9504_INSP_20221019

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-2001
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: October 19, 2022 Date of Last Inspection: September 30, 2021

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Appalachian State University Compost Facility
197 Intramural Field Road
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] x 108
Email address: [e-mail]

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

PARTICIPANTS:
Chris Erickson, Facility Maintenance Supervisor – ASU
Grant Powers, Facility Maintenance Supervisor – ASU
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit to Operate a Small Type 3 Compost Facility was issued to Appalachian State University on May 6, 2022.
This permit will expire on May 6, 2032.

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 permitted to receive food waste, compostable
dinnerware, sawdust, yard waste, and clean wood waste.
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. A fire extinguisher was observed on site and read a full charge.
4. During the inspection, bins were in use as follows:
x Bin 1: Contained ground leaves and 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. Temperatures were actively being taken on the
material in this bin.
x Bin 4: Contained finished compost which had met temperatures and is ready to be moved to the curing
area.
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. No
concerns were observed in this area. All mixing operations were maintained under the covered area.
6. 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 arrival on site.
x Mr. Powers removed the lock from the lid allowing for an inspection of the interior of the tank. Mr.
Powers explained the tank was recently pumped. No concerns were observed with the leachate tank.
x No evidence was observed to indicate the leachate system was not functioning properly.
7. Damage previously observed to the lower doors of bins 2, 3, and 4 had been repaired since the last inspection.
8. No dust was observed.
9. No flies or other vectors were observed.
10. Upon arrival, ground leaves were observed on the concrete pad just in front of bin 1. Mr. Erickson and Mr. Powers
explained wood chips would be added to the leaves and then all material would be placed in bin 1 by the end of the
working day. All other compost and remaining feedstocks were maintained to their designated bins.
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.
Active temperature logs were also observed 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.
x No dust was observed.
x All compost was maintained to the designated bays and concrete pad.
x During the inspection, multiple plastic cups from post-composting efforts were observed on the grassed
area beyond the concrete pad and buttresses. Please be sure to monitor the area surrounding the
curing operations daily for such items. Any material observed on the ground should be removed for
proper disposal.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 3

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.
x Mr. Erickson completed the 40-hour Compost Operations Training Course offered through the Compost
Research & Education Foundation on September 12-16, 2022. This certification satisfies the training
requirements.

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: 10/28/22 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: 2022.10.28 13:56:52 -04'00'