Debris Management

Debris Management
Gaston County Emergency Operations Plan

Coordinating Agency:	Solid Waste

Cooperating Agencies:	County Manager
	Finance Officer
	Emergency Management

Attachments
Attachment 1	Sample Debris Load Ticket
Attachment 2	Environmental Checklist for Air Curtain Pit Burners
Attachment 3	Right of Entry Agreement
Attachment 4	Construction & Demolition Debris Management Site
Attachment 5	Establishing Debris Management Sites
Attachment 6	Guidelines for Land Application of Wood Ash
Attachment 7	Guidelines for Reducing Spontaneous Combustion
Attachment 8	Guidelines for Closure and Restoration
Also see
Annex	Damage Assessment
Model	Debris Forecasting Model
Guidance	Responsibilities
In this document	Private Property Debris Removal Policy

PURPOSE

To provide organizational structure, guidance and standardized procedures for the clearance, removal and disposal of debris caused by a major debris-generating event.

To establish the most efficient and cost effective methods to resolve disaster debris removal and disposal issues.

To expedite debris removal and disposal efforts that provide visible signs of recovery designed to mitigate the threat to the health, safety and welfare of Gaston County residents.

To coordinate partnering relationships through communications and pre-planning with local, state and federal agencies involved with debris management responsibilities.

To implement and coordinate private sector Debris Removal and Disposal contracts to maximize cleanup efficiencies.

II.

SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

Situation

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding precipitate a variety of debris that include, but are not limited to, such things as trees and other vegetative organic matter, building / construction material, appliances, personal property, mud and sediment.

The quantity and type of debris generated from any particular disaster will be a function of the location and kind of event experienced, as well as its magnitude, duration and intensity. This plan is based on the debris generating capacity of a Category 3 Hurricane with wind speeds in excess of 131 miles per hour and heavy rainfall.

A Category 3 Hurricane will cause extensive damage to large trees and shrubs in addition to substantial structural damage to homes and commercial property. Mobile homes will be destroyed.

The quantity and type of debris generated, its location, and the size of the area over which it is dispersed will have a direct impact on the type of removal and disposal methods utilized to address the debris problem, associated costs incurred and how quickly the problem can be addressed.

Assumptions

A major natural disaster that requires the removal of debris from public or private lands and waters could occur at any time.

The amount of debris resulting from a major natural disaster probably will exceed Gaston County removal and disposal capabilities.

Gaston County will contract for additional resources to assist in the debris removal, reduction and disposal process.

The Governor will declare a State of Emergency that will authorize State resources to assist in removal and disposal of debris.

The Governor will request a Presidential Disaster Declaration, if the disaster exceeds both local and state resources.

III.

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

General

Organization

The county will be divided into Debris Management Sites.

The Solid Waste Manager will have the primary responsibility for identifying these sites, obtaining agreements to use these sites and ensuring their continued availability.

Specific

Responsibilities

Disaster responsibilities for municipalities will be determined by the respective jurisdictions according to their capabilities. However, all clean up and restoration efforts should be coordinated with adjoining jurisdictions, including Gaston County. All Gaston County municipalities are encouraged to participate in the existing agreement for sharing resources among themselves as a first priority.

The Emergency Management Administrator is responsible for daily operational control and overall management of the Emergency Operations Center and its staff. The Emergency Management Administrator will receive current information on the severity of the disaster from many sources. All requests for debris removal or disposal will be directed to the Debris Manager. Requests for debris clearing from public facilities and roadways will be coordinated with the EOC.

The Debris Manager will be designated as the person responsible for actions in this annex. In addition they will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following with respect to any and all debris management issues:

Keep the Gaston County Administration and Emergency Management Administrator briefed on the status of the debris clearing, removal and disposal operations.
Assure that Gaston County is represented at all meetings with other government and private agencies involved with the debris cleanup operation.
Coordinate with affected municipalities within Gaston County on all debris clearance, removal and disposal issues through conference calls.
Convene emergency debris coordinating meetings at the EOC or other location as appropriate.
Ensure the debris management effort is provided with all available administrative staff and field support personnel.
During EOC activation, the Debris Manager will coordinate debris management issues from the EOC. The Debris Manager will be responsible for coordinating all debris clearance and cleanup actions with the EOC. Actions will focus on keeping track of field site assignments and progress of the initial debris clearance from public roadways and vital facilities.
The Debris Manager will inform the Emergency Management Administrator of cleanup progress and any problems encountered or expected.
The Debris Manager will coordinate debris issues with municipalities, other government and private agencies involved with the debris cleanup operation. The Debris Manager may appoint a field operations coordinator who will be responsible for daily operational control of the debris sites.
The Debris Manager will supervise the monitoring of Debris Contractors, load inspections at debris sites and other off site areas and the preparation of Load Sheets at debris sites or other impacted areas.
The Debris Manager will coordinate the dissemination of public information with the PIO.

