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INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET

To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.

Laboratory Cert. #: 651

Laboratory Name: Town of Ahoskie

Inspection Type: Municipal Maintenance

Inspector Name(s): Todd Crawford

Inspection Date: August 18, 2010

Date Report Completed: August 23, 2010

Date Forwarded to Reviewer: August 23, 2010

Reviewed by: Jeff Adams

Date Review Completed: August 23, 2010

Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding __ Insp. CP

Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite

Date Received: August 23, 2010

Date Forwarded to Alberta: August 24, 2010

Date Mailed: August 24, 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Town of Ahoskie

ADDRESS: P. O. Box 767
Ahoskie, NC 27910

CERTIFICATE #: 651

DATE OF INSPECTION: August 18, 2010

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Municipal Maintenance

AUDITOR(S): Todd Crawford

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Amy Pierce

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 lab was generally clean and well organized. All equipment appeared well maintained.

Finding C is a new requirement policy since the last inspection.

III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Quality Control

A. Finding: An inconsistency was noted between the Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) and laboratory practices. The analyst stated that the Relative Percent Difference
(RPD) acceptance criterion for duplicates was set at 25%. The SOPs for Fecal Coliform
and Residual Chlorine listed the duplicate RPD criterion as 35%. The SOP for pH did
not list duplicate acceptance criteria.

Requirement: Each laboratory shall develop and maintain a document outlining the
analytical quality control practices used for the parameters included in their certification.
Supporting records shall be maintained as evidence that these practices are being
effectively carried out. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7).

Comment: The Analytical Quality Control document had just been reviewed in February of
2010.

Comment: The Analytical Quality Control document must include standard operating
procedures. Since there are often changes in technology or options within a particular
method that are not covered in published references, the laboratory SOP is the
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prescriptive reference document that describes a laboratory’s analytical procedure in
such detail that an experienced analyst unfamiliar with the method can obtain
acceptable results and meet documentation requirements. This document is intended to
be the reference for analysts performing the specified test procedure. Standard operating
procedures must be developed which describe in detail how a method is performed in that
particular laboratory and they must be reviewed periodically for accuracy. They must be
revised any time a change in analytical procedure is made.

Documentation

B. Finding: The in-situ analysis times for pH and temperature of monitoring well samples
are not being documented.

Requirement: A record of date collected, time collected, sample collector, and use of
proper preservatives must be maintained. Each sample must clearly indicate the State of
North Carolina collection site on all record transcriptions. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a)
(7) (M).

Comment: Times for effluent samples were being documented.

C. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials
and reagents.

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 (where specified). 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 primary standards, chemicals, reagents, and materials used for a period of
five years. Consumable materials such as pH buffers, lots of pre-made standards and/or
media, solids and bacteria filters, etc. are included in this requirement. Ref: North
Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy.

Comment: Documentation of standards and reagents prepared in the lab is being
maintained. The finding applies only to purchased reagents and consumable materials.

IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail performed.
V. CONCLUSIONS:

Correcting the above-cited findings 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: Todd Crawford Date: August 23, 2010
Report reviewed by: Jeff Adams Date: August 23, 2010