2514_CravenAg_Approval_25788_20160321

PAT MCCRORY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary

MICHAEL SCOTT
Acting Director
State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Waste Management
1646 Mail Service Center | 217 West Jones Street | Raleigh, NC 27699-1646
919 707 8200 T | https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/solid-waste-section

March 21, 2016

Mr. J.W. (Billy) Dunham
Craven Ag Service
2115 W. Highway 55
New Bern, NC 28562

Re: Approval to Operate Areas 1 and 2, Craven Ag Services Compost Facility, Craven
County, Permit No. 2514-COMPOST-2014, Large Type 3 Compost Facility, Doc ID
25788

Dear Mr. Dunham:

This letter is to confirm that the pre-operative conditions for the construction of Areas 1 and 2
have been completed. These areas are approved for operation.

As we discussed earlier, the site is being constructed in phases. The first phase is complete,
consisting of the construction of Areas 1 and 2 (middle and back areas), the boundary markers,
and the groundwater well information/sampling.

After the compost operation is moved from its current location at Area 3, to the back two areas
(Areas 1 and 2), then the next phase will be construction and certification for Area 3. Area 3
should not be used for composting (after moving the operation) until construction and
certification for that area is approved.

The construction quality assurance (CQA) report and certification for Area 3 should include the
following (as copied and slightly modified from the permit to address only Area 3) and should be
submitted for approval:

1. Documentation of construction and testing of the entire boundary of Area 3, including
photos. The report must document the field tests, including a sketch of sampling
locations and a table listing the soil sampling locations, depths, and texture results, at a
frequency of at least 10 per acre at varying depths down to 12 inches. Testing must
include at least one lab sample, as a composite sample of 20 subsamples per acre
collected at varying depths down to 12 inches. The report must include notes of failed
tests, steps taken to correct the failure, and repeat testing.
2. Documentation of construction of the vegetated buffers around Area 3, including photos.
The report must describe construction in accordance with the Operations Guide (50 foot
buffer surrounding the three areas are covered with at least one inch of compost, lightly
disked, and planted with grass), and also the notes and tables on Drawing C102 (see Doc
ID 21126, pdf pages 36 and 234).
Page 2

3. Certification either by a North Carolina registered professional engineer, or by a North
Carolina registered professional geologist, that Area 3 was constructed in accordance
with the approved plan.
4. Boundary markers must be installed around the perimeter of Area 3, to mark the required
setback to the property line, to the 100 year floodplain, and to the residence across the
road (reference Drawing C-102). The distance between markers must be sufficient to
allow for line of sight from one marker to the next.
5. The temporary erosion control berms and straw waddles used in construction of Area 3
must be removed.

The permit is attached for your reference. The pre-operative conditions are listed on page 4 and
5.

Also attached is a copy of the approved CQA report for Areas 1 and 2.

If you have any questions, please contact me at [phone] or by email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,
Donna J. Wilson
Environmental Engineer
Solid Waste Section

Enclosure
cc: Tom Hinson
Gary MacConnell
R. Rubin
Ray Williams