Public Information Officer (PIO)

The PIO will develop a proactive information management plan. Emphasis will be placed on actions that the public can perform to expedite the cleanup process. Flyers, newspapers, radio and TV public service announcements should be used to obtain the public's cooperation by separating burnable and non-burnable debris, segregating household hazardous waste, placing disaster debris at the curbside, keeping debris piles away from fire hydrants and valves, reporting locations of illegal dump sites or incidents of illegal dumping and segregating recyclable materials. Pickup schedules will be disseminated in the local news media and the County Emergency Information hotline.

County Finance Officer

The Gaston County Finance Officer, or his designee, shall serve as reimbursement coordinator and will provide for the collection and compilation of all labor, equipment hours, materials / supplies and expenditures related to disaster response and recovery. The reimbursement coordinator will also manage the receipt and submission of all debris contractor payables through consultation with the Debris Management Consultant and Debris Manager. Under the direction of the County Finance Officer, the County Debris Manager will assure that debris management contractors establish and maintain insurance coverage as required by the contract. In addition, the County Finance Officer, in cooperation with the Debris Management Consultant, will ensure that the identified contractors meet the contract requirements.

County Damage Assessment Officer

The County Damage Assessment Officer will be responsible for compiling all damage reports for county facilities using FEMA's Project Worksheet forms and coordinate the submission of these forms with the reimbursement coordinator and Debris Manager.

Environmental Programs

The Debris Manager shall work with the appropriate state and federal environmental regulatory agencies to ensure debris sites comply with established guidelines. Site monitoring will include environmental sampling (well drilling & monitoring sites) and lab services, as required.

Solid Waste Manager

The County Solid Waste Manager shall be responsible for the coordination with franchise waste haulers to reestablish garbage collection in the unincorporated areas of the county. The Solid Waste Manager shall coordinate with the Debris Manager in matters regarding storm debris collection, transportation and disposal.
The County Solid Waste Manager shall be responsible for storm debris cleanup at solid waste facilities. The County Solid Waste Manager and the Debris Manager will coordinate any on-site open burning of vegetative debris. The Solid Waste Manager will provide a status report on the availability of disposal capacity and the types and quantities of storm debris being delivered to the landfill facilities for processing or storage. The Emergency Management Administrator will be provided with regular status reports.

Hazardous Waste Services

The contractor(s) in accordance with established state and federal disposal regulations should separate Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). The contractor(s) shall provide to the Debris Manager recommendations for dealing with HHW materials. The contractor(s) shall ensure the coordination of inspections, notifications, and if necessary, cleanup or mitigation of any hazardous waste releases at identified facilities.

Debris Management Consultant(s)

Gaston County may hire a prime contractor to coordinate debris removal and other related activities. The contract will be handled as other service contracts are handled within the scope of county government. The Finance Officer, in cooperation with the Debris Manager, will make recommendations regarding selection of the vendor, scope of work, costs and other related issues. The identified prime contractor will hire and supervise subcontractors within the scope of the contract.

Pre-Storm Administrative Actions

The County Public Works Director will conduct a Debris Management Workshop with the contractors, Debris Manager, identified county staff and municipal representatives to review the Debris Management Plan procedures and to ensure that the debris management operation works smoothly. Items of discussion will include:

Contractor responsibility
Debris Management Site
Logistical support
Procedures for call up of contractor personnel and equipment
Haul routing
Contractor vehicle identification and registration
Debris hauling load ticket administration
Mobilization and operation of the Debris Management Sites
Contractor payment request submission, review, and verification
Special procedures for HHW
Debris Management site open and closure requirements

Pre-Storm Activation Actions

The Public Works Director will notify the Finance Officer, who will in turn notify the contractor, in order to place them on alert status. They are to be prepared to move into the Gaston County area within 12 hours after receipt of a Notice to Proceed from the County.

The County Debris Management Consultant will be notified by the County Finance Officer upon notice of a Category 1 or above hurricane or other situation that could generate large volumes of debris. The Debris Management Consultant will establish presence and coordinate with the County should the situation dictate the activation of the emergency contract.

Debris Management Phases

Phase I: Debris Clearance Operations

The Solid Waste Manager, in cooperation with the County Damage Assessment Officer, is the lead person responsible for coordinating impact assessment for all public structures, equipment and debris clearance immediately following a large scale disaster in order to prioritize the impacted areas and resource needs. Debris clearance from roadways and public property will be accomplished using volunteer crews and equipment, NCDOT, mutual aid providers and private contractor resources. The NCDOT has the primary mission to clear debris from at least one lane on all primary and secondary roads to expedite the movement of emergency service vehicles such as fire, police and medical responders. Available volunteers from National Guard, Fire Departments and the NC Forest Service may supplement these services.

Gaston County Damage Assessment Teams will conduct initial zone-by-zone windshield surveys to identify the type of debris and to estimate amounts of debris on the roadways. The results of the windshield surveys will also be provided to the Debris Manager located at the EOC.

