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Environmental Accomplishments for 2002

Division

Dexter Matthews, former solid waste section chief, named as division director after former director Bill Meyer’s retirement in July 2001.

Revise Web site to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and adopt new format proposed by parent agency, DENR.

Create environmental education team to educate the public about household hazardous waste and ground water pollution in addition to other topics. Programs can be adopted for any age group.

Hazardous Waste

The section partnered with the Manufacturers and Chemical Industry Council to held three Large Quantity Generator workshops across the state. The workshops provide updated technical and regulatory information along with compliance assistance.

Over 2,000 companies received Small Quantity Generator compliance checklists for the first time this year. The data provided will be used to update regulatory data and create customized compliance assistance.

Superfund

The Brownfields program set a record by completing 10 brownfields agreements. The program expanded its prospect sites to include RCRA permitted facilities, municipal landfills and sites under enforcement actions. As host state, the program worked closely with EPA on its most highly attended National Brownfields Conference

The Dry Cleaning program underway when funding became available through the legislature. Two additional staff members were hired. On November 26, the DSCA Program was authorized to negotiate state-lead contracts at the state’s estimated 900 active and abandoned dry-cleaning sites. Sites must join to participate.

The Registered Environmental Consultant program received authority to levy fines on non-compliant program members. The audit program was expanded to offer more vigorous and frequent audits, along with expanded training.

Solid Waste

A pilot project to develop public education and participation for proposed municipal solid waste landfill was initiated. The purpose was to hear citizen concerns and provide educational data about solid waste management, technical and operational aspects about the landfill, as well as specific information about the proposed site.

A medical waste company abruptly went bankrupt. This left many NC clients with rapidly growing piles of waste. A truck filled with waste was also abandoned. Staff searched out clients in need of assistance and worked with law enforcement to track the owners of waste left in a truck. By moving quickly, a potential threat to human health and the environment was averted.

One-stop septage regulation became possible after the Land Application and Composting Branch reorganized. Facility and site operator training is now available.

Underground Storage Tank Program

The Underground Storage Tank Program closed 663 leaking underground storage tank incidents during the year and settled an enforcement action to bring approximately 125 operating facilities and 35 leaking underground storage tank incidences into compliance.

The EPA awarded a $100,000 grant to clean up contamination caused by underground storage tanks located along Concord’s Cabarrus Avenue, the primary entrance to Center City. The grant complements federal Superfund cleanup funds that are also being used in this area for other types of environmental contamination.

Pay-for-Performance, a contractor program shown to reduce costs and shorten cleanup times in other states, was approved by the legislature this year. UST began a pilot program that, if successful, will be expanded over time.

NCDENR -  Division of Waste Management  - 1646 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1646 -   (919) 508-8400 E-mail Us