0501_INSP_20230627

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF X LCID X YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Ashe
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 05-01
CDLF Tire T&P / Collection Tire Monofill Industrial Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: June 27, 2023 Date of Last Inspection: January 20, 2023

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Ashe County Solid Waste Facility
739 Fred Pugh Road
Crumpler, North Carolina 28617

GPS COORDINATES (decimal degrees): Lat.: 36.52238 Long.: -81.36960

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Scott Hurley, Director – Department of Environmental Services
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 1327
West Jefferson, North Carolina 28694

PARTICIPANTS:
Mike Rutherford, Landfill Supervisor – Ashe County
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Permit Approval to Operate “0501-MSWLF-1993 MSW Landfill Phases 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6” and “0501-LCID-2020 Land
Clearing and Inert Debris Landfill” was issued to Ashe County On February 23, 2022.

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Partial Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
A. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(2)(b) states: “Except as provided in Sub-Item (c) of this Item,
the owners or operators of all MSWLF units shall cover disposed solid waste with six inches of earthen material at
the end of each operating day, or at more frequent intervals if necessary to prevent the escape of waste and the
attraction of vectors and scavenging, and to minimize fires and the generation of odors.”

During the inspection, insufficient cover was observed in the active portion of the landfill leaving waste exposed. The
inspection was performed upon initial opening of the facility, prior to any waste being received. Posi-Shell had been
applied to the previous day’s working face but was too thin in many areas leaving waste exposed. Soil had been
placed over the inactive area just east of the working face, but some waste was left exposed. Waste had not been
covered with a minimum of six inches of earthen material at the end of the previous operating day in violation of 15A
NCAC 13B .1626(2)(b).

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 4

6/27/23: View of exposed waste below off-load 6/27/23: View of exposed waste at working face
point. (photo by C. Gerstell) looking west.

6/27/23: View of Posi-Shell application too thin
resulting in waste being exposed.

To achieve compliance, all waste within the landfill must be covered with a minimum of 6-inches of earthen
material or approved alternative cover material at the conclusion of the operating day. A follow-up inspection
will be performed at a later date to confirm compliance.

B. 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1626(11) states: “Windblown waste requirements. Methods such as
fencing and diking shall be provided within the area to confine solid waste that is subject to be blown by the wind. At
the conclusion of each operating day, all windblown material resulting from the operation shall be collected and
disposed of by the owner or operator.”

During the inspection, Windblown waste was observed along the toe of the north facing slope adjacent to the access
road. No waste had yet been received at the landfill upon observing the windblown waste confirming that waste had
not been collected and disposed at the end of the previous day in violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1626(11).

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 4

6/27/23: View of windblown waste on north facing 6/27/23: View of windblown waste at toe of north
slope. (photo by C. Gerstell) facing slope. (photo by C. Gerstell)

To achieve compliance, all windblown waste must be collected and properly disposed at the conclusion of the
operating day. A follow-up inspection will be conducted at a later date to confirm compliance.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF), Land Clearing and Inert Debris Landfill
(LCID), scrap tire collection area, and a white goods collection area.
2. The facility has a service area of Ashe County only.
3. This was a partial inspection in response to a citizen complaint of odors, dust and cover concerns at the facility.
4. Multiple gates were provided at the entrance to the facility to prevent unauthorized access.

Operations Inspection of the MSWLF Unit (0501-MSWLF-1993):

5. The working face was small and compact.
6. No unacceptable waste streams were observed.
7. Inactive portions of the landfill were covered with soil at the time of inspection with the exception the area
immediately east of the working face.
8. Edge-of-liner markers were in place at the time of inspection.
9. No standing water was observed on the landfill.
10. Some minor slope erosion was observed adjacent to the slope drain just below the working face to the northeast.
This area should be repaired. and stabilized with a groundcover sufficient to restrain erosion.

Operations Inspection of the LCID Unit (0501-LCID-2020)

11. The working face was less than one acre in size at the time of inspection.
12. One small piece of metal was observed within the working face which was removed immediately upon being
observed. No other unacceptable waste streams were observed.
13. Since the previous inspection, a 6.2-acre expansion of the LCID Unit was approved by the Solid Waste Section.
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 4 of 4

Waste was still being placed in the previously approved area at the time of inspection.
14. Installation of a new off-load point and grading to provide better access around the LCID had been completed.
Additional signs had been installed directing customers as to the acceptable wastes allowed at the LCID Unit.

Supporting Comments:

15. All access roads were of all-weather construction and well maintained.
16. During the inspection, a tanker truck loaded with leachate for disposal at the wastewater treatment plan was
observed to be leaking from multiple holes in the top of the water tank. The truck was immediately relocated to an
inactive area of the landfill located over the liner system. Once, all leaks had stopped, facility staff pumped
approximately 500-gallons of leachate back to the leachate pond to ensure the truck would not leak during the trip
to the designated off-load location. Please ensure this tank is repaired to prevent leaks prior to any future use.
17. No dust was observed during the inspection as soils were wet due to previous rains and rain showers experienced
at the facility during the inspection. However, please be sure steps are taken to control fugitive dust during daily
operations. This can include, but not be limited to, utilizing the water truck to wet roads and areas susceptible to
generation of dust throughout the day.
18. Upon completion of the inspection, an attempt was made to determine if odors could be detected outside of the
facility boundary. Slight putrescible waste type odors were detected intermittently at 986 Fred Pugh Road. Winds
were strong and variable from west to east toward the property off Fred Pugh Road. It must be noted that state
solid waste rules require solid waste management facilities be operated to prevent the release of odors to the
environment. Inspection of the landfill revealed improper waste cover which can create odors capable of leaving
the property. Please ensure facility practices are carried out to prevent the release of odors from the facility. A
follow-up inspection will be performed at a later date to evaluate the facility’s efforts to control odors.

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: 7/7/23 Email Hand delivery X US Mail (with
NOD)
Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Jason Watkins, Field Operations Branch Head
Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor
Chris Hollinger, Compliance Officer

Digitally signed by Charles T. Gerstell
DN: cn=Charles T. Gerstell, o=Division of Waste
Management, ou=Solid Waste Section,
email=[e-mail], c=US
Date: 2023.07.07 12:01:36 -04'00'