Priority for debris clearance will be based upon the following criteria:

Extricate people
Major flood drainage arteries
Egress for fire, police and Emergency Operations Center
Fire, Police and Municipal Buildings
Ingress to hospitals, jail, and special care unit
Major traffic routes
Egress for fleet, traffic, road and bridge, and designated remote locations
Supply distribution points and mutual aid assembly areas
Government facilities
Public Safety communications towers
Gaston Red Cross shelters
Secondary roads to neighbor collection points
Access for utility restoration
Neighborhood streets
Private property adversely affecting public welfare

Phase II:

Contractor operations will require county and identified municipalities to provide Field Monitoring Teams as well as Load Site and Disposal Site Monitors to oversee contractor operations for quality control purposes.

Debris Removal and Disposal Operations

The Debris Manager will coordinate debris removal and disposal operations for all unincorporated portions of Gaston County.

Identified contractors will collect and haul mixed debris from their assigned Debris Management Sites to designated C&D Debris Management sites or to designated private landfill sites. Clean woody debris will be hauled to the nearest designated vegetative Debris Management site for eventual burning or grinding.

Municipality contractors will take all storm debris to the County Landfill or an approved municipal Debris Management Site. Clean woody debris will be hauled to the nearest municipal Debris Management Site or approved county vegetative Debris Management Site.

Mixed debris from unincorporated areas will be hauled to designated C&D Debris Management Sites or to designated landfill sites. Clean woody debris will be hauled to the nearest designated vegetative Debris Management Site for eventual burning or grinding.

All vehicles hauling debris and contractor debris haulers will obtain a certified scale ticket and / or load ticket for each load of debris deposited at a private landfill. The contractors' scale ticket / load tickets will be turned into their supervisors at the end of each day. The supervisors will forward the scale tickets daily to the Debris Manager. The scale tickets / load tickets will be the verification documentation for landfill invoices.

Private haulers will pickup garbage according to current procedures, routes and removal schedules.

Contractor Debris Removal and Disposal Operations

The Finance Officer or his / her authorized representative will be in contact with the firm(s) holding Debris Removal and Disposal Contract(s) and advise them of impending conditions. The contract is designed to have a qualified contractor(s) remove and lawfully dispose of all natural disaster generated debris, industrial or commercial hazardous waste. Debris removal may be limited to unincorporated streets, roads and other public rights-of-way based on the extent of the disaster by N. C. Department of Transportation. Debris contract haulers may be limited to disaster related material placed at, or to debris immediately adjacent to, the edge of the rights-of-way by residents within designated Debris Management Sites.

The contractor, upon Notice to Proceed, will mobilize such personnel and equipment as necessary to conduct all debris removal and disposal operations as were previously detailed in the Debris Removal and Disposal Contract. All contractor operations will be subject to review by Gaston County officials.

Gaston County recognizes the economy of disaster debris disposal through the use of local vegetative Debris Management Sites designated for volume reduction of clean woody debris. The County has pre-designated vegetative Debris Management Sites for the sole purpose of temporarily storing and reducing clean woody debris through either burning or grinding. The contractor will operate the Debris Management Sites made available by the County. The contractor will be responsible for all site setup, site operations, rodent control, closeout and remediation costs. The contractor is also responsible for the lawful disposal of all debris reduction by products as his / her operations may generate at a Debris Management Site. A listing of all approved County Debris Management Sites will be provided.

Debris Management Sites will be established for mixed debris. These sites will be centrally located to handle construction and demolition (C&D) material. These C&D Debris Management Sites will be used to expedite the removal of mixed and C&D material from rights-of-way within the unincorporated portions of Gaston County. Municipalities will be allowed to use these sites upon approval of the Gaston County Debris Manager. A valid load ticket must accompany all material delivered to a County C&D Debris Management Site by county contractors. All material deposited at C&D Debris Management Sites will eventually be taken to a properly permitted landfill for final disposal.

The County Debris Manager may direct contractors to bypass C&D Debris Management Sites and approve the hauling of mixed C&D debris directly to a properly permitted landfill for disposal.

The Debris Manager, or their designee, will monitor the contractor's performance for debris removal and disposal operations in each Debris Zone. The Debris Manager will supervise the Field Inspection Teams consisting of county personnel. The Field Inspection Teams will monitor all contractor operations. The contractor will keep the Field Inspection Teams informed of cleanup progress and any problems encountered or expected.

The contractor will restore the Debris Management Sites as close to the original condition as is practical so that it does not impair future land uses. All sites are to be restored to the satisfaction of the County with the intent of maintaining the utility of each site.

Loading Site and Disposal Site Monitors

All contracted loads will be taken directly to an approved landfill for final disposal. The contractor should avoid multiple hauling of debris. The contractor shall comply with all terms of the contract.

Disposal Site Monitors will be provided by either the County or from identified sources. The Loading Site Inspectors will be assigned to each contractor loading site within designated Debris Management Sites. The Loading Site Monitor will initiate the load tickets that verify that the debris being picked up is eligible under the terms of the contract. Disposal Site Monitors will be stationed at all Debris Management Sites and landfills disposal site for the purpose of verifying the quantity of material being hauled by the contractor through the use of load tickets.

