8701_INSP_20170207

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

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UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: SWAIN
Closed
MSWLF X HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 8701-MSWLF-1980
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: 02/07/2017 Date of Last Inspection: 05/07/2014

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Swain County Landfill
1484 Buckner Branch Rd
Bryson City, NC 28713

GPS COORDINATES: N: 35.42516° W: 83.47659°

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Scott Turpin, Swain County Solid Wasted Director
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Swain County Solid Waste Department
PO Drawer A
Bryson City, NC 28713

PARTICIPANTS:
Scott Turpin, Swain County
Lee Hill, NCDEQ - Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Facility stopped receiving waste April 8, 1994
Closure Letter issued on December 21, 1995

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
1. 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 21,1995, Post Closure Conditions, Number 4 states: “Final Cover
System: The integrity and effectiveness of the final cover system and any permanent erosion control devices must
be maintained. This could include making repairs to the cover as necessary to correct the effects of settlement,
subsidence, erosion, or other events.”

Swain County is in violation of 15 NCAC 13B .0510(c) in that on February 7, 2017 woody vegetation
(saplings and briars) were observed growing on the east and northwest side slopes of the landfill. The
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 3

saplings observed on the side slopes appeared to be less than two inches at breast height and can be
removed by rotary mower or chainsaw.

To achieve compliance, within sixty (60) days of receipt of this letter, Swain County must remove the woody
vegetation from the side slopes and continue to maintain the landfill cap as expressed in the December 21, 1995
Closure Letter.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
1. All photos were taken by Lee Hill on February 7, 2017.
2. The landfill is located on the same parcel as the Swain County LCID (87A).
3. Per a letter dated February 27, 2002 from Jim Coffey, Solid Waste Section Chief, Swain County is not required
to monitor groundwater at the facility.
4. The facility is secured by a gate that was locked upon arrival.
5. Edge of waste is clearly marked by metal stakes. One stake on the west side of the landfill appeared to have
been struck by equipment and was at a 45o angle. Please repair the damaged EOW marker.
6. Vegetation on the top and side slopes of the landfill is well established and the landfill was last mowed in the
spring of 2016. It appears that the top of the cap is mowed more frequently than the side slopes resulting in
woody vegetative growth. Please maintain the top and side slopes of the cap to prevent woody vegetation
from occurring.
7. The facility has purchased a rotary mowing attachment for the County’s track hoe and are currently waiting on
County maintenance staff to install a metal safety cage on the front of the track hoe before use. This equipment
will make maintaining the side slopes easier at the facility.
8. No erosion issues at the facility were observed at the time of inspection.
9. Small saplings were observed on the east and northwest side slopes of the landfill. The saplings observed on
the side slopes appeared to be less than two inches at breast height and can be removed by rotary mower or
chainsaw. Please see Observed Violations Section of this report.

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: February 10, 2017 to
Scott Turpin
X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

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

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Woody Vegetation on the Northwest Side of Landfill.

Landfill Cap