9504_INSP_20210930

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: September 30, 2021 Date of Last Inspection: August 5, 2020

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Appalachian State University
265 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 Operations Coordinator – ASU
David Isaacs, Landscape Services Superintendent – ASU
Charles Gerstell, 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 back of each bin.
3. During the inspection, bins were in use as follows:
x Bin 1: Contained wood chips which are used as a feed stock.
x Bin 2: Contained material actively being composted.
x Bin 3: Contained material actively being composted. Mr. Alff explained the material within the bin had
been capped with finished compost to control odors. Temperatures were actively being taken on this
material.
x Bin 4: Contained finished compost which had met required temperatures.
4. 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 The previous inspection report requested that the permit renewal application be updated to reflect the
addition of the compost mixer now used in the compost operations. A revised Operation and Maintenance
Plan was submitted for review on August 12th and 14th of 2020 which added the use of the compost mixer.
Thank you for attention to this matter.
5. The facility utilizes a leachate collection system consisting of drains located at the front and back 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 initial inspection.
x Mr. Alff removed the lock from the lid allowing for an inspection of the interior of the tank. No concerns
were observed with the leachate tank.
x Leachate contained within the tank is removed via pump truck when needed. Leachate can also be
reintroduced to the compost process to provide moisture via a quick connect hose attached to the facility.
6. Upon arrival, strong odors were observed emanating from Bin 2. Mr. Alff explained that new food waste from the
mixer had been added to Bin 2 just prior to the inspection. Please ensure that odors are controlled on site. This
may include, but not be limited to covering the top of the active compost with material such as sawdust.
7. Minor damage was observed to the lower doors of Bins 2, 3, and 4. Of these, damage to the lower door of Bin 4
was most severe. The door had been pushed in which could result in material spilling from the bin onto the
concrete pad. Please ensure the door is repaired to allow for proper function of the device. Mr. Alff and Mr.
Isaacs stated they would look into having the door repaired.
8. No dust was observed.
9. No flies or other vectors were observed.
10. All compost and feedstocks were maintained to their designated bins at the time of inspection.
11. The facility had proper signage.
12. Temperature logs were submitted to the Solid Waste Section during the facility annual reporting period.
Temperature data was being collected as required and it appeared that temperature requirements were being met.
Mr. Alff also provided all active temperature logs during the inspection.
13. Testing results for fecal coliform and heavy metals were submitted to the Solid Waste Section during the facility
annual reporting period.
14. The curing area of Bodenheimer 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.
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.
15. The compost rules, effective November 2019, require that compost facilities have an operator, supervisor, or
manager trained in compost operations according to a Division approved course. The requirement applies to
Large Type 1, Large Type 2, all Type 3 and all Type 4 compost facilities. Permitted compost facilities are
required to have an operator approved by November 1, 2022.
x Three courses have been approved by the Division of Waste Management as “an approved solid waste
management facility operator training course” as provided in General Statutes 130A-309.25(c) and the
compost rules.
x Information in reference to Compost Operator Training and approved courses can be found at
the following link: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/solid-waste-
section/composting.

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: 10/8/21 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Max Alff, Compost Operations Supervisor – ASU: [e-mail]

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: 2021.10.08 10:34:41 -04'00'