The contractor shall construct and maintain Inspection Stations at each Debris Management Site and landfill disposal site. The inspection stations will consist of an inspection tower with furniture and portable sanitary facilities. The contractor will construct the inspection towers of pressure treated wood with a floor elevation that affords the Disposal Site Monitor a complete view of the load bed of each piece of equipment being utilized to haul debris.

A Disposal Site Monitor will be located at each inspection station to verify the load and estimate the volume in cubic yards. The Disposal Site Monitors will estimate the cubic yards of debris in each truck entering the contractor's selected Debris Management Sites or landfill disposal site and will record the estimated quantity on pre-numbered debris load tickets.

The contractor will only be paid based on the number of cubic yards of material deposited at the disposal site as recorded on the debris load tickets.

The contractor will be paid based on the number of cubic yards of eligible debris hauled per truckload. One part of the debris load ticket will be given to the truck driver and the other retained by the Disposal Site Monitor. The truck driver's portion of the load ticket will be turned in daily to their supervisor. The Disposal Site Monitor's copy will be turned in daily to the Debris Manager. Payment for hauling debris will only be approved upon presentation of the duplicate debris load ticket with the contractor's invoice. The County will process contractor invoices within ten working days of receipt.

Field Inspection Team

The Debris Manager will appoint Field Inspection Team personnel responsible for monitoring all contractor debris removal and disposal operations. The Field Inspection Teams will periodically inspect each Debris Management Site to ensure that operations are being followed as specified in the Debris Removal and Disposal Contract with respect to local, state and federal regulations and the Debris Management Site Baseline Checklist. Each Field Inspection Team will submit a daily written report to the Debris Manager outlining their observations with respect to the following:

Is the contractor using the site properly with respect to layout and environmental considerations?
Has the contractor established lined temporary storage areas for ash, household hazardous wastes and other materials that can contaminate soils and groundwater?
Has the contractor established environmental controls in equipment staging areas, fueling and equipment repair areas to prevent and mitigate spills of petroleum products and hydraulic fluids?
Are plastic liners in place under stationary equipment such as generators and mobile lighting plants?
Has the contractor established appropriate rodent control measures?
Are burn sites constructed and operating according to Environmental Checklist for Air Curtain Pit Burners?
Has the contractor established procedures to mitigate:
- Smoke: Are the incineration pits constructed properly and being operated according to the contract statement of work?
- Dust: Are water trucks employed to keep the dust down?
- Noise: Have berms or other noise abatement procedures been employed?
- Traffic: Does the Debris Management Site have a suitable layout for ingress and egress to help traffic flow?

Field Inspection reports will also include observations at loading sites and the locations of any illegal dumping sites.

Debris Management Site Setup and Closeout Procedures

The contractor will be responsible for preparing and closing out a Debris Management Site according to specification in the contract.

Private Property Debris Removal

Dangerous structures should be the responsibility of the owner to demolish in order to protect the health and safety of adjacent residents. However, experience has shown that unsafe structures will remain because of the lack of insurance or absentee landlords. Care must be exercised to ensure that the Gaston County Building Code Enforcement Department properly identifies structures.

The Debris Manager will coordinate with the Building Code Enforcement Department regarding:

Demolition of private structures.
Removing debris from private property.
Local law and / or code enforcement agencies.
Historic and archaeological sites.
Qualified environmental contractors to remove hazardous waste such as asbestos and lead-based paint.
Abandoned vehicles.
Receipt of Right of Entry Agreements with landowners.

The topography and soil / substrate conditions should be evaluated to determine best site layout. When planning site preparation, think of ways to make restoration easier. For example, if the local soils are very thin, the topsoil can be scraped to bedrock and stockpiled in perimeter berms. Upon site closeout, the uncontaminated soil can be spread to preserve the integrity of the tillable soils.

The following site Baseline Data Checklist should be used to evaluate a site before a contractor begins operations and used during and after to ensure that site conditions are properly documented.

Debris Management Site Operations

Lined temporary storage areas should be established for ash, household hazardous waste, fuels and other materials that may contaminate soils and groundwater. Plastic liners should be placed under stationary equipment such as generators and mobile lighting plants. These actions should be included as a requirement in the contract scope of work. If the site is also an equipment storage area, fueling and equipment repair should be monitored to prevent and mitigate spills of petroleum products and hydraulic fluids.

Be aware of and lessen the effects of operations that might irritate occupants of neighboring areas. Establishment of a buffer zone can abate concerns over smoke, dust, noise and traffic.

Consider on site traffic patterns and segregate materials based on planned volume reduction methods.

Operations that modify the landscape, such as substrate compaction and over excavation of soils when loading debris for final disposal, will adversely affect landscape restoration.

Debris removal / disposal should be viewed as a multi-staged operation with continuous volume reduction. There should be no significant accumulation of debris at temporary storage sites. Instead, debris should be constantly flowing to burners and grinders, or recycled with the residue and mixed construction and demolition materials going to a landfill.

