Mr. Button,
On behalf of Macon County (County), Ms. Leslie Crawford of Pisgah
Environmental, in her May 13, 1998 letter, requested delaying Phase II
activities at the closed Franklin and Highlands County sanitary landfills until
the spring 1998 sampling event results could be evaluated. The Solid Waste
Section (Section) is granting approval for this delay with the following
stipulations:
1) After the evaluation, if the County wishes to modify the approved
Phase II proposals, the County shall submit modifications and an
implementation schedule within thirty days of receipt of the spring
sampling data from the lab. The Section will review the proposed
modifications for approval.
2) If modifications to the original Phase II proposals are not needed,
implementation of the approved plan shall begin within thirty days of
receipt of the spring sampling data from the lab.
If you have any questions or comments, please call me at [phone]
(ext 261).
Sincerely
Mar Poindexter, Hydrogeologist
Groundwater Compliance Unit, Solid Waste Section
c: Mr. Bill Collins - Landfill Superintendent
Phil Prete
Julian Foscue
Jim Patterson
central file
C:\WPDOCS\COUNTIES\MACON\57-01 &#4.AST
401 OBERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605
PHONE [phone] FAX [phone]
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - SO% RECYCLED/10q POST -CONSUMER PAPER

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
March 13, 1998
Mr. Charles Button
Macon County Solid Waste Director
5 West Main Street
Franklin, N.C. 28734
Re: Water Quality Assessment Plan Phase II Proposals for the Closed
Franklin and Highlands County Sanitary Landfills (Permits # 57-01 and
57-02).
Dear Mr. Button,
This letter is in response to the water quality assessment plans, dated
October 15, 1997, submitted on behalf of Macon County (County) by Pin -Point
Environmental. The submitted plans address the Phase I assessment activities
that have been performed at both the closed Franklin and Highlands landfills
sites and proposals for the Phase II activities. The following comments and
questions were generated during the review of the plans and the February 5,
1998, site visits. Most of the comments and questions that were generated from
the plan reviews will reference a page number and section in the plans.
Unlined Closed Macon Co. MSWLF - Town of Franklin Site
1) (page 3, Landfill Cap section) The County received a closure letter,
dated July 24, 1996, from the Solid Waste Section (Section) which stated
the site had met closure conditions. No exposed waste or areas without
vegetation were observed during the February 5, 1998, site visit.
However, future cap improvements, repair and maintenance shall be
performed as needed to minimize precipitation infiltration.
2) (page 3, Landfill Cap section) Please submit a proposal on a landfill gas
assessment within 90 days.
3) (Table 2) Monitoring wells MW-6B and MW-7B were not constructed
according to the standards set forth in the N. C.A. C., Title I5A,
Subchapter 2C, Section. 0108, E, Well Construction Standards and the
North Carolina Water Quality Monitoring Guidance Document For
Solid Waste Facilities. These requirements were also cited in the
Section's December 5, 1995 letter to Pin -Point Environmental. Because
the pH data (table 4) from these two monitoring wells suggests grout
contamination has resulted from the present construction, please retrofit
401 OBERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605
PHONE [phone] FAX [phone]
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER

these wells with screens and filter packs during the next phase of well installations. All
future monitoring wells shall be constructed according to the above references.
4) (page 12, Additional Monitoring Wells section) Very little is known about the
lineaments, found on figures 2 and 3, and how they affect groundwater flow at the site.
In an effort to acquire data to develop an understanding of these features the County's
consultant, Pin -Point Environmental (Pin -Point), agreed during the site visit that an effort
will be made during the installation of the proposed additional monitoring wells to
intercept the mapped lineaments/geologic structures on the site. All available geologic
data, such as dip angles of the mapped lineaments/geologic structures will be utilized so
that the well locations and depths are chosen to intercept these possible flowpaths. It was
also noted during the site visit that figure 2 indicates an east -west lineament located on
the northern side of the site. This lineament is not found on figure 3. Pin -Point staff
confirmed the accuracy of figure 3 during the site visit.
Table 6 indicates two proposed wells nested with existing MW-5. Figure 3 indicates one
proposed well nested with existing MW-5. It was confirmed -during the site visit that
only one well would be nested with MW-5 at this time.
The proposed monitoring wells, considering the above clarifications, are approved for
installation. Please install these wells within 90 days.
5) (page 12, Additional Monitoring Wells section) Monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-2
should not be replaced at this time, primarily because contaminant levels (both those
which have specific weights less and more than water) observed in the site monitoring
data indicate dissolved phase concentrations, which can occur throughout the aquifer.
The Section believes these two wells can still serve as viable monitoring points at this
time.
6) During the site visit Pin -Point staff believed the location designated as "TBA" on figure
3 to be a surveying benchmark.
7) The Section noted that the private well number designation has changed between
sampling episodes. This was discussed with Pin -Point staff during the site visit. Pin -
Point staff stated that a permanent numbering scheme had now been developed to
eliminate confusion in private well locations and data results in the future.
Unlined Closed Macon Co. MSWLF - Town of Highlands Site
1) Due to the recent heavy rains small rills had developed on the slope of the fill in a
localized area along the landfill road on the northwest side of the landfill. The landfill
has been closed properly so routine maintenance of the site will prevent further erosion in
this area.

