9704_INSP_20220909

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 4

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

Date of Site Inspection: September 9, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: August 16, 2022

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

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:
Partial Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:

RESOLVED - 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 an inspection on August 16, 2022, 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 and Phase 3. Wilkes County was found 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.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 4

To achieve compliance, Wilkes County was required to cover all exposed waste within the landfill with a
minimum of 6-inches of earthen material or approved alternative material at the end of the operating day.

Inspection of the facility on September 9, 2022 found all inactive areas covered with soil. Therefore, this
violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your cooperation in the matter.

UNRESOLVED - 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 inspection on August 16, 2022, 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
was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(7) for failure to prevent erosion as required.

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

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

Inspection of the facility on September 9, 2022 found the majority of erosion on the east slope had been repaired.
Facility staff were actively working on repair of the slope. All exposed portions of the geonet composite drainage
layer had been covered with soil. Ms. Byrd stated the Construction Quality Assurance Report would be submitted
upon conclusion of repairs. Therefore, compliance with this violation is considered in progress.

RESOLVED – 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 an inspection on August 16, 2022, 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
was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(11).

To achieve compliance, Wilkes County was required to collect and properly dispose all windblown waste at the
working face by the end of the working day.

Inspection of the facility on September 9, 2022 found all previously observed windblown waste had been removed.
Windblown waste was well controlled. Therefore, this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your
cooperation in this matter.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 4

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
No new violations observed.

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. This was a partial inspection to evaluate Wilkes County’s efforts to comply with the violations documented in the
Notice of Deficiency issued on August 23, 2022. Please refer to “Status of Past Noted Violations” for comments.
4. A gate was located at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit:

5. Waste was being placed in the southern portion of Phase 5 at the time of inspection.
6. The working face was small and compact.
7. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
8. 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.
9. During the previous inspection, tall vegetation was observed growing along the west slope of Phase 3 adjacent to a
slope drain near the transition to Phase 5.
x The September 9, 2022 inspection found all vegetation in the subject area had been mowed. Thank you for
your efforts to address this concern.
10. During the previous inspection, 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 previous inspection. The
previous inspection report requested the remaining erosion be repaired to prevent a worsening condition.
x The September 9, 2022 inspection found all remaining areas of erosion in the subject area had been
repaired. Thank you for your efforts to address this concern.
11. Edge-of waste and edge-of-liner markers were in place at the time of inspection.
12. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

Operations Inspection of the Treatment and Processing Area:

13. Land clearing waste and wooden pallets were being placed into separate stockpiles separated by earthen berms.
14. Grinding of land clearing debris is bid out to a third party. Ground material is used within the facility and is not
distributed to the public.
15. Since the previous inspection, vegetation on the berm behind the stockpiles of unground material had been mowed
to allow access by facility staff and firefighting equipment.

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 4 of 4

Supporting Comments:

16. The leachate pond was observed during the inspection.
x The pond had approximately 5-feet of freeboard. Leachate within the pond had been significantly drawn
down since the last inspection.
x Since the previous inspection, tall grass around the leachate pond had been mowed to allow for adequate
access around the device.

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: 9/12/22 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: 2022.09.12 14:26:43 -04'00'