Debris Management Site Closeout Inspection

Each Debris Management Site will eventually be emptied of all material and be restored to its previous condition and use. The contractor is required to remove and dispose of all mixed debris, construction and demolition debris, and debris residue to approved landfills. Appropriate Gaston County inspectors will monitor all closeout activities to ensure that the contractor complies with the Debris Removal and Disposal Contract. Additional measures may be necessary to meet local, state and federal environmental requirements because of the nature of the Debris Management Sites operation.

Debris Management Site Closeout Planning

The contractor must assure the County that all Debris Management Sites are properly remedied. There will be significant costs associated with this operation as well as close scrutiny by the local press and environmental groups. Site redemption will go smoothly if baseline data collection and site's operation procedures are followed.

Debris Management Site Closeout Steps:

Contractor is responsible for removing all debris from the site.
Contractor conducts an environmental assessment with County and landowner.
Contractor develops a remediation plan.
Remediation plan reviewed by County, landowner and appropriate environmental agency.
Remediation plan approved by the appropriate environmental agency.
Contractor executes the plan.
Contractor obtains acceptance from County, appropriate environmental agency and the landowner.

Debris Management Site Remediation

During the debris removal process and after the material has been removed from each of the Debris Management Sites, environmental monitoring will be needed to close each of the sites. This is to ensure that no long-term environmental contamination is left on the site. The monitoring should be done on three different media: ash, soil and groundwater.

Ash
The monitoring of the ash should consist of chemical testing to determine the suitability of the material for either agricultural use or as a landfill cover material.
Soil
Monitoring of the soils should be by portable inspection methods to determine if any of the soils are contaminated by volatile hydrocarbons. The contractors may do this if it is determined that hazardous material, such as oil or diesel fuel was spilled on the site. This phase of the monitoring should be done after the stockpiles are removed from the site.
Ground Water
The monitoring of the groundwater should be done to determine the probable effects of rainfall leaching through either the ash areas or the stockpile areas.

Debris Management Site Closeout Coordination

The contractor will coordinate the following closeout requirements through the County Damage Assessment Team (CDAT) staff:

Coordinate with local and state officials responsible for construction, real estate, contracting, project management, and legal counsel regarding requirements and support for implementation of a site remediation plan.
Establish an independent testing and monitoring program. The contractor is responsible for environmental restoration of both public and leased sites. The contractor will also remove all debris from sites for final disposal at landfills prior to closure.
Reference appropriate and applicable environmental regulations.
Prioritize site closures.
Schedule closeout activities.

Debris Management Site Baseline Data Checklist

Before activities begin:

Take ground or aerial video / photographs.
Note important features, such as structures, fences, culverts and landscaping.
Take random soil samples.
Take random groundwater samples.
Take water samples from existing wells.
Check the site for volatile organic compounds.

After activities begin:

Establish groundwater monitoring wells.
Take groundwater samples.
Take spot soil samples at household hazardous waste, ash and fuel storage areas.

Progressive updates:

Update videos / photographs.
Update maps / sketches of site layout.
Update quality assurance reports, fuel spill reports, etc.

Site number and location:

Date closure complete.
Household hazardous waste removed.
Contractor equipment and temporary structures removed.
Contractor petroleum spills remediated.
Ash piles removed.
Comparison of baseline information to conditions after the contractor has vacated the temporary site.

Attachment 1
SAMPLE DEBRIS LOAD TICKET

click here for a printable copy of the form below

GASTON COUNTY Load Ticket
Ticket Number:
Contract Number:
Contractor's Name:
Date:
Driver's Name & Driver's License Number:
Truck License Number:
Measured Bed Capacity in Cubic Yards:
Pickup Site Location: Time:
Debris Classification:
	Burnable Clean Wood Debris
	Non-Burnable Treated Lumber, Metals, C&D
	Mixed Burnable and Non-Burnable
	Other (Define)
Printed Name of Gaston County Loading Site Monitor: Signature:
Debris Disposal Site Location: Time:
Estimated Quantity of Debris on Truck: Cubic Yards:
Printed Name of Gaston County Disposal Site Monitor: Signature:
Remarks:

Attachment 2
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FOR AIR CURTAIN PIT BURNERS

Incineration site inspections will also include an assessment of the environmental controls being used by the cntractor. Environmental controls are essential for all incineration methods, and the following will be monitored.

A setback of at least 1,000 feet should be maintained between the debris piles and the incineration area. Keep at least 1,000 feet between the incineration area and the nearest building. Contractor should use fencing and warning signs to keep the public away from the incineration area.

The fire should be extinguished approximately two hours before anticipated removal of the ash mound. The ash mound should be removed when it reaches 2 feet below the lip of the incineration pit.

The incineration area should be placed in an aboveground or below ground pit that is no wider than 8 feet and between 9 and 14 feet deep. Above ground incineration pits should be constructed with limestone and reinforced with earth anchors or wire mesh to support the weight of the loaders. There should be a 1 foot impervious layer of clay or limestone on the bottom of the pit to seal the ash from the aquifer.

The ends of the pits should be sealed with dirt or ash to a height of 4 feet. A 12 inch dirt seal should be placed on the lip of the incineration pit area to seal the blower nozzle. The nozzle should be 3 to 6 inches from the end of the pit.

