CHARLOTTE — County officials believe a west Charlotte scrapyard violated air quality rules when a fire broke out last month.
Mecklenburg County Air Quality inspected Southern Metal Co. on Donald Ross Road after the March 6 fire. That day, Channel 9 crews could see smoke blowing around at ground level. Plumes of smoke could be seen for miles.
“Any time you have smoke conditions, it is hazardous,” Charlotte Fire Capt. Jackie Gilmore had said. “But again, due to the wind conditions and the shifting of the wind. We did have some concerns.”
It took more than three dozen firefighters about two hours to get the fire under control.
According to county inspectors, the metal recycling business violated the “open burning” and “nuisance” regulations in the county’s air pollution ordinance, as well as an air quality permit.
On March 7, the company told the county the fire started accidentally in one of the facility’s metal scrap piles.
“The facility stated that combustible materials such as plastics in appliances, upholstery, and tires were present in the piles,” the notice of violation reads.
Southern Metals is required to submit the following information to the county:
- The corrective action taken to prevent future scrapyard fires
- Written procedures describing how they inspect incoming material and keep volatile and combustible items from getting added to scrap piles
- Written procedures that show how they maintain inspection records
- A written description of training for all employees who are part of the inspection process. It should include inspection procedures, training frequency, and documentation of each employee involved in the inspection process
The facility has until May 19 to respond.
County inspectors said they are still working with Charlotte Fire on the investigation, and they have not yet decided on civil penalties. Penalities can be up to $25,000 for each air violation, the notice reads.
On March 13, Charlotte Fire inspected the facility and found “metal storage pile heights were not in compliance with the requirement for combustible storage piles to be 20 feet high or less.”
Then on March 23, the county conducted an unannounced inspection. No violations were documented in that inspection report. However, according to the report, “the facility lacked written standard operating procedures and associated records for ensuring no volatile organic compound and flammable materials pass through scrap metal screening.”
Because of that, officials said the facility’s compliance status was “unknown” as far as whether it followed appropriate procedures. Officials recommended continued surveillance on the facility.
County officials added there are no registered drinking water wells within 1,000 feet of the site.
(WATCH BELOW: Explosion near metal shredder causes fire at L. Gordon Iron and Metal in Statesville)
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