#5538.08-f3

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET

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

Laboratory Cert. #: 5538

Laboratory Name: Environmental Hydrogeological Consultants, Inc.

Inspection Type: Field Initial

Inspector Name(s): Tonja Springer

Inspection Date: July 9, 2008

Date Report Completed: July 28, 2008

Date Forwarded to Reviewer: July 28, 2008

Reviewed by: Jeffrey R. Adams

Date Review Completed: August 1, 2008

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

Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite

Date Received: August 4, 2008

Date Forwarded to Alberta: August 4, 2008

Date Mailed:

_____________________________________________________________________
On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Environmental Hydrogeological Consultants, Inc.

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 902
Red Springs, NC 28377

CERTIFICATE #: #5538

DATE OF INSPECTION: July 9, 2008

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Initial

AUDITOR(S): Tonja Springer

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Thomas Ammons and Grady Dobson

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:

This was the initial visit to the facility. The facility currently is not reporting compliance data. Before compliance data
is to be reported the findings listed below will need to be implemented.

III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Comment: At the time of the inspection a Conductivity meter had not been purchased. The findings listed below are
items that must be implemented and documented before compliance data is analyzed.

pH – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Conductivity – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2510B
Temperature – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2550B

A. Finding: The benchsheet that was being used did not include all the pertinent information. A space was not
provided to list the following items: 1) Collection time 2) Analysis time 3) Analyst initials and 4) Units of
measure.

Requirement: Data pertinent to each analysis must be maintained for five years. Certified Data must
consist of date collected, time collected, samples site, sample collector, and sample analysis time. The
field bench sheets must provide a space for the signature or initials of the analyst, and proper units of
measure for all analyses. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1).

Comment: At the time of inspection, Mr. Dobson asked for assistance in designing a new benchsheet to
combine with his current benchsheet that would include all the pertinent information. An example benchsheet
was emailed on 7/28/2008.

B. Finding: The temperature sensing device on the pH and Conductivity meters will need to be calibrated
against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer before reporting compliance data and then
annually (every 12 months).

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 zero) on both the meter and on a separate sheet to be filed. Ref:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FIELD ANALYSIS OF pH. Ref: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FIELD
Page 2
#5538 Environmental Hydrogeological Consultants, Inc.

ANALYSIS OF CONDUCTIVITY. (See Attachment for Procedure) Please send a copy to our office
with your reply.

Comment: The pH meter will be used to report Temperature.

pH – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Conductivity – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2510B

C. Finding: The calibration time of the meters will need to be documented.

Requirement: A record of instrument calibration where applicable, must be filed in an orderly manner so
as to be readily available for inspection upon request. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (2), NC WW/GW LC
Technical Assistance Document for Field Analysis of pH dated 9/07 and NC WW/GW LC Technical
Assistance Document for Field Analysis of Conductivity dated 9/07.

D. Finding: The Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) will need to be verified for the pH and the
Conductivity meters.

Requirement: The ATC must be verified annually (i.e., every twelve months) by analyzing a buffer at
25°C (the temperature that pH and Conductivity values are compensated to) and a temperature(s) that
bracket the temperature ranges of the samples to be analyzed. This may require the analysis of a third
temperature reading that is > 25°C. Ref: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification
(NC WW/GW LC) Policy Statement September 2007. (See Attachment for Procedures) Please send a
copy to our office with your reply.

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

E. Finding: The temperature at which pH is measured is will need to be documented.

Requirement: Document the temperature at which the pH sample(s) are analyzed. Ref: Standard Methods
18th Edition Method 4500H+ B.1 b. and NC WW/GW LC Technical Assistance Document for Field Analysis
of pH dated 9/07.

Conductivity – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2510B

F. Finding: A check standard will need to be analyzed and the time documented.

Requirement: Analyze and document a calibration verification check standard. It is recommended that this
standard be at a lower range than the calibration standard. The value obtained from the calibration check
standard must read within 10% of the true value of the check standard. It the obtained value is outside of the
± 10% range, corrective action must be taken. Ref: (NC WW/GW LC) Technical Assistance Document for
field Analysis of Conductivity dated 9/07.

IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:

No paper trail performed.

V. CONCLUSIONS:

Correcting the above-cited findings and implementing the recommendations 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: Tonja Springer Date: July 28, 2008
Report reviewed by: Jeff Adams Date: August 01, 2008
Temperature Sensor Check Procedure:

To check a thermometer or the temperature sensor of a meter, read the temperature of the thermometer/meter against a
NIST thermometer and record the two temperatures. The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 1ºC
from the NIST thermometer reading. (NC WW/GW LC Policy). In the documentation include the serial number and
manufacturer of the NIST thermometer or NIST traceable thermometer that was used in the comparison. Also document
any correction that applies (even if zero) on both the thermometer/meter and on a separate sheet to be filed.
Recommendation: Use a NIST calibrated thermometer that approximates the temperature range on each thermometer used
with an incubator, refrigerator, or freezer. You may borrow such a thermometer, but keep a copy of the traceable to NIST
certificate on file to show the inspector.

Requirement: All thermometers and temperature measuring devices must be checked every 12 months against a NIST
certified or NIST traceable thermometer and the process documented. NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometers
used for temperature measurement must be recalibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recalibration date. If no
recalibration date is given, the NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer must be recalibrated on a periodic basis to
not exceed five years. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis for Temperature dated 9/07.

Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) Check Procedure for Conductivity Meter:

The following must be performed on an annual (i.e., 12 month) basis:

1. Pour an adequate amount of conductivity standard into a beaker or other container and analyze at 25°C. Document
the temperature and conductivity value.
2. Lower the temperature of the standard by placing the container in cool water or a refrigerator to less than the lowest
anticipated sample temperature and analyze. Document the temperature and conductivity value.
3. If samples greater than 25°C are to be analyzed, perform the following additional step: Place the container in warm
water or a water bath and raise the temperature above 25°C to greater than the highest anticipated sample
temperature and analyze. Document the temperature and conductivity value.

As the temperature increases or decreases, the value of the conductivity standard must be within ± 10% of the
true value of the standard.

Comment: Anticipated temperatures can be obtained from a review of the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs)
from the peak summer and winter months. Historical data should provide a reasonably accurate estimation of ranges
that will bracket the expected sample temperatures.

Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) Check Procedure for pH meter:

The following must be performed on an annual (i.e., 12 month) basis:

1. Pour an adequate amount of buffer into a beaker or other container and analyze at 25°C. Document the temperature
and pH value.
2. Lower the temperature of the buffer by placing the container in cool water or a refrigerator to less than the lowest
anticipated sample temperature and analyze. Document the temperature and pH value.
3. If samples greater than 25°C are to be analyzed, perform the following additional step: Place the container in warm
water, or a water bath and raise the temperature above 25°C to greater than the highest anticipated sample
temperature and analyze. Document the temperature and pH value.

As the temperature increases or decreases, the value of the buffer must be within ± 0.1 S.U. of the true value of
the buffer.

Comment: Anticipated temperatures can be obtained from a review of the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs)
from the peak summer and winter months. Historical data should provide a reasonably accurate estimation of ranges
that will bracket the expected sample temperatures.