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Home My WebLink About0603_INSP_20240822FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 1 of 8 UNIT TYPE: MSWLF X COUNTY: AVERY MSWLF goods X X PERMIT NO.: 0603-CDLF-1996; 0603- TRANSFER- X X FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE Date of Site Inspection: 8/22/2024 Date of Last Inspection: 10/27/2023 (Transfer) 5/18/2022 (CDLF) FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS: Avery County Solid Waste Management Facility 2175 Brushy Creek Road Spruce Pine, NC 28777 GPS COORDINATES: Lat: 35.959661° Long: -81.972021° FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER: Eric Foster, Solid Waste Director – Avery County Telephone: 828-260-9205 Email Address: avery.sw@averycountync.gov FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS: Avery County Solid Waste Department P.O. Box 640 Newland, NC 28657 PARTICIPANTS: Eric Foster, Solid Waste Director – Avery County Robert Banner– Avery County Bobby Bailey– Avery County Lee Hill, NCDEQ- Solid Waste Section Summer Justice, NCDEQ- Solid Waste Section STATUS OF PERMIT: Permit Approval to Operate 0603-CDLF-1996 Avery County C&D Landfill Phase 3, Cells 1&2 and 0603 TRANSFER- Avery County Transfer Station and Permit for Closure 0603-CDLF-1996 Phase 1&2 issued July 3, 2023 PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT: Comprehensive Inspection STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS: A. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IN PROGRESS: 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .0203(d) states, “By receiving solid waste at a permitted facility, the permittee shall be considered by the Department to have accepted the conditions of the permit and shall comply with the condition of the permit.” Permit to Operate 0603-TRANSFER-, Attachment 1, Part 1, General Permit Condition Number 6 states, “Construction and operation of this solid waste management facility must be in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 15A NCAC 13B, Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS 130A-290, et seq.), the conditions contained in this permit; and the approved plan. Should the approved plan and the rules conflict, the Solid Waste Management Rules shall take FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 2 of 8 precedence unless specifically addressed by permit condition. Failure to comply may result in compliance action or permit revocation.” • The approved Operational Plan, FID 1802608, is included in the List of Documents for the Approved Plan. Section 2.2.3 “Recycling Recovery Areas” states in part: “Only the following wastes may be received at the facility recycling area or as separated in the landfill or transfer area(s):”, “Brick and block (undamaged and un-painted)”. • Section 3.6 “Other Storage Areas” of the approved Operational Plan states in part, “A undamaged and unpainted brick and block area is located adjacent to and southwest of the existing transfer station (Figure 2) for utilization for site access roads and the active face area of the landfill”. During the inspection, a plaster like material was observed in the Brick/Block Storage Area and tile with adhesives and tile backer board incorporated with fill was in use under T&P area 1. View of Brick/Block Storage Area with Plaster To correct the violation, unacceptable wastes observed in the Brick/Block Storage Area and in the fill under T&P area 1 must be properly disposed of. To remain in compliance, ensure that the site accepts for recycling only those wastes the facility is permitted to receive in the Brick/Block Storage Area. A follow up inspection will be conducted to confirm compliance with this Rule. OBSERVED VIOLATIONS: None. FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 3 of 8 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 1. All photographs were taken by Summer Justice during the inspection. 2. The site was secured with a gate, fencing, and natural barriers to prevent unauthorized access. 3. Durable, weather resistant signs that stated the name of the operator, operating hours, emergency contact, permit number, and that hazardous or liquid waste cannot be accepted were posted at the facility entrance. 4. Access roads at the facility were of all-weather construction and appeared to be well-maintained at the time of inspection. Records Review 5. Certified Transfer Station Operations Specialists: • Greg Taylor (expires December 9, 2024) • Robert Woody (expires November 17, 2024) 6. Certified Landfill Operations Specialists: • Robert Banner (expires November 1, 2025) 7. Certified Manager of Landfill Operations: • Eric Foster (expires June 7, 2025) 8. The current Permit to Operate and approved operational plan were available for review. 9. According to tonnage records from the 2023-2024 Facility Annual Report, the transfer station received 20,671 tons of waste for an average of 71 tons per operating day. The CDLF received 3 tons of waste in 2023. 10. Waste screening records were available for review for the period of 9/12/23-8/22/24. The required weekly screening tonnage appeared to be met, however, final disposition of unacceptable waste was not indicated. Ensure that screening forms indicate the final disposition of unacceptable waste that is removed. 11. Facility staff stated that the facility is not maintaining pressure washing records. According to 15A NCAC 13B .0405(11), Cleaning and maintenance records shall be maintained and made available to the Division upon written request. 