1906_INSP_20221220

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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cUNIT TYPE:
Lined MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Chatham
Closed MSWLF HHW White goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 19-06
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: December 20, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: December 9, 2021

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc. – Merry Oaks Large Type 4 SWC Facility 634 Christian Chapel Church Road New Hill, NC 27562

GPS COORDINATES: Lat.: 35.63591 Long.: -79.00802

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc. – Merry Oaks Facility Jack Jaynes, Site Manager w. 919-362-1161 c. 919-817-6655 f. 919-362-1141
[e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc. – Merry Oaks Large Type 4 SWC Facility
Jack Jaynes, Site Manager 634 Christian Chapel Church Road
New Hill, NC 27562

PARTICIPANTS: Chuck Kirchner, Environmental Senior Specialist – Solid Waste Section (SWS)
Misti Benchabbat, Compliance Manager - McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc. Jack Jaynes, Site Manager - McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc.

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Permit to Operate (PTO) issued December 9, 2020 PTO expiration date December 9, 2030 PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection
STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS: None OBSERVED VIOLATIONS: None
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
On December 20, 2022, Chuck Kirchner met with Misti Benchabbat and Jack Jaynes to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the McGill Environmental Systems of North Carolina, Inc. – Merry Oaks Large Type 4 SWC Facility
on Christian Chapel Church Road in New Hill, Chatham County.
1. The facility is a Large Type 4 Solid Waste Compost (SWC) Facility. It produces compost from industrial and municipal residuals and sludges, grease trap waste, and food and agribusiness wastes and from a variety of bulking agents: wood ash, yard waste, wood mulch, tobacco waste, sawdust, etc. (see Operations Plan pg 13) and additional materials as approved by the Solid Waste Section (SWS). 2. Material is received from counties within North Carolina and from Virginia. 3. The facility is in operation Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to noon. 4. The facility permit, site plan, and operations plan were discussed.
5. Compost is sold in bulk to landscape supply businesses, grading companies, and to the agribusiness community. 6. The facility building is ~ 112,500 ft2.
7. Composting is conducted within the facility building. Feedstocks are off-loaded into a pit at the south end of the building. High carbon bulking material, stored outside, is brought into the pit through a side door. The feedstocks and bulking materials are mixed. The mixed material is stockpiled within the pit area until
enough is available to fill an active compost bay. 8. The mixed material is placed in positive aeration bays to meet process to further reduce pathogens (PFRP). Each active compost bay is enclosed on three sides and has a reinforced polyethylene laminate tarp that
remains in- place across the open portion of the bay. 9. When the material has met PFRP it is screened by a dedicated screener located within the building and placed in bays to meet vector attraction reduction (VAR). 10. Material removed from the active compost bays, that is awaiting VAR and has not been screened, is stockpiled in one of two bays in the building. The area also contains the dedicated screener and an additional VAR bay. 11. Approximately 50 percent of the material that has met VAR is returned to the active compost process (as a cover layer) and to the mixing and bulking pit (to include overs from the screening process) to aid in attaining PFRP. 12. Material is considered cured after meeting VAR. Cured product is screened by a dedicated screener. The screener and feed-hopper are located within the building at the north end. The screened material deposits
outside of the building onto a concrete pad. 13. At certain times of the year material that has met VAR and has not been screened is stockpiled outside in operational areas until screened.
14. Screened compost is considered finished product. Finished product is stockpiled outside and commonly sold at a dedicated storage area. 15. The facility currently has 14 individual Stage I active compost bays (Primary where PFRP’s are obtained)
(Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19) and 5 Stage II curing bays (VAR’s are obtained from Stage II bays) (constituting what would be bay Nos. 18, 20, 21, 23, and 25) 16. Once mulch VAR’s are obtained from Stage II bays the mulch will be screened again. The large material removed by the screener is put back into the compost process and the fines are the finished product. 17. Each bay has a positive aeration fan. Fans observed this inspection appeared to be functioning properly.

