7904_Rockingham_MSWLF_InspectionObservations_DIN 27553_20170327

ROY COOPER
Governor

MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
MICHAEL SCOTT
Director
State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Waste Management
Asheville Regional Office | 2090 US Highway 70 | Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778
828 296 4500

March 29, 2017

Ms. Kathryn Jolly, Solid Waste Program Manager
Rockingham County
Post Office Box 132
Wentworth, North Carolina 27375

Subject: Request Plan Updates, Landfill Facility
Permit No. 7901-MSWLF-1979, Rockingham County Landfill
Permit No. 7904-MSWLF-1995, Rockingham County Landfill
Rockingham County, DIN 27553

Dear Ms. Jolly:
On March 9, 2017 I accompanied Ms. Susan Heim, Environmental Senior Specialist with the
Division of Waste Management, Solid Waste Section (Section), on an inspection of the
Rockingham County (County) Landfill.
The inspection reports can be accessed at;
http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WasteManagement/0/fol/4696/Row1.aspx
and
http://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WasteManagement/0/fol/242/Row1.aspx
During the inspection I observed that;
1. The facility’s water quality monitoring plan was outdated and was in need of revision.
Within the next 60 days the County should submit for approval to the Section a
comprehensive and updated facility water quality monitoring plan. The plan should
encompass both Permit Nos. 7901 and 7904 (the MSWLF facility) permitted areas, and
include monitoring of all active groundwater wells, surface water points and discharges from
subsurface (French) drain systems. A facility drawing with all monitoring point locations is
required as well.
2. The facility’s landfill gas monitoring plan was outdated and in need of revision. Within the
next 60 days the County should submit for approval to the Section a comprehensive and
updated facility landfill gas monitoring plan. The plan should encompass both Permit Nos.
7901 and 7904 (the MSWLF facility) permitted areas and should include all landfill gas
monitoring wells, structures and enclosures. A facility drawing with all monitoring point
locations is required as well.
3. Monitoring Well (MW)19 is located next to a discharging subsurface (French) drain system.
MW 19 has been the emphasis of sampling for VOC’s since 2011. The Section is concerned
that the possibility of a landfill liner issue has not been investigated and eliminated. Since the
liner cannot be inspected easily the County should immediately ensure that no more than 12
inches of leachate is being stored over the liner, therefore:
Rockingham County
March 29, 2017
DIN 27553
Page 2 of 2
o All leachate collection system (LCS) pumps, controls and level switches must be
inspected for proper function. Inspection results must be submitted to the Section.
o All LCS lines must be cleaned with a high pressure system and camera inspected.
Inspection results must be submitted to the Section.
o Engineered plans and specifications should be submitted to the Section, for
approval, for the collection and proper disposal of the discharge from Surface
Water Monitoring Point (SMP) 5.
4. The leachate evaporation system is of concern, given its location and the procedures
under which it is currently operated. Whether this system can be operated in a manner
that is protective of public health and the environment is questionable. Until copies of all
operating records are submitted for review to the Section and a demonstration is arranged
with me and Ms. Heim the system should not be operated.
5. The landfills’ operation plan covers activities on the 7904 landfill but does not address
activities on the capped and closed 7901 landfill. The County should immediately update
its operations plan for the entire facility to include activities within the entire facility. The
Plan should include a map of the facility that includes, delineates and limits of all
activities located on the capped and closed landfill 7901.
6. It appears that there has never been a closure letter or permit for closure issued for the
7901 landfill. The next time that Permit No. 7904 is either modified or amended, the
7901 permit for closure will be added to a facility permit which encompasses both
permits.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter contact me at [phone] or
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Larry Frost, Engineering Project Manager
Permitting Branch, Solid Waste Section
Division of Waste Management, NCDEQ

ec: Susan Heim – SWS/WSRO
Ervin Lane – SWS/RCO
Christine Ritter – SWS/RCO
Martie Neugent – Rockingham County