Oxfordshire HOA

Far worse than anything cited in the Parker rant, is the impact that the Tommy Price landfill is having on Oxfordshire.  For one thing, looks like debris is tumbling down everywhere, and I have a hard time seeing how it all will be effectively covered with dirt.  Remember the months-long Centralia PA-style underground fire we had a few years back?  I can see that happening again.  Took some pictures and am sending a complaint to the Mint Hill fire chief, not sure if it will do any good.

And that's hardly all.  There doesn't seem to any limit to the height of this thing -- soon it will be visible from uptown.  Am trying to get info on this operation, permit status, inspection status, what regulations apply, etc.  The landfill is listed in the county's Solid Waste Management web site, so I asked them if they were the ones controlling the permit.  Haven't heard back yet.

If anybody else has info on this operation, please share.

Update:  The permit allows the landfill to operate until it reaches a height of 880 feet above sea-level (Julliard Drive is about 710 feet, I think).  The engineering study attached to the permit application (dated Dec 2013) indicates height mid-2015 should be about 855 feet (880 feet by early 2018), so we've another 25 feet to go.

There is a clause in the permit that says 1 foot of dirt must be covered over the debris monthly, or more often if needed to prevent fire hazard.  So there may be grounds here for complaint.

That's really good information about the landfill. I personally don't have a problem with it. Well, not since they extinguished the fire a few years ago. There is no trash as  such in that landfill. It's just stumps and vegetation, all of which eventually biodegrade. To me it is a bit like having a mountain nearby, which to me is rather nice. Here's hoping that when the landfill reaches its authorized height it will be sowed with grass or something equally easy on the eyes. 

Another update:  Have found out more information.  Credit some of this to Jim Ford.

The ultimate authority controlling the landfill is the NC Dept of Nat Resources (DENR) Solid Waste.  They delegate operational control to Mecklenburg Solid Waste.  Mr. Charles Dial works for the latter and is responsible for twice-a-year inspections.

The Mint Hill Fire Chief said he had no authority over the landfill until such time as it actually caught fire.

DENR has a repository of PDF files related to the lansfill.  Included:  The most recent permit application (12/30/13), the permit itself (4/10/14), and inspection reports back to early 2010.  You can see these at https://edm.nc.gov/DENR-Portal

I initially had trouble accessing this site via Chrome due to Java not being up to date.  Once in, you enter the search string "60AR," which is the permit number for the landfill.

In reviewing the permit and other documents, I could find only two areas for complaint.

First, there is supposed to be an Operating Plan on file, which is to address things like projected use of landfill after completion, emergency contingency plan for firefighting, and systematic method of operation.  (I was hoping the latter would address why the mass shoving of debris down the slope was OK.)  I wrote the two people in DENR who granted the permit, asking where this information could be found, and never got a reply.

The other area of complaint:  The slope cannot be more than 3:1, about 18 degrees.  The steeper the slope the more material it takes to reach the height limit.  Hard to see the slope now with all the foilage (will be much easier this winter), but got one photo from Sugar Cane that clearly shows slope of 34 degrees, twice the limit.

I e-mailed this photo to Mr. Charles Dial, who replied:

"I have seen slopes fluctuate at these sites.  The goal is to achieve a 3:1 slope when you finish a cell or lift.  I will discuss your observations with the facility operators at an upcoming meeting, with them."

I will see if I can post my photo on our Facebook page.