#5346-final

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET

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

Laboratory Cert. #: 5346

Laboratory Name: Town of Belhaven

Inspection Type: Field Maintenance

Inspector Name(s): Todd Crawford

Inspection Date: April 15, 2010

Date Report Completed: April 16, 2010

Date Forwarded to Reviewer: April 16, 2010

Reviewed by: Tonja Springer

Date Review Completed: April 26, 2010

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

Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite

Date Received: April 26, 2010

Date Forwarded to Alberta: April 28, 2010

Date Mailed: April 28, 2010

_____________________________________________________________________
On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Town of Belhaven

PERMIT #: NC0026492

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 220
Belhaven, NC 27810

CERTIFICATE #: 5346

DATE OF INSPECTION: April 15, 2010

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance

AUDITOR(S): Todd Crawford

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Stephen Hall

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 clean and well organized. All equipment necessary to perform the certified parameters
were present and appeared well maintained.

A description of current field lab policies and technical assistance documents for the analysis of the
facility’s currently certified parameters were provided at the time of the inspection.

Requirements associated with Finding B are new since the last inspection.

III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Quality Control

A. Finding: The NIST traceable thermometer used to verify the temperature sensors on the pH
and DO meters was expired.

Requirement: NIST traceable thermometers used for temperature measurement must be
recalibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recalibration date. If no date is given, the
NIST traceable thermometer must be recalibrated annually. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field
Analysis of Temperature.

Requirement: All temperature sensing devices on meters must be calibrated against a NIST
certified or NIST traceable thermometer annually (every 12 months) and proper corrections
made and documented. The meter reading must be less than 1ºC from the NIST certified
reading to be acceptable. Document the serial number and manufacturer of the NIST
thermometer that was used in the comparison. Document any correction that applies (even if
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zero) on both the meter and on a separate sheet to be filed. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field
Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen and Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of pH.

Requirement: Obtain a NIST traceable thermometer with a current calibration certificate and
repeat the temperature sensor checks on the DO and pH meters. Send documentation with
your response.

Documentation

B. Finding: Preparation and/or purchase of standards, reagents and consumables are not being
documented in such a way as to provide traceability.

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 and lots of pre-made
standards are included in this requirement. Ref: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification document, Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories.

C. Finding: The analysis of performance testing samples is not being documented on the laboratory
benchsheets.

Requirement: The analysis of performance testing (PT) samples is designed to evaluate the
entire process used to routinely report environmental analytical results. Therefore, PT samples
must be analyzed in the same manner as environmental samples. Ref: North Carolina
Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification document, Quality Assurance Policies for
Field Laboratories.

pH – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B

D. Finding: Data values are reported to two decimal places, not one decimal place as required by
the method.

Requirement: A variance of ± 0.1 pH unit represents the limit of accuracy under normal
conditions, especially for measurement of water and poorly buffered solutions. For this reason,
report pH values to the nearest 0.1 pH unit. Ref: Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B. (6).

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 permit # NC0026492 for January, February and March, 2010. No transcription errors were
detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately transcribing data.

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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
subsequent data review process. Please respond to all findings.

Report prepared by: Todd Crawford Date: April 16, 2010
Report reviewed by: Tonja Springer Date: April 26, 2010