State Auditor’s Report Reveals Unresolved Landfill Sites in North Carolina
The latest audit from North Carolina’s Office of the State Auditor highlights significant gaps in the oversight of landfill sites across the state. The findings focus on the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program, which has left numerous sites unexamined.
Initiated in 2007, the Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program operates under the Division of Waste Management. Its purpose is to manage sites that accepted waste before 1983, predating modern regulations. These sites, often situated near residential and public areas, potentially harbor hazardous materials that could threaten public health and the environment.
In total, 688 landfill sites have been identified as sites where waste was disposed of without regulatory supervision. Of these, 534 sites, representing 78% of the total, have not undergone investigation by DEQ’s program. Consequently, the extent of contamination, its potential spread, and the risks posed to nearby communities remain largely unknown. Notably, more than 80% of these sites are situated within 1,000 feet of sensitive areas, including homes, schools, and water sources.
“The Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program is a complex issue that creates challenges from a regulatory, legal, funding, and administrative standpoint,” stated State Auditor Dave Boliek. “But the bottom line is there are hundreds of potentially hazardous landfill sites across North Carolina, and despite tax dollars supporting a program meant to investigate these sites, 78% haven’t been examined. This audit lays out the facts, giving taxpayers a reliable update on a longstanding government issue.”
According to program management, the average cost for site investigation, assessment, and remediation is approximately $1.9 million per site. If this cost is extrapolated to the uninvestigated sites, the total could approach $1 billion. Since the program’s inception, 97 sites have been addressed, resulting in the securing of 370 acres of waste, sampling of 1,642 water supply wells, and provision of alternative water supplies to 30 homes.
The Division of Waste Management within DEQ has agreed with the audit’s conclusions and recommendations. The audit also includes a comprehensive list of all landfill sites, detailing risk levels, access status, and remediation progress.
Read More Here
Comments are closed.