There should be 1 foot high, unburnable warning stops along the edge of the pit's length to prevent the loader from damaging the lip of the incineration pit.

Hazardous or contaminated ignitable material should not be placed in the pit. This is to prevent contained explosions.

The airflow should hit the wall of the pit about 2 feet below the top edge of the pit, and the debris should not break the path of the airflow except during dumping. The pit should be no longer than the length of the blower system and the pit should be loaded uniformly along its length.

Attachment 3
Right of Entry Agreement

click here for a printable copy of the form below

Right of Entry Agreement
Gaston County

I / We , the owner(s) of the property commonly identified as, (street)______________________,

of (city/town)__________________________, Gaston County, State of North Carolina

do hereby grant and give freely and without coercion, the right of access and entry to said property in the County of Gaston its agencies, contractors, and subcontractors thereof, for the purpose of removing and clearing any or all storm-generated debris of whatever nature from the above described property. It is fully understood that this permit is not an obligation to perform debris clearance. The undersigned agrees and warrants to hold harmless the County of Gaston, State of North Carolina, its agencies, contractors, and subcontractors, for damage of any type, whatsoever, either to the above described property or persons situated thereon and hereby release, discharge, and waive any action, either legal or equitable that might arise out of any activities on the above described property. The property owner(s) will mark any storm damaged sewer lines, water lines and other utility lines located on the described property.

I / We (have, have not) (will, will not) received any compensation for debris removal from any other source including SBA, ASCS, private insurance, individual and family grant program or any other public assistance program. I will report for this property any insurance settlements to me or my family for debris removal that has been performed at government expense.

For the considerations and purposes set forth herein, I set my hand this __________ day of _______________, 20__.

Witness ________________________________

Owner / Telephone Number / Address _____________________________________________________

Attachment 4
Construction and Demolition Debris Management Site Operational Guidelines

When local governments are preparing temporary facilities for handling debris resulting from the cleanup efforts due to storm damage, the following guidelines should be considered when establishing Debris Management Sites for Construction & Demolition (C&D) debris.

These guidelines apply only to sites for staging/transferring C&D storm debris (roof shingles / roofing materials, carpet, insulation, wallboard, treated and painted lumber, etc.). Arrangements should be made to screen out unsuitable materials, such as household garbage, white goods, asbestos containing materials (ACM's), and household hazardous waste.

Debris Management Sites

Locating Debris Management Sites for staging / transferring C&D waste can be accomplished by evaluating potential sites and by revisiting sites used in the past to see if site conditions have changed or if the surrounding areas have changed significantly to alter the use of the site. The following guidelines are presented in locating a site for "staging / transferring" and are considered "minimum standards" for selecting a site for use:

Hauler unloading areas for incoming C&D debris material should be at a minimum 100 feet from all surface waters of the state. "Waters of the state" includes but is not limited to small creeks, streams, watercourses, ditches that maintain seasonal groundwater levels, ponds, wetlands, etc.

Storage areas for incoming C&D debris shall be at least 100 feet from the site property boundaries, on site buildings / structures, and septic tanks with leach fields or at least 250 feet from off site residential dwellings, commercial or public structures, and potable water supply wells, whichever is greater.

Materials separated from incoming C&D debris (white goods, scrap metal, etc.) shall be at least 50 feet from site property lines. Other nontransferable C&D wastes (household garbage, larger containers of liquid, household hazardous waste) shall be placed in containers and transported to the appropriate facilities as soon as possible.

Sites that have identified wetlands should be avoided, if possible. If wetlands exist or wetland features appear at a potential site the areas should be flagged and a 100-foot buffer shall be maintained for all activities on going at the site.

Sites bisected by overhead power transmission lines need careful consideration due to large dump body trucks / trailers used to haul debris, and underground utilities need to be identified due to the potential for site disturbance by truck/equipment traffic and possible site grading.

Sites shall have an attendant during operating hours to minimize the acceptance of unapproved materials and to provide directions to haulers and private citizens bringing in debris.

When possible, signs should be installed to inform haulers and the general public on types of waste accepted, hours of operation and who to contact in case of after hours emergency.

10.

Final written approval is required from the County Emergency Management Administrator to consider any debris management site to be closed. Closure of processing/recycling sites shall be within one (1) year of receiving waste. If site operations will be necessary beyond this time frame, permitting of the site by the Solid Waste Section may be required. If conditions at the site become injurious to public health and the environment, then the site shall be closed until conditions are corrected or permanently closed. Closure of sites shall be in accordance with the closure and restoration of temporary debris management sites guidelines.

Attachment 5
Establishing Debris Management Sites for Burning and Grinding Operations

General

When preparing temporary facilities for handling debris resulting from the cleanup efforts due to storm damage, the following guidelines should be considered when establishing Debris Management Sites for Burning and Grinding Operations.

These guidelines apply only to sites for grinding or burning vegetative storm debris (yard waste, trees, limbs, stumps, branches and untreated or unpainted wood). Arrangements should be made to screen out unsuitable materials.

