1803_INSP_20230927

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: Catawba
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods X Incin T&P X FIRM PERMIT NO.: 18-03
CDLF X Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: September 27, 2023 Date of Last Inspection: April 5, 2023

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility
4017 Rocky Ford Road
Newton, North Carolina 28658

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.60662 Long.: -81.30966

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Rodney Hamby, Landfill Superintendent
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 389
Newton, North Carolina 28658

PARTICIPANTS:
Rodney Hamby, Landfill Superintendent – Catawba County
Daniel Isenhour, Landfill Operations Supervisor – Catawba County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit to Construct 1803-MSWLF-1997, Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility – Unit 3, Phase 2, a Permit to
Operate 1803-MSWLF-1997, 1803-CDLF-, 1803-TP-, and 1803-COMPOST-, and a Permit for Closure for 1803-
MSWLF-1981 and 18H-LCID-1989 was issued to Catawba County on June 12, 2018. An Approval to Operate Unit 3,
Phase 2 was issued on January 22, 2021.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

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 2 of 4

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Unit, Construction and Demolition Landfill Unit,
Treatment and Processing Unit, Small Type 1 Compost Unit, Scrap Tire Collection Area, White Goods Collection
Area, and a convenience area for the collection of used paint, electronics, used batteries and cell phones.
2. The facility is permitted to receive solid waste generated within Catawba County only.
3. Gate are provided at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Records Review:

4. Groundwater sampling was being conducted semiannually as required. Results for the 1st semiannual sampling
event for 2022 (performed March 22-24, 2022), 2nd semiannual sampling event for 2022 (performed September 26-
27, 2022, November 2-3, 2022, & December 5-6, 2022), and 1st semiannual sampling event for 2023 (performed
March 29-30, 2023) were verified.
5. Leachate sampling was being conducted semiannually as required. Sampling was performed concurrently with
groundwater sampling.
6. Methane monitoring was being performed quarterly as required. Records for monitoring events performed on
9/12/22, 12/14/22, 3/9/23, 6/26/23, and 9/11/23 were verified. No exceedances above applicable standards were
documented.
7. Waste screening reports were verified for January 2023 – August 2023. Separate screenings were performed at the
MSWLF Unit and the CDLF Unit. Screenings were performed with good frequency and provided good
documentation as to the make-up of each waste load. Please ensure efforts are made to fully document
unacceptable waste streams along with final disposition of those wastes.
8. Temperature logs for the compost operation were submitted during the Facility Annual Reporting Period. Records
submitted with the annual report documented that proper temperatures were obtained.
9. Weekly leachate tank inspection reports were observed for January 2023 to present. All pump stations are also
monitored for operation and control levels. No concerns were observed with the reports.
10. The leachate system was last cleaned via water jetting July 26 – 27, 2023 by Carlson Environmental Consultants,
PC.
11. A random sampling of Scrap Tire Certification Forms was observed. The majority of reports reviewed provided
all required information. However, multiple reports for Walmart #4224 were missing all required signatures.
Please ensure signatures and number of tires received are provided at all required locations on the forms.
12. MOLO Certifications:
x Reid Burleson (expires 3/17/24)
x Rodney Hamby (expires 8/25/25)
x Daniel Isenhour (expires 5/26/24)
x Tyler Lutz (expires 6/23/25)
13. Landfill Operations Specialist Certifications:
x Travis Goforth (expires 9/8/26)
x Dale Hoyle (expires 11/16/26)
x John Jacques (expires 10/6/26)
x Wyatt Malphrus (expires 9/15/25)
x Matthew Price (expires 3/8/25)
x David Weaver (expires 6/25/24)
x Brian Kevin Whisnant (expires 8/9/26)
x Levi Wright (expires 3/8/25)

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit (1803-MSWLF-1997):

14. Waste was being placed in the eastern portion of Unit 3, Phase 2 at the time of inspection.
15. The working face was of manageable size.
16. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 4

17. A portion of the active working area was covered with plastic film (Enviro Cover) at the time of inspection. The
film was well applied.
18. Majority of inactive areas throughout the landfill were covered with soil. A small amount of waste was observed
on top of the soil cover immediately beyond the toe of the working face. Placement of additional soil cover in this
area was discussed with Mr. Isenhour and Mr. Hamby.
19. Windblown waste was well controlled. Mobile wind screens were in use at the time of inspection.
20. Edge-of-liner-markers were in place around the footprint of the landfill.

Operations Inspection of the CDLF Unit (1803-CDLF-):

21. Operation of the CDLF Unit had ceased effective May 1, 2023. Catawba County has submitted a closure plan
modification to the Solid Waste Section which is currently under review.
22. The landfill was covered with soil at the time of inspection. A small area of erosion was observed on the north
side of the landfill resulting in some waste being exposed. Mr. Hamby stated additional soil would be placed over
the area before the end of the working day.
23. Edge-of-waste markers were in place around the perimeter of the landfill.

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:

24. White goods are collected on a concrete pad south of the MSWLF Unit 2.
25. Majority of white goods on site were placed in an upright condition to maintain the integrity of the device until
CFCs were removed.
26. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Tire Collection Area:

27. Tires are stored uncovered on a combination of concrete and grave pad on the north side of the Treatment and
Process Unit.
28. All tires were maintained to the designated area at the time of inspection.
29. This area was well managed.

Operations Inspection of the Treatment and Processing/Wood Grinding Area (1803-TP-):

30. A permit renewal application has been submitted to the Solid Waste Section and is currently under review.
31. The facility is permitted to receive land clearing waste and wooden pallets constructed of unpainted and untreated
natural wood.
32. Unground wood waste and pallets are placed in separate stockpiles.
33. Four windrows of ground mulch were on site at the time of inspection.
34. Good distance was provided around stockpiles of ground and unground material to allow for access by firefighting
equipment.
35. No standing water was observed.
36. Dust was well controlled.

Operations Inspection of the Small Type 1 Compost Unit (1803-COMPOST-):

37. A permit renewal application has been submitted to the Solid Waste Section and is currently under review.
38. This unit is permitted to receive only yard waste, silvicultural waste, untreated and unpainted wood waste.
39. Two small windrows of finished compost and one stockpile of unground leaves and grass was observed on site.
40. Good distance was provided around stockpiles of unground material and finished compost at the time of inspection
to allow for access by firefighting equipment.
41. No standing water was observed.
42. Dust was well controlled.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 4

Supporting Comments:

43. Electronics are collected on a covered concrete pad near the scalehouse.
x Upon receipt, electronics are placed on wooden pallets and shrink wrapped in preparation for removal by
the facility’s electronics vendor.
x Electronics collection was well managed at the time of inspection.
44. Used paint is collected on the same covered, concrete pad as electronics.
x Individual cans of latex and oil-based paint are poured into designated 55-gallon drums and then collected by
the facility’s hazardous waste vendor.
x All activities were maintained to the designated area.
45. Leachate tanks were observed.
x Leachate was shown to be 4.8-feet in both tanks.
x The secondary containment area surrounding the tanks was well managed.
46. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.

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: 10/10/23 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: 2023.10.10 11:19:29 -04'00'