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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18.An active compost bay is constructed with a layer of wood chip, seven feet of mixed material to becomposted, and one foot of material that has met VAR along the front of the pile, facing the open end ofthe bay.
19.A front-end loader combines materials in the mixing and bulking pit and transfers it to the active compost bays.When material has met PFRP, a second front end loader transfers it to be screened and places it in curing baysto meet VAR. When material has met VAR, a third front end loader transfers it to be screened and manages the
compost on site.
20.Each front-end loader is dedicated to a prescribed operation and that if secondary use is required the front-end loader’s bucket will be decontaminated.21.The mixing and bulking pit and the active compost bays exhaust fans route to a biofilter [unit] locatedoutside, adjacent to the building.22.The three biofilters consist of a layer of wood chip, perforated pipe, a layer of compost, and a second layerof wood chip.23.Biofilters 1, 2 and 3 were replaced in December of 2021 by Reno Eddins Contracting, Inc.24.Active compost bay groups Nos.: 1, 3 and 5, Nos.: 7 and 9, Nos.: 11 and 13, and Nos.: 15, 17, and 19 eachexhausts through a manifold to one of four biofilters and the mixing and bulking pit exhausts to a dedicatedbiofilter. The VAR bays do not exhaust to a biofilter.
25.There is a total of 19 fans serving the compost process: 14 positive aeration and 5 negative aeration (mixingand bulking pit, PFRP, and VAR).
26.The facility has three positive aeration fans serving the material that has met PFRP screening process (priorto VAR) and the adjacent open area. The open area constitutes what would be the even numbered bays.
27.Bulking material, consisting of leaves, LCD, pallets and clean wood, is stored outside behind the building.Clean wood and yard waste is ground ~ every 8 weeks. A portable grinder is brought on site from Simmonsand Simmons to grind the material. Mr. Jaynes stated that there is approximately 2,500 tons of bulking
material on site.
28.All engineered wood shall be removed from the clean wood pile and properly disposed of prior towood waste being ground.
Two views of wood waste pile. Photos taken by Chuck Kirchner during the 12/20/22 inspection.
29.Stockpiling of high carbon ratio feedstocks and finished product shall be limited to 50’ in width x 30’ in height.
30.Sludge is off-loaded directly into the mixing and bulking pit.31.Ms. Benchabbat stated that rejected loads are turned around at the scale house and not received on site.32.The facility 120,000-gallon sludge aboveground storage tank (AST) has been decommissioned andemptied of any liquids. The tank is still waiting to be disassembled and any remaining sediment/sludgeremaining at the bottom of the tank will be re-incorporated into the compost mix.33.The facility maintains throughput records. The amount and type of material received from September 1,2022 through November 30, 2022 is 24,190 tons of feedstocks and bulking materials. The amount of
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
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compost sold during that period is 14,761 yd3. 34.The amount of finished compost on site is approximately 4,000 yd3 according to Mr. Jaynes.35.The facility annual report (FAR) was received by the SWS dated July 14, 2022. Facility material receivedfor July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 is 106,341.25 tons of which 2,410.46 tons were from out of state.The amount of compost produced and sold to the public is 33,162.39 tons. The amount given away is331.00 tons.
36.The facility produces Grade A compost. An information pamphlet is provided for customers in the officeand on- line material is available at the facility website: www.mcgillcompost.com. The customer productmanifest has a caution note for proper use.37.Compost bay temperature records for PFRP and VAR were observed. Electronic copies of this data areacceptable for review purposes. Data was available for each compost load in each bay for both Stage I and
Stage II of the composting process and PFRP and VAR data was available for all compost loads observedduring this inspection.38.Temperature probe calibration records were observed. Last thermometer calibration performed on December
6, 2021. Thermometers are due again for inspection and Mr. Jaynes stated he was planning on calibrating allthermometers before the end of the year.39.The facility has a misting odor control system that will be activated if there is significant odor and if
other control methods have been unsuccessful.40.The facility maintains an odor management log. No additional complaints have been received sinceOctober 7, 2017.
41.During the inspection, there was no odor detected at the facility boundary.
