PER-2026-4300

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) conducted a performance audit of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Waste Management (DWM), Pre Regulatory Landfill Program (Program) to determine whether inactive hazardous substance or waste disposal sites were monitored in accordance with state law, policies, and procedures.

The audit found that the Program has not monitored the majority of sites in its inventory. As of June 30, 2025, 534 of 688 sites (78%) were not actively monitored.

Approximately 84% of sites are located within 1,000 feet of residences, schools, daycares, churches, or potable water wells, creating ongoing and largely unknown risks to public health and the environment. Where investigations have occurred, they have identified serious hazards, including elevated methane levels, contaminated soil, and polluted groundwater.

The audit determined that limited progress in monitoring and remediation is primarily driven by resource constraints and barriers to accessing privately owned properties. Although the Program receives funding from the state solid waste disposal tax, available resources only support five to six sites per year. At that rate, remediation of remaining sites could take approximately 99 years. Additionally, about 78% of sites are privately owned, and investigations generally cannot proceed without landowner permission.

The lack of timely monitoring and remediation has had tangible impacts across the State. In some cases, public parks were closed after contamination was discovered, exposing communities to health risks and resulting in costly remediation efforts.

The audit includes recommendations to strengthen oversight and improve the Program’s ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities by reevaluating site prioritization practices, maximizing the impact of available resources, pursuing additional funding and capacity-building strategies, and addressing barriers to obtaining access to high-risk properties. The audit also recommends that DEQ work with the General Assembly to clarify statutory authority and develop policies and procedures for accessing properties and responding to sites that pose imminent threats to public health or the environment.

Details are provided in the Findings and Recommendations section of the report.