9704_INSP_20220816

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID YW Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Wilkes
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods X Incin T&P X FIRM PERMIT NO.: 9704-MSWLF-1993
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: August 16, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: September 15, 2021

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Roaring River Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
9219 Elkin Highway
Roaring River, North Carolina 28669

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.21092 Long.: -80.98776

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Anderia Byrd, Solid Waste Director
Telephone: [phone] (o) or [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 389
Roaring River, North Carolina 28669

PARTICIPANTS:
Anderia Byrd, Solid Waste Director – Wilkes County
Jason Wolfe, Landfill Supervisor – Wilkes County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section
Lee Hill, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
An Approval to Operate Phase 5 was issued by letter on January 7, 2021. The facility is also approved for continued
operation of MSW Landfill Phases 1 – 4.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:

A. 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 over a portion of the landfill just adjacent to the active working
face. The area of uncovered waste measured approximately 300-feet x 84-feet. Facility staff stated waste was last
placed in this area during the previous working day. Exposed waste was also observed at the southeast corner of
Phase 5 adjacent to the fill slope of Phase 3. Exposed waste was also observed along the transition between Phase 5
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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and Phase 3. Wilkes County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(2)(b) for failure to cover exposed waste with
six inches of earthen material at the end of each operating day.

8/16/22: View of exposed waste adjacent to working 8/16/22: Closer view of exposed waste adjacent to
face looking west. (photo by C. Gerstell) working face with no cover. (photo by C. Gerstell)

To achieve compliance, all exposed waste within the landfill must be covered with a minimum of 6-inches of
earthen material or approved alternative material at the end of the operating day. A compliance inspection
will be performed at a future date to confirm compliance.

B. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(7) states: “Erosion and sedimentation control requirements.
Erosion control measures consisting of vegetative cover, materials, structures, or other devices shall be utilized to
prevent silt from leaving the site and to prevent on-site erosion, and shall comply with 15A NCAC 04, which is
incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions.”

During the inspection, severe erosion of the protective cover was observed on the east slope of Phase 5. As a result
of the erosion, a portion of the geonet composite drainage layer was exposed. Wilkes County is in violation of 15A
NCAC 13B .1626(7) for failure to prevent erosion as required.

8/16/22: View of erosion of clay liner of east 8/16/22: View of erosion of clay liner with exposed
slope looking east. (photo by C. Gerstell) geonet composite drainage layer. (photo by C. Gerstell)

To achieve compliance, within 60-days of receipt of the Notice of Deficiency, all erosion of the protective cover
must be repaired to original design, and a Construction Quality Assurance Report must be submitted to the
Solid Waste Section for Review. This report must be submitted electronically to:

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 6

Allen Gaither, Permitting Engineer
Division of Waste Management – Solid Waste Section
[e-mail]
[phone]

C. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(11) states: “Windblown waste requirements. Methods such
as fencing and diking shall be provided within the area to confine solid waste that is subject to be blown by the wind.
At the conclusion of each operating day, all windblown material resulting from the operation shall be collected and
disposed of by the owner or operator.”

During the inspection, windblown waste was observed within the dense vegetation at the toe of the slope of Phase 3
at the transition point with Phase 5. The waste appeared to have been deposited for quite some time and had not
been picked up at the conclusion of the previous working day. Therefore, Wilkes County is in violation of 15A
NCAC 13B .1626(11).

8/16/22: View of windblown waste within dense 8/16/22: Additional view of windblown waste within
vegetation along toe of Phase 3 slope. (photo by C. dense vegetation at toe of slope of Phase 3. (photo
Gerstell) by C. Gerstell)

To achieve compliance, by the end of the working day, all windblown waste must be collected and properly
disposed at the working face. A compliance inspection will be performed at a future date to confirm
compliance.

D. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(8)(b) states: “Surface water shall not be impounded over or
in waste.”

During the inspection an area of standing water was observed adjacent to the access road where you enter into Phase
5. Facility staff stated water in this area had been ponded for approximately two weeks. Waste was observed above
the soil cover and within the standing water. As a result, Wilkes County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B
.1626(8)(b).

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 6

8/16/22: View of standing water looking southeast. 8/18/22: Photo provided by A. Byrd showing area
standing water had been repaired.

On August 18, 2022, the Solid Waste Section received photos from Ms. Anderia Byrd showing the area of standing
water had been repaired. Therefore, this violation is considered resolved.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility has a service area of Wilkes County only.
2. The facility operates a convenience area for the collection of mixed paper, plastic and glass bottles, cardboard,
steel and aluminum cans, batteries, used oil filters, and antifreeze. Roll-off containers are also provided for
disposal of municipal solid waste to prevent the general public from having to enter the active landfill area.
3. The facility had proper signage.
4. A gate was located at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Records Review:

