20191369 Ver 1_More Info Received_20200127

Homewood, Sue
From:Thames, Kelly <[e-mail]>
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To:Homewood, Sue
Subject:\[External\] RE: Gaston Cty Landfill
Attachments:GastonCountyLandfillResponseLetter_toDWR-20200124.pdf
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Sue-

Per our conversation recently, I have attached a revised response to your request for additional information.

After speaking to our solid waste PM – the riser has perforated holes surrounded by stone that prevents sediment from
discharging downstream. It was built this way as it is a sediment basin.

Additionally, he does not expect this work to take more than a week and the forecast would be monitored to conduct the
work when rain is not anticipated.

Let me know if you feel you need any additional information.

Thank you,
Kelly

Kelly Thames, PWS
D 704.338.6710 M 704.996.9986
hdrinc.com/follow-us
1

FN
January 24, 2019
Sue Homewood
Division of Water Resources
Winston Salem Regional Office
450 Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300, Winston-Salem NC 27105
Subject: Gaston County Landfill Expansion
Response to Request for Additional Information
DWR# 20191369 and SAW-2018-00053
Dear Ms. Homewood,
On behalf of the Gaston County Department of Public Works (GCDPW), HDR would like to thank you for
the Request for Additional Information (Appendix A) in response to their 401 Individual Water Quality
Certification application for the proposed of expansion of the existing Gaston County Landfill in Dallas,
Gaston County, North Carolina. Please see the following response to your questions. Should you have
any questions or require additional information following your review of the enclosed materials, please
contact me at [phone] or kelly.thames(c)hdrinc.com.
Sincerely,
HDR, Inc.
Khmes, PWS
Project Manager/Environmental Scientist
Appendix: Appendix A: Request for Additional Information
Appendix B: Pump Around Detail
hdrinc.com 440 S Church StreetSuite 1000Charlotte, NC 28202-2075
[phone]

F)l
Gaston County Landfill I DWR# 20191369; SAW-2018-00053
Response to Request For Additional Information
1. Please provide a pond dewatering and dam breaching plan which details the proposed
dewatering and breaching methodology as well as what measures will be taken to ensure
the protection of downstream water quality during dewatering. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3)]
The Applicant intends to plug the culvert inlet beneath the access road upstream of Pond 1 (the
upper pond) with the purpose of creating a pump around. Water that accumulates upstream of
the plugged pipe would be pumped around Pond 1 and filtered through a sediment bag before
being discharged to Stream 1. No impact to Stream 1 would occur.
After the pump around is installed to divert any stream flows from entering Pond 1, the pond
which is an active sediment basin complete with a riser and barrel structure, would be allowed to
dewater naturally. The riser has perforated holes, surrounded by stone to prevent sediment from
discharging though the riser structure during dewatering. The pump around operation would
remain in place until Pond 1 is completely drained. Once the pond is dewatered, check dams will
be placed throughout the footprint of the pond as a best management practice while concurrently,
the installation of the underdrain commences in the northern portion of Unit III and would also
utilize a pump around if necessary to conduct work in the dry. The riser, barrel, and berm/dam
would not be removed until the time is necessary to install the underdrain at that location. Please
see Appendix B for the Pump Around Detail.
The dewatering is expected to take a week or less and care would be taken to monitor the
weather to conduct the work when rain is not anticipated in the forecast.
Measures taken to protect downstream water quality during the dewatering of the pond include:
• dewatering impact sites to prevent and minimize the discharge of sediment to
downstream waters;
• the use of sediment bags during the pump around operations;
• routine removal of accumulated sediment upstream of impervious dikes;
• routine monitoring of the dewatering operations; and
• appropriate erosion control measures.
2. During a Pre -Application Meeting conducted on March 11, 2019 two ponds located within
the landfill property were discussed and Division staff indicated that the history of both
ponds should be discussed within the proposed application. The application submitted on
October 7, 2019 does not include any information on the "lower" pond. Please provide a
history, the current status/use and any additional information regarding the lower pond.
[15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(4)]
The "lower" pond was approved in January 1987 by the then named North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Land Resources — Land Quality Section (now
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality — Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land
Resources). It was constructed during the development of Unit 1, Phase 1, which took place
between June 1997 and November 1997, based on construction documents and correspondence
with GCDPW. At this time, the applicant's consultant believes the construction of the lower pond
would have been conducted under the 1992 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 26 regulations, which
expired on December 13, 1998. Given the controversy surrounding the NWP 26 regulations from
the 1992 to 1997 reissuance by the Corps, it is unclear whether a permit or predischarge
notification (PDN) was required.

Gaston County Landfill I DWR# 20191369; SAW-2018-00053
Response to Request For Additional Information
November 25, 2019
The lower pond is currently being utilized as a sediment basin, with a riser and barrel structure.
Routine maintenance is conducted for removal of sediment once sediment storage exceeds 50
percent of the sediment storage calculation.
3. Please clarify how the impact totals were determined for the unauthorized activities [15A
NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)]
Impact totals for the unauthorized activities were determined using a survey of the site, prior to
the construction of the impoundment.