12. Facility staff stated that annual training including review of the operations plan and permit occurs, but a log is not kept. As required by 15A NCAC 13B .0405(a)(7), documentation of 8-hour annual training including review of operations plan and permit shall be placed in the operating record. 13. According to facility records, the underground leachate storage tank was most recently pumped on August 2, 2024 by A-1 Appalachian Pumping, Inc. 14. Gas monitoring records were reviewed for the period of February 2022-August 2024. No exceedances were observed. 15. Semiannual groundwater monitoring reports are available for review in Laserfiche. The facility had not received the Spring 2024 groundwater monitoring report at the time of inspection. Operations Inspection of the Transfer Station 0603-TRANSFER- 16. Waste is deposited on the concrete tipping floor by residential and commercial customers. The facility utilizes a front-end loader with a flexible lip on the bucket to push waste and any liquids on the tipping floor into the loading bay. Waste is transported via Avery County transfer trailers to the Waste Management Eco Safe landfill in Blountville, TN. 17. The concrete wall improvements in the trailer loading bay (Approval: FID1890698) have been completed. No issues with the concrete wall improvements were observed. 18. Since the previous inspection, large portions of the damaged sheet metal of the transfer station building have been repaired. 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 FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 4 of 8 19. The tipping floor is not equipped with floor drains, however, the loading bay contains two floor drains that feed into an underground leachate collection tank. During the inspection, the two drains in the loading bay appeared to be functional. The facility contracts with A-1 Appalachian Pumping, Inc. for leachate collection. 20. No unapproved waste was observed on the tipping floor. 21. Vectors and odor were well maintained at the time of inspection. 22. The areas behind the push walls were free of waste at the time of inspection. Some dust is accumulated behind the walls and in the corners by the entrance to the transfer station. Ensure that these areas are pressure washed each month. 23. Minimal windblown foam was observed on either side of the loading bay. Ensure that windblown is picked up and disposed of at the end of each working day. 24. Filled trailers were not being staged at the time of inspection. Operations Inspection of the CDLF 0603-CDLF-1996 25. All waste was covered at the time of inspection. 26. Tall grass and small trees were observed on the CDLF. Facility staff stated that mowing would occur within the next two weeks. 27. Large portions of the landfill are missing edge of waste markers. According to 15A NCAC 13B .0201(g), Disposal area boundaries for landfills permitted in accordance with Sections .0500 or .1600 of this Subchapter shall be delineated with stationary markers affixed to the ground. The markers shall be of height and spacing so that they are distinguishable from the surrounding landscape, and so that the adjacent markers are visible when standing at a marker. Ensure that the edge of waste markers are maintained. 28. Surface water appeared to be well maintained and no ponding was observed. 29. Passive gas vents were observed on closed cells. 30. Facility staff stated that asbestos had not been received since the previous inspection. Operations Inspection of Miscellaneous Collection Areas 31. Recyclables are stored in a concrete bin south of the transfer station and collected as necessary. 32. Scrap tires are collected in two semi-trailers located east of the transfer station entrance until removal by the vendor. All tires were stored within the trailers. 33. The mobile home deconstruction area was not active during the inspection. 34. T&P areas 1 and 2 were active during the inspection. One piece of engineered wood (lattice) and one piece of concrete were observed in area 2. Ensure that unapproved waste is removed prior to grinding. 35. The animal carcass disposal area was active at the time of inspection. All carcasses were covered with dirt. 36. White goods and scrap metal are collected in a roll-off container located adjacent to the tire trailer. 37. During the inspection, a plaster like material was observed in the Brick/Block Storage Area and tile with adhesives and tile backer board incorporated with fill was in use under T&P area 1. See Status of Past Noted Violations section of this report. Ensure that unacceptable wastes observed in the Brick/Block Storage Area and in the fill under T&P area 1 are properly disposed of. Ensure that the site accepts for recycling only those wastes the facility is permitted to receive in the Brick/Block Storage Area. 38. Sand-like material that appeared to be from sand blasting was staged in the Brick/Block Storage Area. It is recommended that this material not be accepted without a waste determination due to its unknown origin and constituents. FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 5 of 8 Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report. ____________________________ Phone: 828-296-4705 _ Summer Justice Environmental Senior Specialist Regional Representative Sent on: 9/4/2024 to Eric Foster via: X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _] Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section CDLF Working Face FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 6 of 8 Possible Sand Blasting Material Tire trailer One of Two FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 7 of 8 Animal Carcass Disposal Area Fixed Sheet Metal Wall FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section Page 8 of 8 Completed Concrete Wall