Item:
Title
Request for Consent of Access to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to allow its Division of Waste Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Their Contractors Access to the 3847 Redwood Road Site
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: September 28, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to authorize the County Manager to execute the attached Owner Permission for Property Access Consent Form, Property Owner Consent to Land-use Restrictions Form, and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Access Authorization Form granting access to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), its Division of Waste Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor’s access to the 3847 Redwood Road site to conduct an environmental investigation to evaluate potential public health and environmental hazards, resulting from past operations of an old unregulated landfill present on the property and, if necessary, to abate or control hazards posed by wastes and contaminated material by implementing a remedial action plan. (See Attachment 1).
On September 4, 2026, Durham County was notified via the attachment of a request from Terracon (DEQ’s contractor), for the County’s consent to access the site to conduct an environmental investigation to evaluate potential public health and environmental hazards as noted above. The U.S. Corp of Engineers is also being granted access to conduct a wetland jurisdictional determination at the site to aid in the overall reporting and plan.
The County Attorney’s Office and Engineering Department have reviewed the request and recommend that the Board authorize the consent of access. It is important to note that any possible contamination if identified poses no risk to the safety of the Sheriff’s Training Facility as the facility is not being constructed on the former landfill site of the property.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The granting of access aligns with Strategic Plan Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Objective SI 3: Preserve and restore the natural and built environment, and SI 3d: Protect and restore natural resources, land, recreational, historical, and rural spaces and SI 3c: Improve water quality through equitable and efficient use of resources and land protection by allowing continued environmental investigation to evaluate potential public health and environmental hazards.
Resource Persons: Peri Manns, ASLA, Deputy Director, Engineering & Environmental Services; Jay Gibson, P.E. Director of Engineering & Environmental Services; Joel Jones, Project Manager, Engineering & Environmental Services; Hyrum Hemingway, Assistant County Attorney; and Larissa Williamson, County Attorney
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board authorize the County Manager to execute the attached Owner Permission for Property Access Form, Property Owner Consent to Land-use Restrictions Form, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering Access Authorization Form granting access to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), its Division of Waste Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their contractor’s access to the 3847 Redwood Road Site to conduct and environmental investigation to evaluate potential public health and environmental hazards, resulting from past operations of an old unregulated landfill present on the property and, if necessary, to abate or control hazards posed by wastes and contaminated material by implementing a remedial action plan.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________