#352 - 08 - 2010 - FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
Laboratory Name:
Inspection Type:
Inspector Name(s):
Inspection Date:
Date Report Completed:
Date Forwarded to Reviewer:
Reviewed by:
Date Review Completed:
Cover Letter to use:
Unit Supervisor:
Date Received:
Date Forwarded to Alberta:
Date Mailed:
352
Earth Environmental Services
Commercial Maintenance
Jason Smith
August 12, 2010
September 14, 2010
September 14, 2010
David Livingston
September 16, 2010
Insp. Initial _ Insp. Reg. X Insp. No Finding Insp. CID
Gary Francies
9/16/2010
9/17/2010��

lk
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins
Governor Director
September 20, 2010
352
Mr. Mike Ladd
Earth Environmental Services
75 Bison Lane
Murphy, NC 28906
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Ladd:
Dee Freeman
Secretary
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on August 12, 2010 by Mr. Jason Smith. No findings are cited
in this report, a response is not required. We appreciate the fine job you and your staff are doing. As a
certification requirement, 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 me at 828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary rancies
Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
CC Jason Smith
Central files
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]
Internet: www.dwglab.org
An Equal Opportunity I Affirmative Acton Employer Customer Service:1-877-623-6748 www,ncwaterqua4ty.org
NorthCaroina

LABORATORY NAME:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
On -Site Inspection Report
Earth Environmental Services
75 Bison Lane
Murphy, NC 28906
352
August 12, 2010
Commercial Maintenance
Jason Smith
Mike Ladd and Mark Bentley
This laboratory was inspected to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800 for
the analysis of environmental samples.
IL GENERAL COMMENTS:
The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses.
General Laboratory
Comment: The laboratory balance has not been serviced every twelve months. North Carolina
Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: Laboratory analytical balance(s) must be
serviced by a qualified vendorltechnician at a minimum every 12 months to ensure that the balance is
functioning within manufacturer's specifications. Documentation that this service has been performed
must be available for review upon request. If the operational capabilities of the balance are in question at
any time during the 12-month period, corrective action must be taken. This is a new policy that has been
implemented by our program since the last inspection. The laboratory had the balance serviced on
August 15, 2010. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: The laboratory weights had not been verified or recertified within the last five years. North
Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: ASTM Class 1 and 2 weights
must be verified at least every 5 years. ASTM Class 1 weights (20 g to 25 kg) and ASTM Class 2 weights
(10 g to 1 mg) are equivalent to the NBS Class S weights specified in 15A NCAC 2H ,0805 (a) (7) (K).
This is a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. The weights
were verified by the balance service technician on August 15, 2010. No further response is necessary
for this finding.
Comment: The stirring or spinning of the cone after forty five minutes was not documented. The North
Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) states: Supporting records shall be maintained
as evidence that these practices are being effectively carried out. The laboratory added the forty five
minute stir or spin time to the benchsheet during the inspection. No further response is necessary for
this finding.

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#352 Earth Environmental Services
Bi-ochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) — Standard Methods, 181h Edition, 5210 B (Hach 10360 LDO)
Comment: Dissolved Oxygen (DO) results were read to only one decimal place. North Carolina
Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: the data must be flagged if the dilution
water blank is greater than 0.20 mg/L. In order to verify this, the result must be read to two decimal
places. This is a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. The
analyst adjusted the meter to display two decimal places during the inspection and stated that readings
would be made to two decimal places beginning immediately. No further response is necessary for
this finding.
Comment: Extra nutrient, mineral, and buffer solutions were not added to the BOD bottles containing
more than 67% (> 201 mL) sample. North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification
Policy states: When a bottle contains more than 67% of the sample after dilution, nutrients may be
limited in the diluted sample and, subsequently, reduce biological activity. In such samples, add the
nutrient, mineral, and buffer solutions (3a through e) directly to individual BOD bottles at a rate of 1
mL/L (0.33 mL/300-mL bottle) or use commercially -prepared solutions designed to dose the
appropriate bottle size. This is a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last
inspection. The laboratory ordered commercially -prepared solutions for this purpose and began using
them on August 20, 2010. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: The Luminescent Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) meter did not have the calibration verified daily.
The Hach Water Analysis Handbook, Method 10360, Section 8.1.3 states: Each analytical batch must be
accompanied by a calibration verification. This is a new policy that has been implemented by our program
since the last inspection. The laboratory began verifying the calibration of the meter each day on August
20, 2010. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Total Suspended Solids — Standard Methods, 181h Edition, 2540 D
Comment: The laboratory was using a minimum dried residue weight gain of 1 mg to determine the
reporting limit. North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: The
minimum weight gain allowed by any approved method is 2.5 mg. Choose sample volume to yield
between 2.5 and 200 mg dried residue. This establishes a minimum reporting value of 2.5 mg/L when
1000 mL of sample is analyzed. If complete filtration takes more than 10 minutes increase filter
diameter or decrease sample volume. In instances where the weight gain is less than the required 2.5
mg, the value must be reported as less than the appropriate value based upon the volume used. This is
a new policy that has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. The laboratory
implemented a 2.5 mg dried residue weigh to determine the reporting limit on August 20, 2010. No
further response is necessary for this finding.
Ammonia Nitrogen -- Standard Methods, 181h Edition, 4500 NH3 F
Comment: The laboratory was not analyzing Matrix Spikes. North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification Policy states: Unless the referenced method states a greater frequency, spike
5% of samples on a monthly basis. Laboratories analyzing less than 20 samples per month must
analyze at least one matrix spike each month samples are analyzed. Prepare the matrix spike from a
reference source different from that used for calibration unless otherwise stated in the method. If matrix
spike results are out of control, the results must be qualified or the laboratory must take corrective
action to rectify the effect, use another method, or employ the method of standard additions. When the
method of choice specifies matrix spike performance acceptance criteria for accuracy, and the
laboratory chooses to develop statistically valid, laboratory -specific limits, the laboratory -generated
limits cannot be less stringent than the criteria stated in the approved method. This is a new policy that
has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. The laboratory implemented Matrix
Spike analyses on August 20, 2010. No further response is necessary for this finding.

ITI
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#352 Earth Environmental Services
Specific Conductance — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2510 B
Comment: The laboratory has not verified the Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) within the last
12 months. North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: The ATC must
be verified annually (i.e., every twelve months) and the process documented. The ATC must be verified by
analyzing a standard at 25 °C (the temperature that conductivity values are compensated to) and a
temperature(s) that brackets the temperature ranges of the samples to be analyzed. The laboratory
performed the verification of the ATC on August 13, 2010. No further response is necessary for this
finding.
PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail performed.
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: Jason Smith
Report reviewed by: David Livingston
Date: September 14, 2010
Date: September 16, 2010