9704_INSP_20230823

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 X Incin T&P X FIRM PERMIT NO.: 9703-MSWLF-1993
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: August 23, 2023 Date of Last Inspection: March 9, 2023

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] (m)
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:
A Permit Approval to Operate MSW Landfill Phase 1 – 5 was issued to Wilkes County on October 6, 2022.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
Resolved – 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(8)(d) states: “Leachate shall be contained within a
lined disposal cell or leachate collection and storage system. All leachate shall be treated, as required by the receiving
facility, prior to discharge. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit may be required prior
to the discharge of leachate to surface waters, as provided by 40 CFR 258.26 and 258.27.”

During an inspection on February 16, 2023, multiple leachate outbreaks were observed on the western, inactive slope of
Phase 5 adjacent to the access road. Leachate was observed flowing from two of the outbreaks beyond the edge-of-waste
markers and into the roadside ditch on the west side of the landfill. Ms. Byrd confirmed the liner system did not extend
under the roadside ditch. Leachate was then observed entering a concrete culvert which leads to the storm water system
that conveys storm water into a sediment basin. Wilkes County was found in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(8)(d) for
failure to contain leachate within the lined disposal cell or leachate collection system or treat the leachate prior to
discharge.

Inspection of the facility on March 9, 2023 found that all previous leachate outbreaks had been repaired. On March 3,
2023, Labella Associates submitted a Leachate Release Sampling Plan via e-mail to the Solid Waste Section for review.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 4

The sampling plan was approved on March 6, 2023. On April 6, 2023, Ms. Christine Ritter, Compliance
Hydrogeologist, notified Wilkes County via e-mail that the Solid Waste Section would not require additional assessment
activities regarding the February leachate release. Therefore, this violation is considered resolved.

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

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, 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 Permit to Operate and Operations Plan were current and available for review upon request.
6. Tonnage records for August 15, 2022 – August 22, 2023. The facility received approximately 279-tons of waste
each operating day during this time. Wilkes County is currently working with the facility’s engineering consultant
to evaluate elevated waste tonnages.
7. Groundwater monitoring was being performed semiannually as required. Reports for the 1st semiannual sampling
event for 2022 (performed April 20 – 21, 2022 and July 18 – 19, 2023) and the 2nd semiannual sampling event for
2022 (performed October 24 – 25, 2022) were verified.
8. Leachate sampling was performed semiannually as required. Sampling was performed in conjunction with
groundwater monitoring.
9. Methane monitoring was being performed quarterly as required. Records for sampling events performed on
7/13/22, 10/25/22, 1/24/23, 5/3/23, and 7/13/23 were verified. No exceedances above applicable standards were
found.
10. Waste screening reports were verified for August 2022 to present. Screenings were performed with good
frequency. Reports provided a detailed description of the waste type within each load of waste that was screened.
Reports also documented any unacceptable waste streams observed and final disposition of those wastes.
11. A random sampling of Scrap Tire Certification Forms was observed. 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 John Gregory (expires 9/26/24)
x Jesse Nooney (expires 9/26/24)
x Linda Southern (expires 8/24/24)
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 3 of 4

x Michael Williams (expires 9/26/24)

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit:

14. Waste was being placed in the southeast portion of Phase 5 at the time of inspection.
15. The working face was small and compact.
16. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
17. Inactive portions of the landfill were covered with soil at the time of inspection.
18. No slope erosion was observed.
19. Edge-of-liner markers were in place at the time of inspection.
20. Windblown was well controlled.
21. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.
22. The landfill was well operated.

Operations Inspection of the Treatment and Processing Area:

23. Land clearing waste and wooden pallets were being placed into separate stockpiles separated by earthen berms.
24. 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.
25. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
26. No standing water was observed.
27. Adequate access was provided around stockpiles of material to allow for access by firefighting equipment.

Operations Inspection of White Goods Collection Area:

28. All white goods containing CFCs are off loaded at the metal area. Appliances are relocated to a concrete pad
behind the maintenance shop where CFCs are removed.
29. All white goods observed at the staging area were standing upright at the time of inspection.
30. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Tire Collection Area:

31. Tires were being collected into three covered trailers southwest of the public convenience area.
32. All tires were maintained to the designated trailers at the time of inspection.
33. This area was well managed.

Supporting Comments:

34. The leachate pond was observed during the inspection.
x The pond had greater that 2-feet of freeboard.
x No concerns were observed with the visible portions of the liner.
35. Electronics were being collected on a concrete pad with metal roof. All electronics were placed on pallets and
shrink wrapped or placed in metal gaylord boxes.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 4

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: 8/29/23 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=Division of Waste
Management, ou=Solid Waste Section,
email=[e-mail], c=US
Date: 2023.08.29 09:51:43 -04'00'