#5075_10_2012_FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5075
Laboratory Name:
Carolina Stalite Company
Inspection Type:
Field Maintenance
Inspector Name(s):
Chet Whiting
Inspection Date:
October 4, 2012
Date Report Completed:
October 5, 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: October 5, 2012
Reviewed by:
Todd Crawford
Date Review Completed:
October 8 2012
Cover Letter to use: _
Insp. Initial _ Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP X Corrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
10/05/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda:
10/09/2012
Date Mailed:

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5075
Mr. Tim Agner
Carolina Stalite Company
P.O. Box 186
Gold Hill, NC 28071
Division of Water Quality
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
October 10, 2012
Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Agner:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on October 4, 2012 by Chet Whiting. Since the
finding(s) cited during the inspection were all corrected prior to the completion of the enclosed
report, a response is not required. The staff is commended for taking the initiative in correcting
the findings in such a timely manner. For certification maintenance, your laboratory must
continue to carry out the requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 2H .0800.
Copies of the checklists completed during the inspection may be requested from this office.
Thank you for your cooperation during the inspection. If you wish to obtain an electronic copy of
this report by electronic mail, or if you have questions or need additional information please
contact me at 828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
G%
Gary Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
CC: Chet Whiting
Master File
DENR DWQ Laboratory Section NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch
1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Location: 4405 Reedy Creek Road. Raleigh; North Carolina 27607-6445
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] One
Internet: www.dwglab.org NarthCarolina
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer ifilrallif

NPDES PERMIT #
CERTIFICATE M
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
Carolina Stalite Company
NC0080586
P.O. Box 186
Gold Hill, NC 28071
5075
October 4, 2012
Field Maintenance
Chet Whiting
Tim Agner and Joseph Konzelmann
This laboratory was inspected by a representative of the North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A
NCAC 2H .0800 for the analysis of environmental samples.
The laboratory is neat and well organized and has all the equipment necessary to perform the
analyses. The laboratory purchases a new digital traceable thermometer for temperature analysis
every 12 months. The laboratory was already documenting the analysis of PT samples in the same
manner as environmental samples.
Copies of the Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories, Approved Procedure for Field Analysis
of pH, Approved Procedure for Field Analysis of Settleable Solids and Approved Procedure for Field
Analysis of Temperature documents were given to laboratory personnel during the inspection.
Contracted analyses are performed by Pace Analytical Services, Inc — Huntersville (Certification #12).
II1. FINDINGS REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Comment: No instances were observed, however the laboratory was not aware that any data that
does not meet all quality control requirements is required to be qualified on the Discharge Monitoring
Report, including contract laboratory data. The Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories
document states: When quality control (QC) failures occur, the laboratory must attempt to determine
the source of the problem and must apply corrective action. Part of the corrective action is notification
to the end user. If data qualifiers are used to qualify samples not meeting QC requirements, the data
may not be useable for the intended purposes. It is the responsibility of the laboratory to provide the
client or end -user of the data with sufficient information to determine the usability of the qualified data.
Where applicable, a notation must be made on the DMR form, in the comment section or on a separate
sheet attached to the DMR form, when any required sample quality control does not meet specified
criteria and another sample cannot be obtained.

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#5075 Carolina Stalite Company
Comment: The laboratory needed to implement documentation of materials and reagents. The Quality
Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories document states: All chemicals, reagents, standards and
consumables used by the laboratory must have the following information documented: Date Received,
Date Opened (in use), Vendor, Lot Number, and Expiration Date. A system (e.g., traceable identifiers)
must be in place that links standard/reagent preparation information to analytical batches in which the
solutions are used. Documentation of solution preparation must include the analyst's initials, date of
preparation, the volume or weight of standard(s) used, the solvent and final volume of the solution.
This information as well as the vendor, manufacturer, lot number, and expiration date must be retained
for chemicals, reagents, standards and consumables used for a period of five years. Consumable
materials such as pH buffers and lots of pre -made standards are included in this requirement. This
requirement is a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection.
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., a statement that traceability will be documented in the
sample log book) was received by email on October 5, 2012. No further response is necessary for
this finding.
Comment: The laboratory was not documenting the preparation of PT samples. The Proficiency Testing
Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2 document states: PT samples received as ampules
must be diluted according to the PT provider's instructions. The preparation of PT samples must be
documented in a traceable log or other traceable format. The diluted PT sample becomes a routine
environmental sample and is added to a routine sample batch for analysis. This requirement is a new
policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. Notification of acceptable
corrective action (i.e., a statement that PT sample preparation will be documented) was received by
email on October 5, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
pH — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Comment: Values were reported that exceed the method specified accuracy (0.1 s.u) for this analysis.
Standard Methods, 4500 H+ B-2000, (6) states: By careful use of a laboratory pH meter with good
electrodes, a precision of ±0.02 unit and an accuracy of ±0.05 unit can be achieved. However, ± 0.1 pH
unit represents the limit of accuracy under normal conditions, especially for measurement of water and
poorly buffered solutions. For this reason, report pH values to the nearest 0.1 pH unit. This
requirement is a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection.
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., a statement that pH results [except for PT results]
would be reported to 0.1 s.u.) was received by e-mail on October 5, 2012. No further response is
necessary for this finding.
Residue Settleable — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2540 F
Comment: The time samples were received in the lab was not documented, so sample status as walk-in
(< 15 minutes) could not be verified. The Required Documentation for Sample Preservation and Hold
Time Memo states in part: "A fifteen minute limit to thermally or chemically preserve samples is allowed.
Sample identification must be associated with date and time of sample collection and analysis. The time
elapsed between sampling and analysis must be documented to determine if hold times are met."
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., a statement that the sample receipt time will be
documented) was received by e-mail on October 5, 2012. No further response is necessary for this
finding.
Comment: If the sample is returned to the laboratory within 15 minutes and is analyzed immediately
thermal preservation is not required. A review of the data showed that sample analysis generally started
within twenty minutes of collection.

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#5075 Carolina Stalite Company.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing field testing records and contract lab reports to Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Data were
reviewed for Carolina Stalite (NPDES Permit NC0080586) for June, July and August, 2012. No
transcription errors were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately
transcribing data.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
All findings noted during the inspection were adequately addressed prior to the completion of this
report. The inspector would like to thank the staff for its assistance during the inspection and data review
process. No response is required.
Report prepared by: Chet Whiting Date: October 5, 2012
Report reviewed by: Todd Crawford Date: October 8, 2012