8606_INSP_20240430

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 6
UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID X YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Surry
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods X Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 86-06
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection X Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE
Date of Site Inspection: April 30, 2024 Date of Last Inspection: October 27, 2023
FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Surry County Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
237 Landfill Road
Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030
GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.43185 Long.: -80.57530
FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Jessica Montgomery, Public Works Director/County Engineer
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]
FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 342
Dobson, North Carolina 27107
PARTICIPANTS:
Varney Helvey, Landfill Manager Surry County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ Solid Waste Section
STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval to Operate 8606-MSWLF-1998 MSW Landfill Phases 1, 2, 3 & 4 and 8606-LCID-2020 Land Clearing
and Inert Debris Landfill and Permit for Closure for 8602-MSWLF-1983 (Mt. Airy), 8602-CDLF- (Mt. Airy), and 8602-
CDLF-2011 (Mt. Airy) was issued to Surry County on December 16, 2020.
PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection
STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A
OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
A. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(1)(a) states in part:
wastes that it is permitted to receive
During the inspection, two whole scrap tires were observed partially buried in soil cover within Phase 4 southeast of
the active working face. Surry County is not permitted to dispose of whole scrap tires within the landfill. Therefore,
Surry County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(1)(a).
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 6
4/30/24: View of whole scrap tires partially covered
by soil. (photo by C. Gerstell)
To achieve compliance, all whole scrap tires must be removed from the landfill and properly managed at the
A follow-up inspection will be performed at a later date to confirm compliance.
B. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(2)(b) states: -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

During the inspection, exposed waste was observed over a large portion of the inactive portion of Phase 4 east of the
active working face. Mr. Helvey explained waste was last placed on the eastern portion of Phase 4 one to two months
prior to the inspection. Surry County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(2)(b) for failure to cover all waste with
six inches of earthen material at the end of each operating day.
4/30/24: View of exposed waste east of active work- 4/30/24: Closure view of exposed waste east of active
ing face looking southeast (photo by C. Gerstell) working face looking southeast (photo by C. Gerstell)
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 6
4/30/24: View of exposed waste adjacent to Phase 1 looking 4/30/24: View of exposed waste along toe of fill lift
south. (photo by C. Gerstell) east of active working face looking north/northeast.
(photo by C. Gerstell)
To achieve compliance, all exposed waste must be covered with six inches of earthen material or approved
alternative cover material at the conclusion of each operating day. A follow-up inspection will be performed at
a later date to confirm compliance.
C. 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

During the inspection, two areas of severe erosion resulting in exposure of waste were observed on the eastern portion
of Phase 4 near the transition point between the active portion of the landfill and the inactive portion with a rain liner.
Therefore, Surry County is in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(7) for failure to prevent on-site erosion as required.
4/30/24: Photo of severe erosion with exposed waste 4/30/24: Additional area of erosion with exposed
east of active working face. (photo by C. Gerstell) waste looking east. (photo by C. Gerstell)
To achieve compliance, within 10 days of receipt of the Notice of Violation, all areas of erosion within Phase 4
must be repaired.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 4 of 6
D. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(11) states:
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

