0501_INSP_20230929

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID X YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Ashe
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 05-01
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: September 29, 2023 Date of Last Inspection: August 2, 2023

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Ashe County Solid Waste Facility
739 Fred Pugh Road
Crumpler, North Carolina 28617

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.52238 Long.: -81.36960

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Scott Hurley, Director – Department of Environmental Services
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 1327
West Jefferson, North Carolina 28694

PARTICIPANTS:
Michael Miller, Landfill Supervisor – Ashe County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval to Operate “0501-MSWLF-1993 MSW Landfill Phases 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6” and “0501-LCID-2020 Land
Clearing and Inert Debris Landfill” was issued to Ashe County on February 23, 2022.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
Resolved Violation - 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 previous inspection on June 27, 2023, insufficient cover was observed in the active portion of the landfill
leaving waste exposed. The inspection was performed upon initial opening of the facility, prior to any waste being
received. Posi-Shell had been applied to the previous day’s working face but was too thin in many areas leaving waste
exposed. Soil had been placed over the inactive area just east of the working face, but some waste was left exposed.
Waste had not been covered with a minimum of six inches of earthen material at the end of the previous operating day in
violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(2)(b).

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 3

Inspection of the facility on August 2, 2023 found exposed waste within the active portion of the MSWLF unit. The
inspection was performed upon initial opening of the facility, prior to any waste being received. Facility staff stated all
waste had been covered at the conclusion of the previous operating day and showed a photograph on a mobile phone
dated August 1, 2023 at 4:39pm. The photo appeared to show soil covering the active portion of the landfill with no
exposed waste. Staff stated the facility had been having an issue with waste being picked out of the soil after facility
closure due to birds or dogs.

Inspection of the facility on September 29, 2023 found the previous day’s working face had been covered with soil.
Therefore, this violation is considered resolved. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF), Land Clearing and Inert Debris Landfill
(LCID), scrap tire collection area, and a white goods collection area.
2. This was a partial inspection to evaluate the facility’s efforts to comply with violations documented in the Notice
of Deficiency issued to Ashe County on July 7, 2023. Please refer to “Status of Past Noted Violations” for
comments.
3. The facility has a service area of Ashe County only.
4. Multiple gates were provided at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit (0501-MSWLF-1993):

5. The working face was very small and compact. Inspection was performed upon the initial opening of the facility.
However, three waste trucks were off-loading upon arrival at the working face.
6. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
7. Inactive portions of the landfill were covered with soil at the time of inspection.
8. Windblown waste was well controlled.
9. Edge-of-liners markers were in place around the perimeter of the landfill.

Operations Inspection of the LCID Unit (0501-LCID-2020)

10. The working face was less than one acre in size. Majority of waste, including side slopes, was covered with soil.
11. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
12. This disposal unit was well managed.

Supporting Comments:

13. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

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 3

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: 10/6/23 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: 2023.10.06 11:20:06 -04'00'