5. The Approval to Operate and Operations Plan were current and available upon request.
6. The Facility Annual Report for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 was previously submitted to the Solid Waste
Section. The report showed the facility received 67,295.84-tons of waste during that time.
7. Groundwater monitoring was being performed semiannually as required. Reports for the 1st semiannual sampling
event for 2021 (performed April 27-28, 2021) and the 2nd semiannual sampling event for 2021 (performed October
27-28, 2021 were verified.
8. Leachate sampling was being performed semiannually as required. Sampling was performed in conjunction with
water quality monitoring.
9. Methane monitoring was being performed quarterly as required. Records for sampling events performed on
10/20/20, 1/25/21, 4/27/21, 7/26/21, 10/18/21, 1/24/22, 4/20-21/22, and 7/13/22 were verified.
x Documentation for sampling performed on 7/26/21 noted GP-5 was not sampled due to a rusted lock. All
monitoring points must be sampled as required during sampling events. Issues that may prevent
sampling such as a rusted lock should be communicated to facility staff, and action taken to ensure
the device is sampled during the event. GP-5 was sampled on following events except for the event
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

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performed on 7/13/22. Documentation for this sampling event noted GP-5 was not sampled as it was
damaged. However, the device had been repaired and will be sampled during the next event.
x Review of records found GP-9 has not been sampled since the 1/25/21 sampling event. Approval must be
obtained by the Solid Waste Section in order to remove a gas probe from the monitoring network. GP-9
must be sampled per the approved Landfill Gas Monitoring Plan for the facility.
x On 8/22/22, the Solid Waste Section received a request via e-mail to remove GP-9 from the landfill gas
monitoring network and replace it with GP-9R.
10. Waste screening reports were verified for January 4, 2022 – August 12, 2022. Screenings appeared to be
performed with adequate frequency. Reports provided a detailed description of waste types within each load of
waste that was screened.
11. A random sampling of Scrap Tire Certification Forms was verified. The forms were properly completed and
provided all required information.
12. MOLO Certifications:
x Anderia Byrd (expires 9/8/24)
x Jason Wolfe (expires 10/1/23)
13. Certified Landfill Operations Specialist Certifications:
x Joe Brown (expires 3/4/24)
x Justin Caudill (expires 9/26/24)
x James Childress (expires 3/4/24)
x Larry Cooper (expires 9/26/24)
x Chris Eaton (3/4/24)
x John Gregory (expires 9/26/24)
x Jesse Nooney (expires 9/26/24)
x Linda Souther (expires 3/13/25)
x Melissa White (expires 3/20/24)
x Grant Wiles (expires 3/4/24)
x Michael Williams (expires 9/26/24)

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit:

14. Waste was being placed on the west side of Phase 5 at the time of inspection.
15. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
16. The use of fabric tarps as an alternative cover is approved for this facility. No tarps were placed over waste at the
time of inspection.
17. During the inspection, tall vegetation was observed growing the west slope of Phase 3 adjacent to a slope drain
near the transition to Phase 5. Please ensure all dense, tall vegetation is mowed to allow a thorough inspection of
the landfill slope.
x On 8/18/22, Ms. Byrd submitted documentation via e-mail which showed a quote from a contractor to
mow the vegetation on the landfill.
18. An area of severe erosion was observed on the east slope of Phase 3 adjacent to the access road that leads to the top
of Phase 2. Leachate was observed flowing within the eroded area but absorbed into the soil prior to leaving the
lined area.
x Majority of this eroded area was repaired by facility staff prior to the end of the inspection. Please ensure
the remaining erosion is repaired to prevent a worsening condition.
19. Edge-of waste and edge-of-liner markers were in place at the time of inspection.
20. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

Operations Inspection of the Treatment and Processing Area:

21. Land clearing waste and wooden pallets were being placed into separate stockpiles separated by earthen berms.
22. Grinding of land clearing debris is bid out to a third party. Ground material is used within the facility and is not
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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distributed to the public.
23. No unacceptable waste steams were observed in this area.
24. No standing water was observed.
25. Adequate access was provided around the stockpiles of material to allow for access by firefighting equipment.
Please ensure the vegetation is kept mowed on the berm behind the stockpiles to ensure adequate access.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

26. All white goods containing CFCs are stored adjacent to the metal area prior to CFCs being removed. Appliances
are placed into the trailer designated for metals once CFCs have been removed by facility staff.
27. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Tire Collection Area:

28. Tires were being collected into covered trailers southwest of the public convenience area.
29. All tires were maintained to the designated trailers at the time of inspection.
30. During the inspection, an empty tire trailer was delivered to the facility that had a portion of the roof missing.
Facility staff immediately notified the individual who delivered the trailer that all trailers must have a roof to
prevent water from coming in contact with tires. Ms. Byrd notified the Solid Waste Section via e-mail on 8/18/22
that the facility’s tire vendor was notified that tires must remain covered at the facility.

Supporting Comments:

31. The leachate pond was observed during the inspection.
x The pond had approximately 3-feet of freeboard.
x Vegetation around the pond needed to be mowed to allow for access around the device. The mowing
estimate provided by Ms. Byrd via e-mail on 8/18/22 included mowing of vegetation around the leachate
pond.
32. Since the previous inspection, construction of a metal building with concrete pad had been completed. This
building is located adjacent to the tire collection area and is designated for the collection of electronics. All
electronics were maintained under roof at the time of inspection. Majority of devices had been placed on pallets
and shrink wrapped for shipment by the facility’s electronics vendor.
33. Construction of the new outgoing scale had been completed since the last inspection.

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: 8/23/22 Email Hand delivery X US Mail (with
NOD)
Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Jason Watkins, Field Operations Branch Head – Solid Waste Section
Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Chris Hollinger, Compliance Officer – 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: 2022.08.23 12:38:59 -04'00'