2301_ClevelandCoMSW_LeachateAssmtResp_DIN28445_20170906

September 6, 2017

Sent Via Email – [e-mail]

Mr. Nathan McNeilly
Cleveland County
200 South Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152

Re: Response and Cleanup Report – Leachate Pipe Rupture
Cleveland County Landfill
Solid Waste Permit Number 2301-MSWLF-1990
DIN 28445

Dear Mr. McNeilly:

The Solid Waste Section (Section) has completed a review of the Response and Cleanup Report – Leachate
Pipe Rupture (DIN 28426) submitted on behalf of Cleveland County by Shield Engineering, Inc. (Shield) for
the Cleveland County Landfill, Solid Waste Permit Number 2301. The report was submitted in response
to a leachate release stemming from a damaged leachate pipe.

The underground leachate pipe was damaged during the installation of a fiber optic line on June 12, 2017.
The pipe transports leachate from the active cell at the Self McNeilly Site to the leachate tanks located
northwest of the East Site. The pipe was damaged near the northeast portion of the East Site cell causing
leachate to rise to ground surface and flow towards a drainage swale. County personnel excavated the
area where the pipe rupture occurred and repaired it on June 14, 2017. Shield collected confirmatory soil
samples in the excavation where the ruptured pipe was repaired. In addition, an area of potential leachate
impact was identified and excavated downgradient of the rupture. Shield used soil moisture observations
to delineate the possible area of leachate impact that was approximately 45 feet long and 12 feet wide.
The excavation depth ranged from four to six feet below ground surface. Twelve confirmatory soil
samples were collected from the excavation in addition to a background soil sample and a surface water
sample from percolating water within the excavation. The soil samples were analyzed for volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) total phosphorus, sulfate, nitrate, and metals. The water sample was analyzed for
VOCs and metals.

The primary constituents of concern (CoC) were identified as 1,4-dichlorobenzene and chlorobenzene
detected in soil sample LS-8, which was located nearest to the ruptured leachate pipe. 1,4-
dichlorobenzene and chlorobenzene were reported at their highest concentrations in sample LS-8, but
those concentrations were less than the Residential and Protection of Groundwater Preliminary Soil
Remediation Goals (PSRG) established by the Division of Waste Management Inactive Hazardous sites
Branch. Since the CoC were present at their highest concentrations in the soil sample nearest to the

ruptured pipe, Shield wanted to determine if the CoC concentrations were increasing upgradient of the
pipe rupture. Shield subsequently oversaw another excavation that was approximately 23 feet long, 29
feet wide, and 5.5 feet below ground surface. Shield collected three confirmatory samples (LS-13 through
LS-15) that were analyzed for the same constituents as the initial soil samples. 1,4-dichlorobenzene was
the only CoC reported above laboratory reporting limits in soil sample LS-14. 1,4- dichlorobenzene was
reported at a concentration of 4.4 g/kg which is less than the reported concentration in LS-8 (28.7 g/kg)
and the Protection of Groundwater PSRG (70g/kg). Based on the results of the surface water sample,
confirmatory soil samples, and the removal of 240 cubic yards of impacted soil, Shield concluded the
leachate impacted area has been remediated.

Based on the results of the assessment presented in the report, the Section will not require additional
assessment and/or remedial activities related to the June 2017 leachate release. If you have any questions
or concerns regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me by email at [e-mail] or by
phone at 919.707.8288. Thank you for your continued cooperation with this matter.

Sincerely,

Ervin Lane
Compliance Hydrogeologist
Solid Waste Section, Division of Waste Management
NCDEQ

cc sent via email: David Wallace, P.E., Shield Engineering, Inc.
Jason Watkins, Field Operations Branch Head
Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor
Kim Sue, Environmental Senior Specialist
Ed Mussler, P.E., Permitting Branch Head
Elizabeth Werner, Permitting Hydrogeologist