1803_INSP_20220902

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 X 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: September 2, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: November 17, 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
Daniel Isenhour, Landfill Operations Supervisor – 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:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

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 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.

Records Review:

4. Groundwater sampling was being performed semiannually as required. Results for the 1st semiannual sampling
event for 2021 (performed 3/22-24/21) and the 2nd semiannual sampling event for 2021 (performed 9/22-23/21)
were verified via the Divisions’ document database. Results for the 1st semiannual sampling event for 2022 have
been submitted to the Solid Waste Section but have not yet been processed.
5. Leachate sampling was being performed semiannually as required. Sampling was performed concurrently with
groundwater sampling.
6. Methane monitoring was being performed quarterly as required. Records for monitoring events performed on
3/23/21, 6/9/21, 9/14/21, 12/13/21, 3/11/22, and 6/14/22 were verified. No exceedances above applicable
standards were observed.
7. Waste screening reports for January 2022 – July 2022 were verifed. Separate screenings are performed at the
MSWLF Unit and the CDLF Unit. Screenings were performed with good frequency and provided good
documentation as to the make-up of the waste loads.
8. Temperature logs for the compost operation were verified. It appeared that proper temperatures were being
obtained. However, multiple temperatures were recorded in excess of 160 ˚F. As noted on previous reports, please
ensure temperatures are maintained below 160 ˚F to prevent anaerobic conditions.
9. A fire inspection is performed annually for the Tire Collection area by Catawba County Emergency Services. The
last inspection was performed on 6/2/22.
10. Weekly leachate tank inspection reports were observed for January 2022 to present. All pump stations are also
monitored for operation and control levels.
11. The leachate system was last cleaned via water jetting July 13 – 14, 2022. The system was last inspected with a
camera in July 2020.
12. A random sampling of Scrap Tire Certification Forms was observed. All reports reviewed provided all required
information to include the number of tires received and signatures.
13. MOLO Certifications:
x Reid Burleson (expires 3/17/24)
x Rodney Hamby (expires 11/28/23)
x Daniel Isenhour (expires 5/26/24)
14. Landfill Operations Specialist Certifications:
x Ray Blackburn (expires 6/25/24)
x Reid Burleson (expires 9/16/22)
x Kyle Earls (expires 6/21/25)
x Travis Goforth (expires 9/8/23)
x John Jacques (expires 10/6/26)
x Tyler Lutz (expires 10/10/23)
x Mark Parker (expires 6/13/25)
x Todd Walker (expires 2/26/25)
x David Weaver (expires 6/25/24)

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 4

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

15. Waste was being placed in the northeast portion of Unit 3, Phase 2.
16. The working face was small and compact.
17. Windblown waste was well controlled at the time of inspection.
18. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
19. Inactive portions of the landfill were covered with soil at the time of inspection. A small amount of waste was
observed protruding from the soil near the southeast corner of the active cell. Facility staff immediately made
arrangements during the inspection to have the waste covered.
20. Edge-liner-markers were in place around the footprint of the landfill.

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

21. Waste was being placed in the southern portion of Unit 2, Phase 2.
22. The working face was less than one-half acre at the time of inspection.
23. No unacceptable waste streams were observed within the active working face at the time of inspection. However,
during the inspection, one load of waste was disposed at the working face that should have been taken to the
MSWLF Unit. Landfill staff immediately made contact with the driver of the vehicle and used heavy equipment to
remove the waste load to a staging point for removal to the MSWLF Unit. Thank you for your efforts to keep
unacceptable waste streams out of the landfill.
24. Windblown waste was well controlled.
25. All inactive areas were covered with soil.
26. Edge-of-waste markers were in place around the landfill.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

27. White goods are collected on a concrete pad south of the MSWLF Unit 2.
28. All white goods containing CFCs were stored in an upright condition to maintain the integrity of the device until
CFCs were removed.
29. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Scrap Tire Collection Area:

30. Tires are stored uncovered on a combination of concrete and gravel pad on the north side of the Treatment and
Processing Unit.
31. All tires were maintained to the designated area at the time of inspection.
32. This area was well managed.

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

33. Please note the Permit to Operate for this area will expire on June 12, 2023.
34. The facility is permitted to receive land clearing waste and wooden pallets constructed of unpainted and untreated
natural wood.
35. Unground wood waste and pallets area placed in separate stockpiles.
36. Four windrows of ground mulch were on site at the time of inspection.
37. Good distance was placed around stockpiles of ground and unground material to allow for access by firefighting
equipment.
38. No standing water was observed.
39. No offensive odors were observed.
40. Dust was well controlled.

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-):

41. Please note the Permit to Operate for this area will expire on June 12, 2023.
42. This unit is permitted to receive only yard waste, silvicultural waste, untreated and unpainted wood waste.
43. 2 ½ windrows of finished compost and one stockpile of unground leaves and grass was observed on site at the time
of inspection.
44. Good distance was observed around stockpiles of unground material and finished compost at the time of inspection
to allow for access by firefighting equipment.
45. No standing water was observed.
46. No offensive odors were observed.
47. Dust was well controlled.

Supporting Comments:

48. Electronics are collected on a covered concrete pad near the scale house.
x Upon receipt, electronics are placed on wooden pallets and shrink wrapped in preparation for removal by
the facility’s electronics vendor.
x Electronics collection was well managed at the time of inspection.
49. Used paint is collected on the same covered, concrete pad as electronics.
x Individual cans of latex and oil-based paint are poured into designated 55-gallon drums and then collected
by a hazardous waste collector.
50. Leachate tanks were observed.
x Leachate was shown to be at 4.8-feet in both tanks.
x The secondary containment area surrounding the tanks was well managed.
51. 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: 9/8/22 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: 2022.09.08 14:34:02 -04'00'