2009 North Carolina Code
Chapter 130A - Public Health.
§ 130A-295.6. Additional requirements for sanitary landfills.

§ 130A‑295.6.  Additional requirements for sanitary landfills.

(a)        The Department shall conduct a study of the environmental impacts of any proposed sanitary landfill. The study shall meet all of the requirements set forth in G.S. 113A‑4 and rules adopted pursuant to G.S. 113A‑4. If an environmental impact statement is required, the Department shall publish notice of the draft environmental impact statement and shall hold a public hearing in the county where the landfill will be located no sooner than 30 days following the public notice. The Department shall consider the study of environmental impacts and any mitigation measures proposed by the applicant in deciding whether to issue or deny a permit. An applicant for a permit for a sanitary landfill shall pay all costs incurred by the Department to comply with this subsection including the costs of any special studies that may be required.

(b)        The Department shall require a buffer between any perennial stream or wetland and the nearest waste disposal unit of a sanitary landfill of at least 200 feet. The Department may approve a buffer of less than 200 feet, but in no case less than 100 feet, if it finds all of the following:

(1)        The proposed sanitary landfill or expansion of the sanitary landfill will serve a critical need in the community.

(2)        There is no feasible alternative location that would allow siting or expansion of the sanitary landfill with 200‑foot buffers.

(c)        A waste disposal unit of a sanitary landfill shall not be constructed within:

(1)        A 100‑year floodplain or land removed from a 100‑year floodplain designation pursuant to 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 72 (1 October 2006 Edition) as a result of man‑made alterations within the floodplain such as the placement of fill, except as authorized by variance granted under G.S. 143‑215.54A(b). This subdivision does not apply to land removed from a 100‑year floodplain designation (i) as a result of floodplain map corrections or updates not resulting from man‑made alterations of the affected areas within the floodplain, or (ii) pursuant to 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 70 (1 October 2006 Edition) by a letter of map amendment.

(2)        A wetland, unless the applicant or permit holder can show all of the following, as to the waste disposal unit:

a.         Where applicable under section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act or applicable State wetlands laws, the presumption that a practicable alternative to the proposed waste disposal unit is available which does not involve wetlands is clearly rebutted;

b.         Construction of the waste disposal unit will not do any of the following:

1.         Cause or contribute to violations of any applicable State water quality standard.

2.         Violate any applicable toxic effluent standard or prohibition under section 307 of the federal Clean Water Act.

3.         Jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of a critical habitat, protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.

4.         Violate any requirement under the federal Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.

c.         Construction of the waste disposal unit will not cause or contribute to significant degradation of wetlands.

d.         To the extent required under section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act or applicable State wetlands laws, any unavoidable wetlands impacts will be mitigated.

(d)        The Department shall not issue a permit to construct any disposal unit of a sanitary landfill if, at the earlier of (i) the acquisition by the applicant or permit holder of the land or of an option to purchase the land on which the waste disposal unit will be located, (ii) the application by the applicant or permit holder for a franchise agreement, or (iii) at the time of the application for a permit, any portion of the proposed waste disposal unit would be located within:

(1)        Five miles of the outermost boundary of a National Wildlife Refuge.

(2)        One mile of the outermost boundary of a State gameland owned, leased, or managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission pursuant to G.S. 113‑306.

(3)        Two miles of the outermost boundary of a component of the State Parks System.

(e)        A sanitary landfill for the disposal of construction and demolition debris waste shall be constructed with a liner system that consists of a flexible membrane liner over two feet of soil with a maximum permeability of 1 x 10‑5 centimeters per second. The flexible membrane liner shall have a minimum thickness of thirty one‑thousandths of an inch (0.030"), except that a liner that consists of high‑density polyethylene shall be at least sixty one‑thousandths of an inch (0.060") thick. The flexible membrane liner shall be installed in direct and uniform contact with the soil layer. The Department may approve an alternative to the soil component of the liner system if the Department finds, based on modeling, that the alternative liner system will provide an equivalent or greater degree of impermeability.

(f)         A sanitary landfill, other than a sanitary landfill for the disposal of construction and demolition debris waste, shall be constructed so that the post‑settlement bottom elevation of the liner system, or the post‑settlement bottom elevation of the waste if no liner system is required, is a minimum of four feet above both the seasonal high groundwater table and the bedrock datum plane contours. A sanitary landfill for the disposal of construction and demolition debris waste shall be constructed so that the post‑settlement bottom elevation of the flexible membrane liner component of the liner system is a minimum of four feet above both the seasonal high groundwater table and the bedrock datum plane contours.

(g)        A permit holder for a sanitary landfill shall develop and implement a waste screening plan. The plan shall identify measures adequate to ensure compliance with State laws and rules and any applicable local ordinances that prohibit the disposal of certain items in landfills. The plan shall address all sources of waste generation. The plan is subject to approval by the Department.

(h)        The following requirements apply to any sanitary landfill for which a liner is required:

(1)        A geomembrane base liner system shall be tested for leaks and damage by methods approved by the Department that ensure that the entire liner is evaluated.

(2)        A leachate collection system shall be designed to return the head of the liner to 30 centimeters or less within 72 hours. The design shall be based on the precipitation that would fall on an empty cell of the sanitary landfill as a result of a 25‑year‑24‑hour storm event. The leachate collection system shall maintain a head of less than 30 centimeters at all times during leachate recirculation. The Department may require the operator to monitor the head of the liner to demonstrate that the head is being maintained in accordance with this subdivision and any applicable rules.

(3)        All leachate collection lines shall be designed and constructed to permanently allow cleaning and remote camera inspection. All leachate collection lines shall be cleaned at least once a year, except that the Department may allow leachate collection lines to be cleaned once every two years if: (i) the facility has continuous flow monitoring; and (ii) the permit holder demonstrates to the Department that the leachate collection lines are clear and functional based on at least three consecutive annual cleanings. Remote camera inspections of the leachate collection lines shall occur upon completion of construction, at least once every five years thereafter, and following the clearing of blockages.

(4)        Any pipes used to transmit leachate shall provide dual containment outside of the disposal unit. The bottom liner of a sanitary landfill shall be constructed without pipe penetrations.

(i)         The Department shall not issue a permit for a sanitary landfill that authorizes:

(1)        A capacity of more than 55 million cubic yards of waste.

(2)        A disposal area of more than 350 acres.

(3)        A maximum height, including the cap and cover vegetation, of more than 250 feet above the mean natural elevation of the disposal area.

(j)         This section does not apply to landfills for the disposal of land clearing and inert debris or to Type I or Type II compost facilities. (2007‑543, s. 1(a)‑(c); 2007‑550, s. 9(a), (c).)