The two method(s) of managing vegetative and land clearing storm debris are "chipping / grinding" for use in landscape mulch, compost preparation, and industrial boiler fuel or using an air curtain burner (ACB), with the resulting ash being land applied as a liming agent or incorporated into a finished compost product as needed.

Chipping and Grinding Debris Management Sites

Locating Debris Management Sites for chipping / grinding of vegetative and land clearing debris will require a detailed evaluation of potential sites and possible revisits at future dates to see if site conditions have changed or if the surrounding areas have changed significantly to alter the use of the site.

The following guidelines are presented in locating a site for "chipping / grinding" and are considered "minimum standards" for selecting a site for use:

Storage areas for incoming debris and processed material should be at a minimum 100 feet from all surface waters of the state. "Waters of the state" includes but is not limited to small creeks, streams, watercourses, ditches that maintain seasonal groundwater levels, ponds, wetlands, etc.

Storage areas for incoming debris and processed material shall be at least 100 feet from the site property boundaries and on site buildings / structures. Management of processed material shall be in accordance with the guidelines for reducing the potential for spontaneous combustion in compost / mulch piles.

Storage areas for incoming debris shall be located at least 100 feet from residential dwellings, commercial or public structures, potable water supply wells and septic tanks with leach fields.

Sites that have identified wetlands should be avoided, if possible. If wetlands exist or wetland features appear at a potential site, the areas shall be flagged and a 100 foot buffer shall be maintained for all activities on going at the site.

Sites shall have an attendant(s) during operating hours to minimize the acceptance of unapproved materials and to provide directions to haulers and private citizens bringing in debris.

Sites should be secure after operating hours to prevent unauthorized access to the site. Temporary measures to limit access to the site could be the use of trucks or equipment to block entry. Gates, cables, or swing pipes should be installed as soon as possible for permanent access control, if a site is to be used longer than two weeks. Sites should have adequate access that prohibits traffic from backing onto public rights-of-way or blocking primary and / or secondary roads to the site.

When possible, signs should be installed to inform haulers and the general public on types of waste accepted, hours of operation, and who to contact in case of an after hours emergency.

10.

Grinding of clean wood waste such as pallets and segregated unpainted / untreated dimensional lumber is allowed.

11.

Final written approval is required from the County Emergency Management Administrator to consider any debris management site to be closed. Closure of staging and processing sites shall be within six (6) months of receiving waste. If site operations will be necessary beyond this time frame, permitting of the site may be required. If conditions at the site become injurious to public health and the environment, then the site shall be closed until conditions are corrected or permanently closed. Closure of sites shall be in accordance with the closure and restoration guidelines for Debris Management Sites.

Air Curtain Burner Sites

Locating sites that are intended for air curtain burning (ACB) operations is a coordinated effort between the Solid Waste Authority and local air quality officials for evaluating the surrounding areas and to reevaluate potential sites used in the past. The following guidelines are presented for selecting an ACB site and operational requirements once a site is in use:

Contact the local fire marshal or fire department for input into site selection in order to minimize the potential for fire hazards, other potential problems related to fire fighting that could be presented by the location of the site and to ensure that adequate fire protection resources area available in the event of an emergency.

The requirements for ACB device(s), in accordance with local air quality rules require the following buffers: a minimum of 500 feet from the AC13 device to homes, dwellings and other structures and 250 feet from roadways. Contact the local office of air quality for updates or changes to their requirements.

Sites should be located outside of identifiable or known floodplain and flood prone areas; consult the Flood Insurance Rate Map for the location in your county to verify these areas. Due to heavy rains associated with hurricanes and saturated conditions that result, flooding may occur more frequently than normally expected. If ACB pit devices are utilized, a minimum two foot separation to the seasonal high water table is recommended. A larger buffer to the seasonal high water table may be necessary due to on site soil conditions and topography.

Storage areas for incoming debris should be at a minimum 100 feet from all surface waters of the state. "Waters of the state" includes but is not limited to small creeks, streams, watercourses, ditches that maintain seasonal groundwater levels, ponds, wetlands, etc.

Storage areas for incoming debris shall be located at least 100 feet from property boundaries and on site buildings / structures.

Air Curtain Burners in use should be located at least 200 feet from on site storage areas for incoming debris, on site dwellings and other structures, potable water supply wells and septic tanks and leaching fields.

Wood ash stored on site shall be located at least 200 feet from storage areas for incoming debris, processed mulch or tub grinders (if a grinding site and ACB site is located on the same property). Wood ash shall be wetted prior to removal from the ACB device or earth pit and placed in storage. If the wood ash is to be stored prior to removal from the site, then rewetting may be necessary to minimize airborne emissions.

Wood ash to be land applied on site or off site shall be managed in accordance with the guidelines for the land application of wood ash from storm debris burn sites. The ash shall be incorporated into the soil by the end of the operational day or sooner if the wood ash becomes dry and airborne.