42.Ms. Benchabbat stated that McGill maintains dedicated loaders for mixing to prevent cross contamination
of the compost product.
43.The facility had total metals, pathogens, total nitrogen, and manmade inerts analysis conducted by A&L
Great Lakes Laboratories, Inc. in Fort Wayne, IN. An analysis is required once every six months or every20,000 tons of product, whichever comes first. McGill sends off samples once per month to test thequality of their product. Records were observed for October 5, 2021 through November 1, 2022. No
exceedances were noted.44.The facility has a 20,000-gallon water tank available for yard maintenance and fire prevention.45.On June 12, 2022, at 5:00pm lightning struck the compost building and started a fire. Repairs are currentlyunderway and are expected to be complete by the end of January 2023 according to Mr. Jaynes.
View of fire damage to the compost building. Pictures taken by Chuck Kirchner during the 12/20/22 inspection.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
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View of new aeration piping and wall sections to be installed on the compost building. Photos taken by Chuck Kirchner during the 12/20/22 inspection.
46.Ms. Benchabbat stated a new water well had been dug in the last year to provide water for this water tank. Thewell was observed during this inspection.47.Twice a day the facility applies ACF 32 odor treatment directly to the mixing and bulking pit using thewater tank trailer.48.The facility has a stormwater discharge National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)General Permit NCG240000, Certificate of Coverage NCG240005, effective: 11/01/19. NPDES permitshall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.49.Effective November 1, 2019 15A NCAC 13B .1406(19)(a) states in part that this facility “shall have anoperator, supervisor or manager trained in accordance with the requirements in G.S. 130A-309.25.”Training requirements must be achieved and maintained by the US Composting Council CertificationCommission or equivalent and this training shall be required every five years. The following attendants
met the requirement of this regulation.50.The following employees have attended the Compost Research and Education Foundation Course:• David Annas, 40-HR Compost Operations Training Course, Date September 12-16, 2022
•Jack Jayness, 40-HR Compost Operations Training Course, Date September 12-16, 202251.15A NCAC 13B .1406 (19) (b) & (c) states “Owners or operators shall provide annual training for facility staff,including a review of the operations plan and permit documents. Documentation of training required in Sub-
items (a) and (b) of this Item shall be maintained at the facility and made available to the Division uponrequest.” Training records observed for 2022. Several trainings included a portion dedicated to permit andoperations plan. A training which includes review of the permit and operations plan shall be performed annually
to meet the requirements of this law.52.The facility has three stormwater retention ponds.
53.The facility is required to prevent the accumulation of stormwater on storage areas, processing areas, andaccess roads. No accumulation of stormwater was observed this inspection.54.There was no indication of erosion or runoff.
55.This permit requires three conditions from Chatham County. 1.) Lights must be shielded on top and sides toprevent spillage onto adjacent properties and into the night sky. 2.) Noise levels at the property line must notexceed acceptable levels as required in the Chatham County Noise Ordinance. 3.) A minimum 100-foot-wideundisturbed vegetative buffer shall be maintained along the state right-of-way except for driveway entrances.All Chatham County conditions included in this permit were observed in compliance during this inspection.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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56. Leachate from the compost process shall remain in the building. 57. The Moncure Fire Department can be contacted to address an emergency at the facility. 58. Fire extinguishers were last inspected by United Fire and Safety Equipment in June of 2022.
59. Fires must be reported to the regional environmental senior specialist with 24 hours of the occurrence, followed by a written report of the details of the fire within 15 days of the occurrence. 60. Access roads are of all-weather construction. 61. The facility is secured by a locked gate. 62. The facility has proper signage. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report. ________________________________________ Phone: [phone] _
Chuck Kirchner Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative
Sent on: December 21, 2022 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]
Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section