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Home My WebLink About#5212 10-final INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only. Laboratory Cert. #: 5212 Laboratory Name: Envirolink, Inc. Inspection Type: Field Maintenance Inspector Name(s): Jeffrey R. Adams Inspection Date: September 21, 2010 Date Report Completed: October 11, 2010 Date Forwarded to Reviewer: October 11, 2010 Reviewed by: Tonja Springer Date Review Completed: October 22, 2010 Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding Insp. CP Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite Date Received: October 22, 2010 Date Forwarded to Alberta: November 8, 2010 Date Mailed: November 9, 2010 _____________________________________________________________________ On-Site Inspection Report LABORATORY NAME: Envirolink, Inc. NPDES PERMIT #: NC0042269; NC0065706; NC0038849; NC0060771; NC0060526; NC0056278; NC0001376; NC0020061; WQ0028552; WQ0019569; WQ0003405 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 670 Bailey, NC 27807 CERTIFICATE #: 5212 DATE OF INSPECTION: September 21, 2010 TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance AUDITOR(S): Jeffrey R. Adams LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Anthony Branch, Tony Arnold and Michael Myers I. INTRODUCTION: 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 was neat and equipment was well maintained. The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses on the laboratory’s certificate attachment. Records were maintained and well organized. However, some quality control procedures need to be implemented. The laboratory was given a packet containing the Technical Assistance Documents and quality control requirements for all field parameters during the inspection. III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Documentation A. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials and reagents, as well as, documentation of standards and reagents prepared in the laboratory. Requirement: 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 and/or 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, lots of pre -made standards are included in this requirement. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories. Page 2 #5212 Envirolink, Inc. Recommendation: It is recommended that the laboratory use the attached laboratory benchsheet as an example. It includes spaces to record the traceability information. An example benchsheet was left by the inspector during the audit; however, that example did not include spaces to record traceability information for chemicals, reagents, standards and consumables. Attached is an example benchsheet that includes all of the necessary traceability documentation. (See Attachment). B. Finding: The laboratory is not verifying the calibration of the repipettors. Requirement: Mechanical volumetric liquid-dispensing devices (e.g., fixed and adjustable auto-pipettors, bottle-top dispensers, etc.) must be calibrated at least every twelve months and documented. Each liquid-dispensing device must meet the manufacturer’s statement of accuracy. For variable volume devices used at more than one setting, check the accuracy at the maximum, middle and minimum values. Testing at more than three volumes is optional. When a device capable of variable settings is dedicated to dispense a single specific volume, calibration is required at that setting only. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories. Settleable Solids – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2540 F C. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting the 45 minute stir time. Requirement: The 45 minute stir time must be documented whenever sample analysis is performed. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of Settleable Solids. pH – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B D. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting the time the instrument is calibrated. Requirement: The time the instrument is calibrated must be documented whenever sample analysis is performed. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of pH. IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION: The paper trail consisted of comparing laboratory benchsheets and contract lab reports to Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Data were reviewed for the Town of Bunn (NPDES permit #NC0042269); Cottonwood (NPDES permit #NC0065706); Hill Forest Rest Home (NPDES permit #NC0038849); Indian Creek (NPDES permit #NC0060771); Pope Industrial (NPDES permit #NC0060526); River Mill Condos (NPDES permit #NC0056278); River Place (NPDES permit #NC00011376); and Town of Spring Hope (NPDES permit #NC0020061) for March, May and July, 2010. The following errors were noted: Date Parameter Location (Effluent) Value on Contract Lab Report Value on DMR 7/14/10 NO2 + NO3 River Mills #NC0056278 9.24 mg/L 9.42 mg/L 7/21/10 NH3 River Mills #NC0056278 0.07 mg/L No Value Page 3 #5212 Envirolink, Inc. 7/21/10 Total Phosphorous River Mills #NC0056278 No Value 0.07 mg/L The analyst suspects that the Ammonia Nitrogen data was accidentally recorded as the Total Phosphorous value. No Total Phosphorous samples were required to be analyzed and reported on this specific day. In order to avoid questions of legality or a possible monitoring frequency violation, it is recommended that the laboratory contact the appropriate Regional Office for guidance as to whether additional corrective actions need to be taken or whether an amended Discharge Monitoring Report will be required. A copy of this report will be forwarded to the Regional Office. 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 in the inspection and data review process. Please respond to all findings. Report prepared by: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: October 11, 2010 Report reviewed by: Tonja Springer Date: October 22, 2010 Certification # _______ Date: ______________________________ Facility Name: _________________________________ Analyst: ___________________________ Permit #: ______________________________________ pH Analysis Reference Method: (include edition e.g., SM 18th) Cal. Time Calibration Buffer 4.0 Calibration Buffer 10.0 *Check Buffer 7.0 Comments *pH buffer checks are to be within  0.1 pH units of the standards true value 4 buffer Lot#/identifier: 7 buffer Lot#/identifier: 10 buffer Lot#/identifier: Facility/Sample location Time Sampled Time Analyzed Temp (ºC) ■ pH Result ►Buffer Check value Comment If sample is measured in directly in the stream only time analyzed would be recorded. ►Indicates a recommended drift check. (Use Buffer 7.0) Should be within ± 0.1 units of the buffer’s true value) ■ Document the temperature of the sample at the time of analysis. Note: This temperature is not to be used for reporting on the monthly monitoring report. Calibration drift check is recommended when performing analysis at multiple sampling locations, *All pH results in pH units (i.e., s.u.). Annual Temperature Sensor Check Date: Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) Reference Method: (include edition) Facility/Sample Location Time Sampled Time Analyzed TRC Result ug/L or mg/L Daily check standard obtained value ug/L or mg/L Comment TRC check standard obtained true value (acceptance range mg/L) (Should recover within ±10% of the check standard’s obtained true value) Check/Gel Standard Lot#/identifier: Annual Verification curve analyzed on ____________________ Conductivity Reference Method: (include edition) Cal. Time Calibration Std Verification Std Optional Std ►Check std Comments ►Indicates a recommended drift check. Note all units are in µmhos/cm Calibration Standard Lot#/identifier: Verification Standard Lot#/identifier: Facility TemperatureC Cell Constant * Result µmhos/cm Adjusted µmhos/cm* Comment *Enter NA (not applicable) if automatic temperature compensation and cell constant are used. ATC annual check date: Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Reference Method: (include edition) Temperature C Adjusted Air Calibration▲ (% or mg/L) Calibration Time Facility/Sample Location DO reading mg/L *Time Analyzed/Time Sampled Comments ▲Based on appropriate altitude adjustment  When performing analysis at multiple sampling locations, re -calibration(s) should be performed every four hours. *Analysis time and sampling time the same. (Ideally the sample should be analyzed in -situ). Temperature Sensor Annual Check Date: ____ Temperature Reference Method: (include edition) Facility/Sample Location TemperatureC *Time Analyzed/Time Sampled Comments *Analysis time and sampling time the same. (Ideally the sample should be analyzed in -situ). Annual Verification Date Settleable Solids Reference Method: (include edition) Facility/location Time Sampled Analysis Time Sample volume analyzed in mls Start time 45 minute stir time End time Result ml/L Comments Note: Samples must be gently agitated after 45 minutes and allowed to settle for an additional 15 min. Field Personnel Notes 12/29/2009