NC0026573_Biosolids Investigation_20160930

S&ME, Inc. | 8646 W Market St, Ste 105 | Greensboro, NC 27409 | p 336.288.7180 | f 336.288.8980 | www.smeinc.com
September 30, 2016
Freese & Nichols, Inc.
1017 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606-4929
Attention:Mr. Robert Vinay
Reference:Report of Hand Auger Borings
Morganton Waste Water Treatment Plant
Morganton, North Carolina
S&ME Project No. 4358-14-078
Dear Mr. Vinay:
The subject site is the City of Morganton’s waste water treatment plan (WWTP), located at 1000 Vine
Arden Road in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina (see Figure 1). As discussed in our Preliminary
Groundwater Assessment reported dated August 25, 2014, a deposit of biosolids was discovered near the
new equalization tank during the completion of an improvements project at the WWTP. The City of
Morganton indicated that they understand that the biosolids may have been in-place for approximately
30 to 40 years.
We understand that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) requested
additional assessment of other areas where biosolids may have been stored historically. Freese & Nichols,
Inc. (FNI) subsequently reviewed historic aerial photographs with coverage of the subject site and
surrounding area. Following FNI’s review of the aerial photographs, Mr. Robert Vinay with FNI provided
S&ME with an aerial photograph that generally outlined four areas of potential interest. The areas
identified included Area #1 which represents the area investigated by S&ME during 2014, whereas Area
#2A, Area #2B, and Area #2C were not previously known. FNI indicated that the City of Morganton
requested an assessment of Areas #2A, #2B, and #2C for physical evidence of the presence of biosolids in
the subsurface.
On the drawing provided by FNI, S&ME approximated the locations of prior geotechnical borings
completed in or near Areas #2A, 2B, and 2C, then reviewed the associated boring logs. This desk top
review did not identify any boring encountering strata that might be interpreted as a former biosolid.
Figure 1 depicts the four areas of potential concern as well as approximated locations for prior
environmental and / or geotechnical soil borings.
Having reviewed the available data, S&ME identified several locations for hand-auger borings to be used
to explore for the potential presence of biosolids in the subsurface. For Area #2A the borings locations
chosen were near the toe an existing soil stockpile, alleviate some of the potential challenges associated
with boring through the existing soil stockpile. For Area #2B, the borings targeted to central portion this
area; whereas, prior geotechnical borings, existing structures, and underground utilities guided the
selection of boring locations in Area#2C.
Report of Hand Auger Borings
Morganton Waste Water Treatment Plant
Morganton, North Carolina
S&ME Project No. 4358-14-078
September 30, 2016 2
Field Exploration
On May 24, 2016, Bradley Keyses with S&ME mobilized to the subject site. A total of eight hand-auger
borings were completed within the areas of concern, identified as borings A - H. Total depths for the
borings ranged from 2.5 feet below ground surface (BGS) to 7 feet BGS. In general borings were
terminated based on hand-auger refusal, encountering suspect residual soil, or reaching approximately 7
feet BGS the targeted and presumed practical depth for hand-auger boring exploration. Soil samples
from each boring were retained for further review in the office by a Geologist. Appended to this report
are the May 24, 2016, Environmental Field Report, the corresponding hand-auger boring stratification
logs, and photographs of soil samples obtained from these borings.
Based on the field stratification descriptions and further review of the soil samples in the office by our Ed
Henriques, suspect biosolids materials were not present in the borings completed, except for Boring D.
Further review of the soil stratified in the field as possible biosolids revealed that they were not biosolids;
rather, they were soils exhibiting a noticeable higher organic content; some of which consisted of wood
fibers and/or plant roots.
Boring D was completed within Area #2A. The upper most portion of boring D consisted of non-residual
fill soils. The material encountered between approximately 3.75 feet to 4 feet BGS was a saturated, black,
granular material, with fibrous woody fragments. It had the appearance of a burned or partially burned
material. The grain size of the material was visually uniform but it did not appear to be a wastewater
screenings grit. Given the apparent burnt nature of the material and the presence of fibrous woody
matter in the material, it was debatable if the material observed was a biosolids residual. In our opinion it
could have been a former composted material which had been burned. This material was underlain by
other suspect fill soils containing fragments of rock, and hand auger refusal occurred at 6.5 feet BGS.
A review of the hand-auger borings completed in Area #2A, indicated that each of the three boring
encountered suspect fill materials near the surface. Suspect residual soil was observed at 3 to 4 feet BGS
at boring C, while boring E was terminated at approximate 4.5 feet BGS on woody debris. The observed
soils from borings D and E indicated the presence of organic rich soils described as fill soils in the eastern
half of Area #2A. It is certainly possible that these fill materials were top soil or other soils not suitable for
construction, which were stripped from other portions of the site during one or more historic phases of
site development, and relocated to Area #2A.
Sample Analyses
Following a geologist’s examination of the black granular material encountered between approximately
3.75 feet to 4 feet BGS at boring D, a sample of this material was submitted for laboratory analysis for
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Ammonia-Nitrogen, and Nitrate-Nitrogen. The sample results indicated that the
material had a noteworthy TKN, Nitrate-Nitrogen, and Ammonia-Nitrogen content. A copy of the
laboratory analytical report is attached.