During the inspection, windblown waste was observed along the northern, eastern, and western perimeters of Phase 4
of the landfill. The volume of waste observed along with the early time of the inspection indicated windblown waste
had not been collected at the conclusion of the previous operating day. Therefore, Surry County is in violation of 15A
NCAC 13B .1626(11).
4/30/24: View of windblown waste along north side 4/30/24: View of windblown waste along west facing
of Phase 4. (photo by C. Gerstell) slope of Phase 1. (photo by C. Gerstell)
4/30/24: View of windblown waste adjacent to access
road along the western perimeter of Phase 4. (photo by
C. Gerstell)
To achieve compliance, all windblown waste must be resulting from the operation of the facility must be
collected and disposed of at the conclusion of the operating day. A follow-up inspection will be conducted at a
later date to confirm compliance.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 5 of 6
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
1. The facility consists of a lined municipal solid waste landfill unit, white goods area, tire collection area, a land
clearing and inert debris landfill unit, and a recycling area for the collection of paper, cardboard, glass and plastic
containers, aluminum, steel cans, batteries, cooking oil and electronics.
2. The facility is permitted to receive waste generated within a 90-mile radius of Surry County.
3. The facility had proper signage.
4. This was a partial inspection to observe the operations of the facility.
Operations of the MSWLF (8606-MSWLF-1998):
5. Waste was being placed in the northwest portion of Phase 4 at the time of inspection.
6. The working face was small and compact.
7. Upon initial inspection, two whole scrap tires were observed at the toe of the working face. Mr. Helvey immediately
contacted the facility staff who removed the tires. No other unacceptable waste streams were observed.
8. Edge of waste markers were in place around the perimeter of the landfill.
9. During the previous inspection, an area of severe erosion was observed under the rain guard within Phase 4. This
area was observed in the southeast portion of Phase 4 above the sump area. Facility staff explained a blockage had
been discovered in the leachate system within Phase 4. This condition resulted in leachate eroding the protective
soil cover within Phase 4. The previous inspection report requested the County to continue efforts to determine the
extent of the damage to the leachate system and make all necessary repairs. The previous report also required the
repair of the protective soil cover to original design and submittal of a Construction Quality Assurance Report to the
Solid Waste Section for review.
Inspection of the facility on April 30, 2024 found repair work to the leachate system and the protective soil
cover ongoing. Ms. Montgomery explained (Smith-
Gardner) were still evaluating the extent of repairs needed. She also explained that after discussions with
representatives of Smith-Gardner additional perforations were added to the leachate pipe which had been
excavated and lead to the sump at the southeast corner of Phase 4.
As noted in the previous inspection report, upon conclusion of repairs to the leachate system, please
ensure the protective soil layer is repaired to original design and submit a Construction Quality
Assurance Report to the Solid Waste Section for review. The report must be submitted electronically
to:

Jordan Russ, Engineering Project Manager
Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section
[e-mail]
[phone]

Operations Inspection of the White Goods Area:
10. All white goods were being collected on a concrete pad adjacent to the scrap metal staging area.
11. All appliances containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were maintained in an upright condition.
12. The concrete pad had recently been swept to collect small pieces of broken plastic and glass.
13. This area was well managed.
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 6 of 6
Operations Inspection of the Tire Collection Area:
14. Tires are placed in a 40-yard roll-off container which is covered by a tarp. Once full, facility staff transport the tires
to the tire vendor.
15. The container had been removed for delivery to the tire vendor at the time of inspection.
16. This area was well managed.
Operations Inspection of the LCID Unit (8606-LCID-2020):
17. The working face was less than one acre in size at the time of inspection.
18. The majority of waste was covered with soil.
19. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
20. This area was well managed.
Supporting Comments:
21. The leachate pond was observed during the inspection.
The pond had greater than 2-feet of freeboard.
Mr. Hawks stated that facility staff were recently made aware of multiple separations of the pond liner in the
location of the seams. Mr. Hawks explained in an e-mail received on April 30, 2024 that the cause of the
separations was believed to be due to heating and contracting of the liner during hot days and cold nights.
Mr. Hawks further explained the County was currently discussing repair options with their engineers. Mr.
Hawks and Mr. Billy Southard stated during the inspection that leachate levels within the pond were being
maintained at a level below the torn liner portion to prevent any loss of leachate.
Please continue efforts to evaluate the damage to the pond liner and make all necessary repairs.
22. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.
23. Electronics were being collected into carboard boxes or placed on pallets and shrink wrapped adjacent to the baler
for recyclable materials. Once packaged, electronics were loaded into a covered trailer for shipment to the electronics
vendor. The collection and packaging of electronics was well managed.
24. A convenience area for the general public is provided adjacent to the recycling area for the disposal of municipal
solid waste. This area consists of multiple 40-yard roll-off containers in which waste is disposed. This area was
well managed at the time of inspection.

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: 5/7/24 Email Hand delivery US Mail (with
NOV) X Certified No. [ _]
Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section