1808TTRANSFER_INSP_20240606

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer X Compost SLAS COUNTY: Catawba
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 1808T-TRANSFER-
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE
Date of Site Inspection: June 6, 2024 Date of Last Inspection: May 23, 2023
FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
City of Hickory Transfer Station
1050 1st Avenue Southwest
Hickory, North Carolina 28601
GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 35.73126 Long.: -81.35588
FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Andrew Ballentine, Solid Waste Director
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]
FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 398
Hickory, North Carolina 28603
PARTICIPANTS:
Andrew Ballentine, Solid Waste Manager City of Hickory
Justin Gross, Transfer Station Attendant City of Hickory
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ Solid Waste Section
STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval to Operate 1808T-TRANSFER-, City of Hickory Transfer Station was issued to the City of Hickory
on November 4, 2021. The permit approval is for the life of site, as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A-
294(a2).
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 3
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
1. The facility consists of a Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Facility having a service area of the City of Hickory
only.
2. All waste received at the facility is transferred to the Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility (Permit #18-03) for
final disposal.
3. The Permit to Operate and Operations Plan were verified. Both documents were current and available upon
request.
4. Waste screening reports were verified for July 2023 to present. Screenings were performed with adequate
frequency and provided good documentation of observed unacceptable waste streams and final disposition of those
wastes.
5. Transfer Station Operations Specialist Certifications:
Leopold Bodden (expires 9/15/25)
Randall Cline (expires 4/3/27)
Justin Gross (expires 4/3/27)
Michael Pisani (expires 9/15/25)
6. Gates were provided at the entrances to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.
7. All access roads surrounding the facility were paved and well maintained.
8. Waste is offloaded directly into waste hoppers by city vehicles. As waste is offloaded, transfer station attendants
view the waste being deposited into the hoppers through one of two windows in the operator room.
9. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
10. During the previous inspection, only one hopper was operational. Both hoppers were operational during this
inspection.
11. The tipping floor was well managed. The floor was free of waste and residues. Staff wash down the tipping floor
multiple times throughout the day.
12. Leachate drains within the tipping floor were free of residue buildup and appeared to be functioning properly.
13. No windblown waste was observed on site.
14. Multiple bait boxes were provided around the perimeter of the building for vector control.
15. Multiple fire extinguishers were provided around the perimeter of the tipping floor. All devices had a full charge.
16. Exterior drains within the paved and concrete areas on the south side of the facility deposit directly into the
sanitary sewer system.
No obstructions such as leaves were observed from the drains as noted on previous inspections.
All grates had been removed from the leachate drain closest to the stairs leading up the hill adjacent to the
transfer station. Mr. Gross explained that the grates would not stay in place and repairs were needed to
allow the grates to stay in place. Please continue efforts to remove any debris or obstructions within the
leachate drain until repairs can be completed.
17. Per the Operation Plan, after each truck has unloaded and finished its route for the day, the trucks move from the
tipping floor to the area where the compaction trailers are located to remove any debris from their clean-outs. This
process is to be completed in an area that drains to the sanitary sewer system where it can be properly processed.
Any debris left on the ground is to be cleaned up immediately and placed in the dumpster and or rollout containers
provided in the designated area. The dumpster and rollout containers are to be emptied and deposited into the transfer
station at the end of the working day.
Upon initial inspection of this area, waste was observed on top of a leachate drain as a result of truck clean-
out activities. The waste was removed prior to the end of the inspection. Please ensure any waste generated
from clean-out activities is immediately cleaned up and placed in the dumpster as detailed in the approved
Operation Plan. Mr. Gross stated he would speak to drivers to ensure proper procedures are followed.
18. During the inspection, a loaded transfer trailer having tag #: 55831-W was observed leaking onto the asphalt and
curbing which leads to the leachate inlets. This condition was discussed with facility staff. Mr. Ballentine stated
he would have the trailer pulled for service.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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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: 6/13/24 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]
Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section