#5167 05 - 2012 - FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5167
Laboratory Name:
RPB Systems, Inc.
Inspection Type:
Field Commercial Maintenance
Inspector Name(s):
Jason Smith
Inspection Date:
May 25, 2012
Date Report Completed:
June 4, 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: June 4, 2012
Reviewed by:
Jeff Adams
Date Review Completed:
June 4, 2012
Cover Letter to use: _
Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP _ Corrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
6/7/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda:
Date Mailed:

a♦
North tea. ♦ Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5167
Mr. Bob Barr
RPB Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 1325
Asheville, NC 28802
Division of Water Quality
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
June 7, 2012
Dee Freeman
Secretary
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Barr:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on May 25, 2012 by Jason Smith. Where
finding(s) are cited in this report, a response is required. Within thirty days of receipt, please
supply this office with a written item for item description of how these finding(s) were corrected.
If the finding(s) cited in the enclosed report are not corrected, enforcement actions may be
recommended. 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 email or if you have questions or need additional information, please contact us at
828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Jason Smith
Master File
QENR DWO 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]
Internet: www.dwglab.org
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer
i

LABORATORY NAME:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
INTRODUCTION:
On -Site Inspection Report
RPB Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 1325
Asheville, NC 28802
5167
May 25, 2012
Field Commercial Maintenance
Jason Smith
Bob Barr and Dinah Trammel
This laboratory was inspected to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800 for
the analysis of environmental samples.
II. GENERAL COMMENTS:
The laboratory has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses and records are well organized
and easy to retrieve. The requirements associated with Findings A, B, and C are new policies that have
been implemented by our program since the last inspection.
Ill. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
A. Finding: Error corrections are not dated when performed.
Requirement: All documentation errors must be corrected by drawing a single line through the
- error so that the original entry remains legible. Entries shall not be obliterated by erasures or
markings. Wite-Out®, correction tape or similar products designed to obliterate documentation
are not to be used. Write the correction adjacent to the error. The correction must be initialed
by the responsible individual and the date of change documented. All data and log entries must
be written in indelible ink. Pencil entries are not acceptable. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for
Field Laboratories.
Proficiency Testing
Comment: The laboratory has analyzed known concentration samples along with their PTs. The
Proficiency Testing Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2 states: In general, laboratories
should not analyze non -blind quality control PTs with blind PTs as this is not the routine testing protocol
for environmental samples. This requirement is a new policy that has been implemented by our
program since the last inspection. The laboratory realized that this practice is not allowed when
reviewing the Proficiency Testing Requirements document after doing it with this year's PT study, and
stated during the inspection that it will no longer be done. No further response is necessary for this
finding.

Page 2
#5167 RPB Systems, Inc.
Recommendation: Known concentration samples are recommended as part of the troubleshooting
process following unacceptable PT sample results.
B. Finding: Proficiency Testing (PT) samples have not been distributed among all analysts and
equipment.
Requirement: Laboratories shall also ensure that PT samples are equally distributed among
personnel trained and qualified for the relevant tests, which represent the routine operation of
the work group at the time the PT study is conducted. Ref: Proficiency Testing Requirements,
February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2.
C. Finding: The preparation of Proficiency Testing (PT) samples is not documented.
Requirement: 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. Ref: Proficiency Testing Requirements, February 20,
2012, Revision 1.2.
Dissolved Oxygen — Standard Methods, 18t" Edition, 4500 O G
D. Finding: Meter calibration is not consistently documented.
Requirement: A record of instrument calibration where applicable, must be filed in an orderly
manner so as to be readily available for inspection upon request. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g)
(2).
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 Trillium Lakes and Village (NPDES permit #NC0059200), Cane Creek Elementary
(NPDES Permit #NC0086436), and Deerborne Cottages (NPDES permit #WQ0033804) for February,
2012. No transcription errors were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately
transcribing data.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above -cited findings and implementing the recommendation will help this lab to produce
quality data and meet certification requirements. The inspector would like to thank the staff for its
assistance during the inspection and data review process. Please respond to all findings.
Report prepared by: Jason Smith Date: June 4, 2012
Report reviewed by: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: June 4, 2012