#5619 -03- 2012 - FINAL

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5619
Mr. Larry Wright
Cherryville WWTP Lab
116 S. Mountain Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
May 7, 2012
Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Wright:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on March 16, 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 Files
DENR 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
Nor h.Carohn.a
Nl` ura ill
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

Addressee
Date
Page 2 of 2

LABORATORY NAME:
NPDES Permit #:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE M
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I. INTRODUCTION:
On -Site Inspection Report
Cherryville WWTP Lab
NCO044440
116 S. Mountain Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
5619
March 16, 2012
Field Maintenance
Chet Whiting
Larry Wright
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 requested an inspection because the previous laboratory supervisor had left the town's
employment and the laboratory was changing to Field Certification status. This change in status has been
completed. The new lab supervisor wanted to evaluate the systems they had implemented to meet Field
laboratory requirements. The facility was well organized and equipped. Benchsheets had been revised to
reflect field analysis.
Corrected Findings cited in the first, second, and fourth comments are new policies that have been
implemented by our program since the last inspection.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
General Laboratory
Comment: The analysis of . Proficiency Testing (PT) samples were not documented in the same
manner as routine analysis. Proficiency Testing Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2 States:
All PT samples are to be analyzed and the results reported in a manner consistent with the routine
analysis and reporting requirements of compliance samples and any other samples analyzed according
to the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800. Laboratories must document any exceptions. All PT
sample analyses must be recorded in the daily analysis records as for any environmental sample. This
serves as the permanent laboratory record. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e.,
acknowledging PT samples would be documented on benchsheets the same as compliance samples)
was received by e-mail on April 20, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: It was stated that data that does not meet all quality control requirements is not qualified on
the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories states: When
quality control (QC) failures occur, the laboratory must attempt to determine the source of the problem

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#5619 Cherryville WWTP Lab
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 Discharge Monitoring Report (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. No instances were observed, however the
laboratory was not aware that all data that does not meet all quality control requirements is required to
be qualified on the DMR, including contract laboratory data. The full lab qualified data and DMR's as
required but the new Field Laboratory staff was not aware of this requirement.
DO — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 O G
Comment: The DO meter was not calibrated in water saturated air as stated in the manufacturer's
instruction for air calibration, Fisher Scientific Waterproof AP84 Portable pH/Dissolved Oxygen Meter .
Acceptable corrective action (i.e., Laboratory staff stated that the proper air calibration procedure
would be followed. A large zip lock type plastic bag containing a piece of moist cloth was labeled for
saturated air calibration) was performed on -site. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Temperature - Standard Methods, 18t" Edition, 2550 B
against an NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer. The Technical Assistance for Field Analysis
of Temperature document states: All thermometers and temperature measuring devices must be
checked every 12 months against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer and the process
documented. To check a thermometer or the temperature sensor of a meter, read the temperature of
the thermometer/meter against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer and record the two
temperatures. The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 1°C from the NIST
certified or NIST traceable thermometer reading. (NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory
Certification Policy). The documentation must include the serial number of the NIST certified
thermometer or NIST traceable thermometer that was used in the comparison. Also document any
correction that applies on both the thermometer/meter and on a separate sheet to be filed. (NOTE:
Other certified laboratories may provide assistance in meeting this requirement.) Notification of
acceptable corrective action (i.e., a copy of the temperature sensor calibration [both probes] from K &
W Labs) was by received by e- mail on April 10, 2012. No further response is necessary for this
finding.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail was performed. All analyses were still performed by a contract facility.
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: April 20, 2012
Report reviewed by: Jeff Adams Date: April 20, 2012