Appendix A
Request For Additional
Information

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 19, 2019
DWR # 20191369
Gaston County
Gaston County Department of Public Works
Attn: Mr. Ray Maxwell
PO Box 1578
Gastonia, NC 28053
Subject: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Gaston County Landfill Expansion
Dear Mr. Maxwell:
On October 7, 2019, the Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs (Division) received your
application dated October 2, 2019, requesting a 401 Individual Water Quality Certification from the
Division for your project. The Division has determined that your application is incomplete and cannot be
processed. The application is on -hold until all of the following information is received:
1. Please provide a pond dewatering and dam breaching plan which details the proposed
dewatering and breaching methodology as well as what measures will be taken to ensure the
protection of downstream water quality during dewatering. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3)]
2. During a Pre -Application Meeting conducted on March 11, 2019 two ponds located within the
landfill property were discussed and Division staff indicated that the history of both ponds
should be discussed within the proposed application. The application submitted on October 7,
2019 does not include any information on the "lower" pond. Please provide the history, the
current status/use and any additional information regarding the lower pond. [15A NCAC 02H
.0506(b)(4)]
3. Please clarify how the impact totals were determined for the unauthorized activities. [15A
NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)]
Pursuant to Title 15A NCAC 02H .0502(e), the applicant shall furnish all of the above requested
information for the proper consideration of the application. Please respond in writing within 30
calendar days of receipt of this letter by sending one (1) copy of all of the above requested information
to the 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 OR by
Q2�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
E512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NOFTM CAROLINA
o^M^1E� ^^^•^u ft•1 / 919.707.9000

Gaston County Department of Public Works
DWR# 20191369
Request for Additional Information
Page 2 of 2
submitting all of the above requested information through this
link: https://edocs.deg.nc.gov/Forms/Supplemental-Information-Form (note the DWR# requested on
the link is referenced above).
If all of the requested information is not received within 30 calendar days of receipt of this letter, the
Division will be unable to approve the application and it will be denied as incomplete. The denial of this
project will necessitate reapplication to the Division for approval, including a complete application
package and the appropriate fee.
Please be aware that you have no authorization under the Water Quality Certification Rules for this
activity and any work done within waters of the state may be a violation of North Carolina General
Statutes and Administrative Code.
Please contact Sue Homewood at 336-776-9693 or Sue. [e-mail] if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
466ED631098F411...
for Mac Haupt, Acting Supervisor
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
cc: Kelly Thames, HDR (via email)
David Shaeffer, USACE Charlotte Regulatory Field Office (via email)
Olivia Munzer, NCWRC (via email)
Byron Hamstead, USFS (via email)
DWR MRO 401 files
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit

Appendix B
Pump around detail

GENERAL NOTES:
STILLING BASIN OR
SEDIMENT BAG
STREAM DIVERSION
PUMPS
DISCHARGE HOSES 2
P INTAKE HOSE
_ P DEWATERING PUMP
I
FLOW
-
INTAKE
FLOW
��
1
��
4.
4SE
SEDIMENT DIKE
CLEAN WATER
SUMP —HOLE
OR POOL
•g•ee Zi•
/Pumps
44(12"
•:•• •j.••::•:Zi•�••i•:•:a
TO 18"
DEEP 2'
DIA.)
WORK A
5
SHOULD
LENGTH NOT TO EXCEED
DISCHARGE ONTO A
THAT WHICH CAN BE
STABILIZED BANK OR
COMPLETED IN ONE DAY
PLAN VIEW
RIPSIPATER RAP, SANDBAGS,,FOR
OTHER APPROVED
MATERIAL)
IMPERVIOUS SHEETING
6.
7.
BASE FLOW + 1 FOOT
WORK AREA
(2 FOOT
MINIMUM)
8.
CROSS SECTION OF SANDBAG
DIKE
SECTION A -A 9
PUMP AROUND DETAIL
NOT TO SCALE
THE CONTRACTOR IS TO PROTECT THE WORK
AREA FROM STREAM FLOWS RESULTING FROM
ALL STORMS UP TO AND INCLUDING THE
1-YEAR EVENT. THE ENGINEER WILL
PROVIDE FLOW RATES.
INSTALL PUMP AND TEMPORARY FLEXIBLE
HOSE AT THE UPSTREAM END OF
CONSTRUCTION AREA.
INSTALL STILLING BASIN OR EQUIP FLEXIBLE
HOSE WITH THE SEDIMENT BAG IF NEEDED.
STABILIZE PIPE OUTLET TO PROTECT BANK
AGAINST SCOUR AND EROSION.
PLACE UPSTREAM IMPERVIOUS DIKE AND
BEGIN PUMPING FOR THE STREAM
DIVERSION. CONTRACTOR HAS THE OPTION
OF USING INFLATABLE CHECK DAMS IN LIEU
OF SANDBAGS.
PLACE DOWNSTREAM IMPERVIOUS DIKE AND
PUMPING APPARATUS. DEWATER THE WORK
AREA INTO THE STILLING BASIN OR EQUIP
HOSE WITH THE SEDIMENT BAG. DEWATERED
AREA SHALL EQUAL TO ONE DAY'S WORK.
PERFORM STREAM RESTORATION WORK
ACCORDING TO PLANS.
REMOVE ANY ACCUMULATED SILT BEFORE
REMOVAL OF IMPERVIOUS DIKES. REMOVE
ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING DIKES.
(DOWNSTREAM IMPERVIOUS DIKE FIRST).
IMPERVIOUS DIKES ARE TO BE REMOVED AT
COMPLETION OF THE WORK. THE
CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF THE
IMPERVIOUS DIKES PLACEMENT.
REMOVE STILLING BASINS) IF APPLICABLE.
STABILIZE DISTURBED AREA WITH SEED AND
MULCH, AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.