2) (Page 2, Fracture Trace Study section) Per a telephone conversation with Pin -Point
staff on February 24, 1998, the prominent lineation trend directions stated in the narrative
are not correct. However, the lineations are drawn correctly on figure 1. The
approximate lineament directions are N65E and N25W.
3) (page 4, Geotechnical Investigation section) Please submit a proposal on a landfill gas
assessment within 90 days.
4) (Page 6, Leachate Production section) Bedrock exposures were observed at the site.
The most significant exposure is just northwest of the landfill where borrow excavation
has taken place. As described in the report bedrock exposures may be areas where
infiltration of precipitation could increase recharge to the waste unit, thus increasing the
amount of leachate generation. The recommendations in the report would likely reduce
the amount of leachate generation and groundwater contamination in the future.
5) (page 8, Recommendations section) The Phase I study determined that the contaminant
plume(s) has (have) migrated outside the County owned landfill property. At this time
the affected area offsite is owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Pin -Point staff stated during
the site visit that U.S. Forest Service had been informed of the offsite groundwater
contamination problem.
6) During the site visit each proposed well location was evaluated. Decisions on the
proposed locations were made and the following conditional approval of well
installations are given based on the technical justifications below. Please install the
additional wells within 90 days.
• The installation of wells at the two proposed locations south of Rich Gap Road is
suspended at this time until evaluation of future data can be performed. The consensus is
that it may be more beneficial to first improve the contours and decrease the permeability
of the existing cap and then reevaluate the need to install these wells south of Rich Gap
Road at a later date.
• Approval is granted to install the proposed well which will be located on the southeastern
side of the landfill near the landfill entrance road. As proposed, this well will be screened
across the upper portion of the aquifer to monitor a presently unmonitored portion of the
landfill at the head of a drainage feature shown on figure 1.
• The eastern side of the landfill is presently unmonitored. Much was learned about the
waste boundaries of this area as a result of the geophysical survey. To improve the
current understanding of contaminant movement and groundwater flow in this area, a
well designed to monitor the upper portion of the aquifer was proposed and is approved.
• The October 1997 report suggests that MW-4, which is located on the north side of the
site, monitors the groundwater beneath the saprolitic zone (page 9, Proposed Monitoring
Wells and Rationale section). In a subsequent conversation with Pin -Point staff, on

March 3, 1998, it was determined that MW-4 is a shallow well which monitors the
saprolitic zone. The purpose of the proposed nested well was changed at that time to
monitor the first producing zone in the bedrock because 1) the data from the other
bedrock rock wells at the site indicate that shallow fractures are serving as pathways for
the contaminants, and 2) this zone is unmonitored in that area.
All monitoring wells will be constructed according to the standards set forth in the
N. C.A. C., Title 1 SA, Subchapter 2C, Section. 0108, E, Well Construction Standards and
the North Carolina Water Quality Monitoring Guidance Document For Solid Waste
Facilities. Section policy requires completing wells in bedrock with screens.
7) Table 3 corrections; The N.C. Groundwater standard (2L) for vinyl chloride is 0.015 parts
per billion. The 2L standard for cis 1,2 DCE or trans 1,2 DCE is 70 ppb. There is not a
2L standard for total 1,2 DCE.
8) Please propose a surface water sampling program for the site and submit it to the Section
for approval within 90 days. The program shall include the springs and streams in close
proximity to the waste area. The sampling locations shall be permanently marked in the
field to insure samples are retrieved from the same locations each sampling event.
Lined Open Macon Co. MSWLF
1) The Section learned that monitoring well MW-4 and PZ-13 have been abandoned.
Please submit abandonment records within 30 days. Please be aware that prior approval
from the Section is required for well and piezometer abandonment. Please inform the
Section of which approved groundwater monitoring point now serves as background.
If you have any questions or comments, please call me at [phone] (ext 261).
Sincerely
M Poindexter, Hydro g ologist
Groundwater Compliance Unit, Solid Waste Section
c: Mr. Bill Collins - Landfill Superintendent
Phil Prete
Julian Foscue
Jim Patterson
central file
C:\W PDOCS\COUNTIES\MACON\57-01 &#3.AST

NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Solid haste Kanagement
Solid haste Section
SOLID WASTE RAKAGEIENT FACILITY DEVALUATION REPORT
Type of Fac i I i ty 't ; tYY r 9 2'7 z Si .t Permi t �> O county
Name of FaciIity �'j G !��i' ` Location
Date of Last Evaluation
I. Permit Conditions Followed Yes No N/A
A. Specific Condition(s) Violated
II. Operational Requirements Followed Yes No
15A N.C. Actin. Code 138 Section v
A_ Specific Violations) by number and letter.
III. Other Violations of Rule or Law
IV. Evaluator's Comments
V. Continuation Page Required? Yes No Receiving Signature
Evaluation Date f F }. Solid Waste Section~
DEHNR 3793 (Part I White: Facility Part II Canary: Central Office Part III Pink: Regional Office)
Solid Waste Section (Review 7/94)
i

NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
SOLID WASTE MAMAGE ENT FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT
Type of Facility Permit # County.
Name Of F8C1lity rri i `"''.� f R �� 1 r' k. ��-i1"i r I t. (. Locatil
Date of Last Evaluati
I. Permit conditions Followed Yes No N/A
A. specific Condition(s) Vio
II. Operational Requirements Followed Yes
15A N.C. Actin. Code 138 Section `)��t,
A. Specific Violations) by number and letter.
III. other Violations of Rule or
No
IV. Evaluator's Comments 1 i ; } ,~ `y C90i''3 T
V. Continuation Page Required? Yes No Receiving Signature
Evaluation Date Solid Waste Section
DERMR 3793 (Part I White: Facility Part II Canary: Central Office Part III Pink: Regional Office)
Solid Waste Section (Review 7/94)