Report of Hand Auger Borings
Morganton Waste Water Treatment Plant
Morganton, North Carolina
S&ME Project No. 4358-14-078
September 30, 2016 3
Conclusions
Based on the observations made for the soil borings completed within areas Area #2A, Area #2B, and
Area #2C, no evidence of biosolids were identified in Areas #2C and 2B. A possible biosolids material was
encountered in Area #2A, in boring D at a depth of approximately 3.75 feet to 4 feet BGS. Based on the
woody organic matter observed in the material and the apparent burnt nature of the material, it was also
conceivable to interpret that this material may be a burnt compost material. Regardless of the debatable
origin of the material, it was approximately 0.25 feet thick at boring D and it was not observed in the two
remaining borings completed in Area #2A. Thus the observed thickness and extent of this material in
Area #2A appears to be somewhat limited.
If you have any questions or if additional assistance with this matter is required, please contact our
Edmund Henriques.
Sincerely,
S&ME, Inc.
Bradley Keyse Edmund Q.B. Henriques, L.G.
Staff Professional Senior Geologist / Project Manager
Attachments
Figure 1: Boring Location Map
Attachment I - Boring Stratification Logs
Attachment II - Soil Sample Photographs
Attachment III - Analytical Report
SCALE:
DRAWN BY:
DATE:
PROJECT NO:
FIGURE NO.
WWW.SMEINC.COM
DRAWING PATH:Q:\4358\2014\14-078 - MORGANTON WWTP\FIG 1.dwg
SITE
LOCATION MAP
MORGANTON WWTP
MORGANTON, NORTH CAROLINA
AS SHOWN
RDM
EQBH
4358-14-078
1
0
GRAPHIC SCALE
2,000 1,000 2,000
SCALE: 1" = 2,000'REFERENCE: MORGANTON NORTH, NC, 7.5-MINUTE SERIES, USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP (2013)
SITE
SCALE:
DRAWN BY:
DATE:
PROJECT NO:
FIGURE NO.
WWW.SMEINC.COM
DRAWING PATH:Q:\4358\2014\14-078 - MORGANTON WWTP\8-16\Morganton WWTP - FIG 2.dwg
BORING LOCATION MAP
MORGANTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
MORGANTON, NORTH CAROLINA
NTS
RDM
AUGUST 2016
4358-14-078
2
TW-1
TW-2
TW-3
D-2
D-3
D-4
D-5
D-1
D-6
D-7
D-8
D-9
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
HISTORIC BIOSOLIDS AREA
KEY
- APPROXIMATE TEMPORARY MONITORING WELL LOCATION
- APPROXIMATE GEOTECHNICAL SOIL TEST BORING LOCATION
- APPROXIMATE HAND AUGER LOCATION
SOURCE: AERIAL BASE MAP PROVIDED BY CLIENT.
Attachments
Attachment I – Boring Stratification Logs
Hours Billed Millage Billed Signature of S&ME Personnel
9.75 126
S&ME, Inc. | 44 Buck Shoals Road, Ste C-3 | Arden, NC 28704 | p 828.687.9080 | f 828.687.8003 |www.smeinc.com
Environmental Field Report
Date:
May 24 ,2016
Job Number:
4358-14-078 Ph. 07
Project Name:
Morganton WWTP
Weather/Temperature:
Sunny,75° F at 12:00
Project Location:
Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
Notes By:
☒
☐
Present at the Site:
Bradley Keyse (S&ME)
On May 5, S&ME personnel, Mr. Bradley Keyse visited the Morganton Wastewater Treatment
Plant located at 1000 Vinearden Rd perform to eight (8) hand auger borings using a 2.25-inch diameter
hand auger.
From 08:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs, S&ME completed hand auger borings A, B, C, D, E, F, G, & H. The
table below summarizes the hand auger borings. The field soil boring logs are attached. S&ME left the
subject property at 14:15 hrs.
Boring ID
Boring Depth
(feet bgs)
Termination
Description
Waste/Biosolids
Discovered?Fill / Residuum
A 2.5 Auger Refusal No Fill
B 7 Target Depth No Fill/Residuum
C 4 Residual Soils Yes Fill/Residuum
D 6.5 Auger Residual Yes Fill
E 4.5 Auger Refusal Yes Fill
F 7 Target Depth Yes Fill
G 4 Auger Refusal No Fill
H 7 Target Depth Yes Fill
Feet bgs = Feet Below Ground Surface
Attachments:
Field Soil Boring Logs
Equipment Used
Hand Auger (S&ME’s)
Attachment II – Soil Sample Photographs
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 1 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse1
Location / Orientation Boring A
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot Samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 2 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse2
Location / Orientation Boring B
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, 4-Foot, 5-Foot, 6-Foot, 7-Foot samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 3 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse3
Location / Orientation Boring C
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, 4-Foot Samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 4 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse4
Location / Orientation Boring D
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, 4-Foot, 5-Foot, 6-Foot, 6.5-Foot samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 5 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse5
Location / Orientation Boring D
Remarks Close-up of black granular material near 4-Foot BGS
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 6 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/25/16Photographer:B.Keyse6
Location / Orientation Boring E
Remarks 1-Foot and 2-Foot samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 7 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse7
Location /
Orientation Boring E
Remarks 3-Foot, 4-Foot, and 5-Foot samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 8 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse8
Location / Orientation Boring F
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, 4-Foot, 5-Foot, 6-Foot, 7-Foot samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 9 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse9
Location / Orientation Boring G
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, and 4-Foot Samples
Morganton WWTP,Morganton, NC
Project #: 4358-14-078
Sheet 10 of 9 8646 West Market Street, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date:5/24/16Photographer:B.Keyse10
Location / Orientation Boring H
Remarks 1-Foot, 2-Foot, 3-Foot, 4-Foot, 5-Foot, 6-Foot, 7-Foot samples
Attachment III - Analytical Report