Resident alleges oil and records were buried at county stump dump; officials say state approved some disposals

A Bryson City resident raised a formal allegation at the June 2 Swain County work session that county maintenance crews and Department of Social Services records were buried at the county stump dump and called for an investigation and remediation.

The resident, identified as John, told commissioners he believed barrels of oil and DSS records had been taken to the stump dump in the fourth quarter of last year and said the stump dump sits on federal property under a special‑use permit, which could make the matter a federal compliance issue. "I'm pissed about it," he said during public comment, urging the board to investigate chain‑of‑custody and hazardous‑waste handling.

A county official responded that the manager had asked questions and been told by state authorities that some materials — notably wet or moldy records that could not be burned — had been approved for burial by the state. The board acknowledged the allegation and the resident's request for follow‑up; one commissioner described the claim as "illegal" and noted potential significant fines if federal rules were violated. The board did not announce a formal investigation during the meeting but said it would leave the matter in the board's hands for further review.

The stump dump's regulatory status (special‑use permit on federal land) was raised by the resident as a complicating factor; the board and staff exchanged questions about chain of custody, appropriate disposal methods, and state permissions. Commissioners did not provide definitive conclusions at the meeting and asked for further fact‑finding so they could respond to the resident.