2001_INSP_20160614

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 4

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: CHEROKEE
Closed
MSWLF X HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 2001
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: 06/14/2016 Date of Last Inspection: 10/27/2011

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Cherokee County Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
State Road 1515, Fairview Road
Marble, N. C. 28905

GPS COORDINATES: N: 35.17883° W: 83.90334°

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Jeff Clark, Solid Waste Director
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Cherokee County Solid Waste Department
75 Peachtree Street,
Murphy, NC 28906
PARTICIPANTS:
Jeff Clark, Cherokee County
Lee Hill, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Closed

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Audit of Closed Landfill

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
 15 NCAC 13B .0510(c) states:
“When a solid waste disposal site has been closed in accordance with the requirements of the Division,
future necessary maintenance and water quality monitoring shall be the responsibility of the owner and
the operator and shall be specified in the closure letter.”

The Permit for Closure issued on December 11, 2014, with Conditions for Permit for Closure, Part II Municipal
Solid Waste Landfill Units, Number 6 states:
“The permittee must maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the cap system, including making repairs
to the cover as necessary to correct the effects of settlement, subsidence, erosion, or other events, and
prevent surface water from impounding over waste and run-on and run-off from eroding or otherwise
damaging the cap system. In addition, a vegetative cover of native grasses must be maintained and
mowed regularly.”

On June 14, 2016, woody vegetation (trees, shrubs and briars) were observed growing on the north and east side
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 2 of 4

of the landfill on the final cover system. Thus, the final cover system was not maintained. This constitutes a violation of
15 NCAC 13B .0510(c). In order to achieve compliance, Cherokee County must submit a plan for review and approval to
remove woody vegetation from the permitted disposal area and repair the final cover system with timeframes for
implementation. Submit this plan no later than July 31, 2016 via U.S. Mail or electronic correspondence to Lee Hill at:
NCDEQ
Asheville Regional Office
2090 US Hwy 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
[e-mail]

Closed Cherokee County Landfill

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 3 of 4

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
 All photos were taken by Lee Hill on June 14, 2016.
 The landfill stopped receiving waste on December 31, 1997.
 Landfill closure activities were completed on November 30, 1998.
 Closure certification was issued on August 24, 1999; however, the permit for closure was not issued until
December 11, 2014.
 The site is secured by a gate and was locked upon arrival to the site.
 Vegetation was well established on the top of the cap of landfill.
 The top of the cap had been recently mowed at the time of inspection.
 Edge of Waste (EOW) markers are installed; however heavy vegetation has grown up around the outside of the
landfill including small trees and bushes and needs to be removed. Cherokee County must submit a plan for
review and approval to remove woody vegetation from the permitted disposal area and repair the final
cover system. See observed violation section of this report.
 Trees were planted on the east side of the landfill at the time of construction of the landfill. Mr. Clark stated
that these trees are located on waste.
 Trees, bushes and vines are growing and encroaching in on the cap on all sides of the landfill. Cherokee
County must submit a plan for review and approval to remove woody vegetation from the permitted
disposal area and repair the final cover system. See observed violation section of this report.
 Methane monitoring wells were observed and appeared to be in good condition.
 No standing water or depressions were observed on the top of the cap.
 Landfill gas is collected and directed to a flare located on the west side of the facility.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report.

_____________________________________ Phone: [phone]

Lee Hill
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: June 30, 2016 to Jeff
Clark by:
X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Jessica Montie, Compliance Officer – 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

Gas Extraction Well and Trees on Waste

Overgrown Perimeter of Landfill.