77001YWN_INSP_20220330

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3
UNIT TYPE:
Lined MSWLF LCID YW X Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: RICHMOND
Closed MSWLF HHW White goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: YWN-77-001
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: March 30, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: February 22, 2022
FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS: Richmond County Yard Waste Notification 191 Walter Kelly Dr, Rockingham, NC 28379 GPS COORDINATES: Lat: 35.014656 ° Long: -79.806254 °
FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Jerry Austin, Jr., Solid Waste/Recycling Director 910-997-8338, [e-mail] Bryan K Leggett, Assistant Public Works Director 910-997-8338, [e-mail]
FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS: Richmond County YWN P.O. Box 368 Rockingham, North Carolina 28379

PARTICIPANTS: Bryan Leggett, Richmond Co. David Powell, NCDEQ - SWS STATUS OF PERMIT: YWN Renewal submitted 5/11/2021
RENEWAL required by June 1st of each Year.
PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT: Comprehensive Inspection – Fire at Yard Waste Notification on 3/26/2022
STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS: NA OBSERVED VIOLATIONS: NA

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 2 of 3
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
1. The purpose of this inspection was to visit the yard waste area after a fire was reported on 3/26/2022. Transfer
Station Permit (7703T) has a yard waste section in its permit while that area is mostly addressed through this yard waste notification. Mr. Powell, with the Section, was notified by Mr. Leggett and the notification form submitted. Yard waste area is still smoldering and smoking, although contained, and had local fire departments and forestry respond to manage it. The clean pallet waste and the mulched pallet waste was not burned. According to Mr. Leggett, winds added to the intensity and made it spread to other piles easily through sparks. Yard Waste area will be addressed in the YWN inspection report for YWN-77-001.
2. Mr. Leggett has updated Mr. Powell on the current state of the smoldering waste piles daily via email. On 4/8/2022, Mr. Powell discussed state of fire via phone and plans for waste removal etc. with Mr. Leggett. Mr. Leggett described a still very hot and smoldering waste pile. Based on that conversation, there is limited space
in the notification, with smoldering waste and clean unburned waste. To stop the fire, it would have to be pulled apart and spread out. Mr. Leggett stated that the Forestry/Fire Department advised to leave it alone and let it burn out. That area that is burning is still hot despite initial firefighting efforts and recent rainfall. It will take time for this waste to become cool and safe enough to work, when conditions allow, and remove to appropriate disposal sites. Mr. Powell will follow up when he visits again for C and D waste removal near office. If the conditions change or worsen please notify Mr. Powell/Section within 24 hours. The County may need to stop accepting pallet and yard waste until this problem can be resolved and normal operation can begin again. Operations should not be conducted outside the approved 2-acre area. Be looking for acceptable avenues for yard waste/ash disposal, in which those were discussed onsite during inspection. Be sure and document where the waste goes and that it is an approved site for that waste type. The older waste in the buffers and underneath the smoldering piles still needs addressing as well. Use this time to address all issues and fix the site back well so there will be less issues in the future, such as building an appropriate pad for operating.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 3
3. In previous inspection it was mentioned, “It is suggested to keep smaller windrows for easier management,
firefighting equipment access and less risk of ignition when it is composting. Check with your engineer/consulting firm on how to manage. Access roads should be of all-weather construction and should be fixed around perimeter for this are once down to soil and it is repaired.” According to Mr. Leggett, access
made recently around YW area allowed for good access for fire fighting vehicles during the emergency response. In future, better placement and sizing of the windrow should be emphasized to minimalize one
windrow from catching the others on fire. It is unknown if that would have helped in this fire but be sure and remember lessons learned during this event to try and prevent it from reoccurring in the future. Transfer Station Permit Attachment 3, Part (7), 21 - The permittee must store or stockpile the received waste or processed/ground material (such as mulch) in the following manner: a. Each windrow has the maximum height of 30 feet and the width of 50 feet at any time. b. Each windrow shall be maintained at least 25-foot clear distance or perimeter from drainage ditches and swales, around the processing area, and other stockpiles of raw wastes and ground material to allow for inspection, monitoring temperature, or firefighting. c. Each windrow shall be maintained at least 50-foot clear distance from property boundaries. 4. Don’t forget to submit renewal by first of June each year. Last was 2021 so don’t forget this year.
5. Consult your engineering firm/consultant for ideas and check with the Sections Permit Engineer, Ming Chao, for approval before altering any process/plans.
6. Corrective measures are necessary as result of this inspection. Failure to meet the conditions for compliance may result in Compliance Actions. A follow up inspection will be conducted in approximately 60 days from receipt of this inspection or shortly afterwards. Given the nature of the situation and the corrective actions, it may take longer time, but 60 days should be a sufficient time frame for inspecting on
progress and clean up started, if not finished. However, Mr. Powell will be following up about the 30 day mark as well for the C and D waste behind the office and will look at yard waste area during that time too. Any changes to yard waste area, please contact Mr. Powell/Section within 24 hours. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report. ________________________________________ Phone: [phone] _ David Powell Environmental Senior Specialist Regional Representative
Sent on: 4/8/2022 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Drew Hammonds, Eastern District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section Chris Hollinger, Compliance Officer, - Solid Waste Section Ming Chao, Environmental Engineer – Solid Waste Section