NC0043176_Lab Certification_20021003

OFVII1F,9 William G. Ross Jr., Secretary Da. V
Q, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
r Division of Water QualityL
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'C
October 3, 2002
115
Mr. Mark Brantley
Dunn Black River WWTP Lab.
P.O. Box 1065
Susan Tart Road
Dunn, NC 28335
SUBJECT: Laboratory Certification Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Brantley:
4 2002 I
r . i
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on September 12, 2002 by Mr.
Frederick L. Bone. Where deficiencies are cited in this report, a response is required as
well as for all lettered comments and/or recommendations. Within thirty days of receipt -
please supply this office with a written item for item description of how these deficiencies,
comments and/or recommendations were. corrected. If the deficiencies cited in the •
enclosed report are not corrected, enforcement actions will be recommended. For.
certification maintenance, your laboratory must continue to carry out the requirements set
forth in 15A NCAC for 2H .0800.
Copies of the checklists completed during the inspection may be requested from
this office. Thank you for your cooperation during the inspection. Please contact us at
919-733-3908, if you have questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
James W. Meyer
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Frederick L. Bone
Fayetteville Regional Office
Laboratory Section
[phone]
N. C. Division of Water Quality 1623 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1623
Fax: [phone] Internet: dwglab.org Customer Service 1-800-623-7748

On -Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Dunn Black River 1MNTP
ADDRESS:
P.O. Box1065
Susan Tart Road
Dunn, NC 28335
CERTIFICATE NO: 115
DATE OF INSPECTION: September 12, 2002
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Maintenance
EVALUATOR: Frederick L. Bone
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Mark Brantley and Donrie Dukes
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 is spacious and well equipped. All facilities and equipment are well maintained. Records are
well kept and most data looked good. Some further quality control procedures need to be implemented."
III. DEFICIENCIES, RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND COMMENTS:
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A. COMMENT: The laboratory does not label the pH 7 verification standard nor does it list the acceptance
criteria for this check standard. The Laboratory does perform the pH 7 check standard and records the value
by hand on the laboratory benchsheet.
RECOMMENDATION: It is strongly recommended that the laboratory label the pH 7 check standard that
is being performed and list the appropriate acceptance criteria on each laboratory benchsheet. This will
allow the laboratory to comply with the requirement "The laboratory must calibrate the pH meter with at
least two buffers and read a third buffer below pH 10, approximately 3 pH units different from the second
buffer and the reading should be within 0.1 pH units from the expected value:" Ref: Standard methods
18th Edition 4500-H B.(4) (a) p4-68.
Dissolved Oxygen:
1. DEFICIENCY: The laboratory does not document the air calibration of the DO field meter.
COMMENT: The laboratory must document all relevant calibration information. If the information is not
recorded, the laboratory has no means with which to prove that the calibration was actually performed.

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REQUIREMENT: Calibration: Follow manufacturer's calibration procedure exactly to obtain guaranteed
precision and accuracy. Generally, calibrate membrane electrodes by reading against air or a sample of
known DO concentration. Preferably, calibrate with samples of water under test. Check one or two points
frequently to confirm original calibration. If calibration changes, the new calibration should be parallel to
the original, provided that the same membrane materials is used. Ref: Standard Methods 18th Edition
4500-0 (2) and (3) p. 4-104.
Temperature:
2. DEFICIENCY: The laboratory is not verifying the automatic temperature compensation of the Dissolved
Oxygen meter (used to make temperature measurements) on an annual basis.
REQUIREMENT: All thermometers. must meet National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
specifications for accuracy or be checked against a NIST traceable thermometer and proper corrections
made. Ref.: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) (o).
Ammonia:
•
B. COMMENT: The laboratory does not record slope and acceptance criteria information for the
calibration of the ammonia electrode. The laboratory records the millivolt readings of each standard
analyzed, but does not record slope information.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the laboratory record the acceptance criteria for the slope
of the ammonia electrode daily. Recording the slope and verifying that it is within the proper acceptance
limits, will allow the laboratory to ensure that proper calibration of the ammonia electrode was achieved:
Total Suspended Solids:
3. DEFICIENCY: The laboratory does not record the time and date that samples were placed into the
oven and time and date that the samples were removed from the oven for each stage of the drying time
verification study.
REQUIREMENT: The laboratory must record the time and date that the samples were placed into the
oven and time and date that the samples were removed from the oven for the drying time verification
study. This will ensure that the drying time cycle is properly verified. Dry evaporated sample for at least 1
hour in an oven at 103 the 105°C, cool in desiccator to balance temperature, and weigh. Repeat cycle of
drying, cooling, desiccation, and weighing until a constant weight is obtained, or until weight change is
less than 4% of previous weight or 0.5 mg, whichever is less. Ref: Standard Methods 18th Edition 2540 D
Total Suspended Solids at 103-105° C section (3) c p2-56.
4. DEFICIENCY: The laboratory is not filtering enough sample to get between 1 mg and 200 mg of
residue on the filter.
REQUIREMENT: The size of a total suspended solid sample must be between 1 mg and 200 mg. Limit
the sample size to that yielding no more than 200 mg of residue. Ref: Standard Methods, 18th Edition -
Method 2540 D. Total Suspended. Solids Dried at 103-105° C section (3) c p2-56.
C. COMMENT: The laboratory uses a log book in order to record the time samples were placed into and
removed from the drying oven.

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RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the laboratory record the time that samples are placed into
and removed from the drying oven directly on the laboratory benchsheet. Recording the information on
the laboratory benchsheet will allow for immediate verification that the samples were dried for the method
required one -hour period of time.
D. Comment: The laboratory uses a volume of 100m1 for each blank and a volume of 350m1 for each
sample.
REQUIREMENT: The laboratory must filter the same volume for both blanks and samples.
Residual Chlorine:
E. COMMENT: No units of measure are associated with some of the data values listed in the logbooks
and benchsheets.
REQUIREMENT: The laboratory should review all of their benchsheets and log books to make sure that
every entry is marked with the appropriate unit of measure. Every number recorded on a bench sheet or
logbook must have an appropriate unit assigned to it.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
This consisted of comparing data reported on DMR's submitted to this. Division with the values obtained on
laboratory bench worksheets. Data was reviewed for the months of January, March, and July 2002.
5. DEFICIENCY: Laboratory ammonia data reported for January 16, 17, 29 was reported as 0.01 mg/L.•The
actual laboratory ammonia bench sheet data reflected the value of < 0.1 mg/L.
REQUIREMENT: laboratory must submit an amended report reconciling the reported values with the
laboratory benchsheet data.
F. COMMENT: Peer checking of the data is strongly recommended.
REQUIREMENT: All data must be reviewed by a second analyst or supervisor according to laboratory
procedures to assure that calculations are correct and to detect transcription errors. Spot checks should
be performed on computer calculations to verify program validity. Errors detected in the process must be
referred to the analyst for corrective action. Ref: SW 846 Sept 1994, Test Methods for Evaluating
Wastes, Chapter One pg. 20.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above deficiencies and comments should help them to produce quality data and meet
certification requirements
Please respond to all numbered Deficiencies and lettered
Comments cited in this report.
Report prepared by: Frederick L. Bone Date: September 18, 2002