9504_INSP_20200805

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: Watauga
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 9504-COMPOST-2011
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: August 5, 2020 Date of Last Inspection: June 27, 2019

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Appalachian State University
Physical Plant – Dale Street
Boone, North Carolina 28608

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.20597 Long.: -81.65582

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: David Isaacs, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor
Telephone: [phone] x108
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 32105
Boone, North Carolina 32105

PARTICIPANTS:
Max Alff, Compost Facility Coordinator – ASU
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section
Kim Sue, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit to Operate a Small Type III Compost Facility was issued to Appalachian State University on October 13,
2011. This permit expired on October 9, 2016. However, a permit renewal application has been submitted to the Solid
Waste Section and is currently under review.

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 Small Type III Compost Facility approved for the composting of pre-consumer and post-
consumer food waste with sawdust and wood chips as bulking agents as detailed in the approved permit
application.
2. The facility utilizes a forced aeration system. Compost is placed in four covered bins with gates. Leachate drains
are provided within trenches located at the front and rear of each bin.
3. During the inspection, bins were in use as follows:
x Bin 1: Contained wood chips used as a feed stock
x Bin 2: Contained a small amount of wood chips.
x Bin 3: Finished Compost
x Bin 4: Compost planned to be taken back through the composting process.
4. A stockpile of wood chips was observed on the concrete pad extending from Bin 1. Mr. Alff explained the
overstock of wood chips was the result of students leaving campus early resulting in no feedstocks being generated
by the cafeterias on campus. Liquid was observed flowing from the stockpile of woodchips onto Dale Street. As
the wood chips have been on site since March, this material could breakdown over time.
x Permit Condition #2 states in part: “Any leachate generated at the facility and any runoff from the facility
shall be managed in such a manner that ground or surface water quality will not be adversely affected.”
x Steps should be taken to manage runoff from feedstocks such as wood chips to prevent potential affects to
ground or surface water quality as this material breaks down over time.
5. The facility utilizes an industrial compost mixer which is located on the covered concrete pad adjacent to the
compost bins. The mixer is used for mixing feedstocks and breaking down hard food wastes such as lettuce cores.
A conveyor carries product from the mixing unit and deposits it onto the concrete pad located on the opposite side
of a concrete dividing wall where it is then scooped up by a tractor and placed in one of the compost bins.
x As noted on the previous inspection report, as the compost process utilizing the compost mixer
varies from what was originally approved and provided in the permit renewal application, it is
requested that the permit application be updated to accurately reflect how the compost operation
has been modified. The additional information should also address how potential leachate will be
controlled from the mixing process located on the covered, concrete pad adjacent to the compost
bins. For questions regarding the permit application, please contact Donna Wilson, Engineering
Project Manager. Ms. Wilson can be reached at [phone] or [e-mail].
6. The facility utilizes a leachate collection system consisting of drains located at the front and rear of each compost
bin which deposit into a 1000-gallon below ground collection tank.
x The lid to the leachate tank was closed and locked upon inspection.
x Mr. Alff unlocked the lid in order to allow an inspection of the interior of the collection tank. The tank
appeared to be in order and maintained.
x Leachate contained within the tank is removed via pump truck when needed. Leachate can also be
reintroduced to the compost process as moisture via a quick connect hose attached to the facility.
7. No objectionable odors were observed.
8. No dust was observed.
9. No flies or other vectors were observed.
10. No evidence of scavenging was observed.
11. Temperature logs were verified from the period covering operations since the last inspection. Temperature data
was being collected as required and it appeared that proper temperatures were being obtained.
12. Pathogen testing for fecal coliform was submitted to the Solid Waste Section during the facility annual reporting
period. Fecal coliform was reported as below 1,000 MPN/g.
13. The curing area of Bodenhemer Drive was observed.
x The curing area consists of a concrete pad separated into 4 individual bays. One bay was being used for
curing purposes, one was used for storage of mulch, one was used for storage of screened, finished
compost, and one is used for screening operations.
x No standing water was observed on site.
x No objectionable odors were observed.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 3

x No dust was observed.
x All material was maintained to the designated bays and concrete pad.

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: 8/11/20 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section

Digitally signed by Charles T. Gerstell
DN: cn=Charles T. Gerstell, o=Divsion of Waste
Management, ou=Solid Waste Section,
email=[e-mail], c=US
Date: 2020.08.11 14:06:45 -04'00'