Sites that have identified wetlands should be avoided, if possible. If wetlands exist or wetland features appear at a potential site it will be necessary to delineate areas of concern. Once areas are delineated, the areas shall be flagged, and a 100 foot buffer shall be maintained for all activities ongoing at the site.

10.

Sites bisected by overhead power transmission lines need careful consideration due to large dump body trucks / trailers used to haul debris and the intense heat generated by the ACB device. Underground utilities need to be identified prior to digging pits for using the ACB device.

11.

Provisions should be made to prevent unauthorized access to facilities when not open for use. As a temporary measure, access can be secured by blocking drives or entrances with trucks or other equipment when the facilities are closed. Gates, cables, or other more standard types of access control should be installed as soon as possible.

12.

When possible, post signs with operating hours and information about what types of cleanup waste may be accepted. Also include information as to whether only commercial haulers or the general public may deposit waste.

13.

Closure of air curtain burner sites shall be within six (6) months of receiving waste. If site operations will be necessary beyond this time frame, permitting of the site may be required. If conditions at the site become injurious to public health and the environment, then the site shall be closed until conditions are corrected or permanently closed. Closure of sites shall be in accordance with the guidelines for closure and restoration of Debris Management Sites.

Attachment 6
Guidelines for the Land Application of Wood Ash from Storm Debris Burn Sites

Whenever possible, soil test data and waste analysis of the ash should be available to determine appropriate application rate.

In the absence of test data to indicate agronomic rates, application should be limited to 2 to 4 tons per acre / one time event. If additional applications are necessary, due to the volume of ash generated and time frame in which the ash is generated, then an ash management plan will be needed.

Ash should be land applied in a similar manner as agricultural limestone.

Ash should not be land applied during periods of high wind to avoid the ash blowing off the application sites.

Ash should not be land applied within 25 feet of surface waters or within 5 feet of drainage ways or ditches on sites that are stabilized with vegetation. These distances should be doubled on sites that are not vegetated and the ash should be promptly incorporated into the soil.

Records should be maintained to indicate where ash is applied and the approximate quantities of ash applied.

As an option to land application, ash may be managed at a permitted municipal solid waste landfill after cooled to prevent possible fire.

Assistance in obtaining soil test data and waste analysis of ash should be available through county offices of the Extension Service.

Attachment 7
Guidelines for Reducing the Potential for Spontaneous Combustion in Compost or Mulch Piles

When ground organic debris is put into piles, microorganisms can very quickly begin to decompose the organic materials. The microorganisms generate heat and volatile gases as a result of the decomposition process. Temperatures in these piles can easily rise to more than 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Spontaneous combustion can occur in these situations.

Spontaneous combustion is more likely to occur in larger piles of debris because of a greater possibility of volatile gases building up in the piles and being ignited by the high temperatures. If wind rows can be maintained 5 feet to 6 feet high and 8 feet to 10 feet wide, volatile gases have a better chance of escaping the piles and the possibility of spontaneous combustion will be reduced.

Turning piles when temperatures reach 160 degrees can also reduce the potential for spontaneous combustion. Pile turning provides an opportunity for gases to escape and for the contents of the pile to cool. Adding moisture during turning will increase cooling. Controlling the amount of nitrogen bearing (green) wastes in piles will also help to reduce the risk of fire. The less nitrogen in the piles the slower the decomposition process and consequently the less heat generated and gases released.

Large piles should be kept away from wooded areas and structures and should be accessible to fire fighting equipment, if a fire were to occur. Efforts should be made to avoid driving or operating heavy equipment on large piles because the compaction will increase the amount of heat buildup, which could increase the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

Attachment 8
Guidelines for Closure and Restoration of Debris Management Sites

Closure or re-approval of a Debris Management Site should be accomplished within 30 days of receiving the last load of debris.

Site Closure

Once a site is no longer needed, it should be closed in accordance with the following guidelines. Closure is not considered complete until the following occurs:

Material Removal

All processed and unprocessed vegetative material and inert debris shall be removed to a properly approved solid waste management site.

Tires must be disposed of at a scrap tire collection / processing facility; white goods and other metal scrap should be separated for recycling.

Burn residues shall be removed to a properly approved solid waste management site or land applied in accordance with the guidelines at Attachment 2.

All other materials (unrecoverable metals, insulation, wall board, plastics, roofing material, painted wood, and other material from demolished buildings that is not inert debris (see #1 above) as well as inert debris that is mixed with such materials shall be removed to a properly permitted C&D recycling facility, C&D landfill or municipal solid waste landfill.

Stabilization

Site shall be stabilized with erosion control measures, including establishment of vegetative cover, in accordance with regulations of Department of Environmental Protection.

Agency Approval

The Department of Environmental Protection reserves the right to review any temporary site to determine if the provisions outlined herein have been adequately addressed.

Site Re-approval

Sites that were approved as temporary staging or processing sites will require reapproval for long term storage, continuing reduction processing, permanent disposal if site is not closed out in accordance with guidelines stated here. Sites shall be managed and monitored in accordance with the Department of Environmental Protection and to prevent threats to the environment or public health.