NC0005321_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_19960808

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor.
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr:, PE., Director
August 8, 1996
Mr. Chuck Oxendine
Alpha Cellulose, Inc.
P.O. Box 1305
Lumberton, NC 28359
FR.
AN 13 1996
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SUBJECT: Laboratory Certification Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Oxendine:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection that was performed on
June 18, 1996 by Ms. Harvi Cooper. Within thirty days, please
supply this office with a written, .item for item description of
how each deviation listed in the report was corrected. If the
deviations cited in the enclosed report are not corrected,
enforcement actions may be recommended. For certification
maintenance, your laboratory must continue to meet [the requirements
of 15A NCAC 2H .0800.
Thank you for your cooperation during the inspection. Contact
us at 919-733-3908 if you have questions or need additional
information.
Sincerely,
&17, 4F, esoir,00494
William B. Edwards, Jr.
Laboratory Section
WBE:jmc
Enclosure
cc: Norman L. Good
Harvi C. Cooper
Fayetteville Regional Office
Laboratory Section .
• 4405 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-6445 Telephone
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919-733-3908 FAX [phone]
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ON -SITE INSPECTION REPORT
LABORATORY NAME & ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE NO.:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
EVALUATORS:
LOCAL PERSON CONTACTED:
I. INTRODUCTION:
Alpha Cellulose Corporation
P.O. Box 1305
Lumberton, NC 28358
525
July 18, 1996
Maintenance
Harvi C. Cooper
Eric Bolin and Ronald Radford
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:
Lab is spacious and well equipped. Instruments and facilities are well,
maintained. Records are well kept and data looked good. A few minor
deviations were found and some further quality control procedures need
to be implemented.
III. DEVIATIONS, REQUIREMENTS AND COMMENTS:
Residual Chlorine
Deviation: The daily 0.05 mg/L check standard for Residual Chlorine is
often outside the + 10% acceptance criteria.
Requirement: The daily mid -range check standard must meet a ± 10%
acceptance criteria. Recommend using a 1.0 mg/L check standard.
Specific Conductance
Deviation: Lab has not documented the required calibration standards
for Specific Conductance analyses. Previously Cited.
Requirement:. Each day of use, the Conductivity meter :must _be
calibrated with a high standard, the cell constant mustbecalculated
and the process documented. A low and mid -range standard must also be
analyzed and the results documented.

Page 2
Alpha Cellulose 1
Comment: Lab has developed a new bench sheet for the calibration
records for pH, Conductivity and TDS, but has not documented all of
the required standards for Conductivity. Considering the range of
concentrations of samples analyzed, it is recommended to use a 10,000
umhos/cm standard in order to bracket sample concentrations as
required.
Ammonia
Deviation: Lab is not documenting the analysis of
each group of Ammonia samples. Previously Cited.
Requirement: Lab must document the analysis of
each group of Ammonia samples.
a reagent blank with
a leagent blank with
Deviation: Lab is currently calibrating the Ammoina Ion Selective
electrode with a series of standards from 0.1 mg/L to 100 mg/L. The
slope efficiency is below the recommended range of -54 to -60
millivolts for the range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/L.
Requirement: The slope efficiency for the range within which samples
are analyzed must be within the manufacturer's recommended range of
-54 to -60 millivolts.
Comment: Most sample results are <1.0 mg/L. Recommend calibrating with
the 0.1 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L in an attempt to increase linearity over a
smaller range of concentration.
Total Suspended Residue
Deviation: Lab is not currently,documenting the performance of
multiple drying,desiccating and weighing to establish that samples
are at constant weight.
Requirement: At least annually, the lab must document the performance
of multiple dryings, desiccatings, and weighings to determine that:
samples are at constant weight.' ref: Standard Methods 18th Ed. Method
2540 D. (3) (c) pg. 2-56. ,I
Deviation: Lab is not documenting the true value or percent recovery
of the quarterly check standard. for Total, Suspended Residue.
Requirement: Lab must analyze and indicate the true value and percent
recovery of a Total Suspended Residue check standard quarterly. ref:
15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a)(7)(B) pg. 6
Deviation: Lab is not documenting the weighing of.3 class S weights
quarterly.

Page 3
Alpha Cellulose
Requirement: Lab must check the analytical balance!by weighing 3 class
S weights quarterly and document the results. ref::15A NCAC 2H .0805
(a)(7)(K) pg. 7.
General
Deviation: Lab is not currently analyzing any
s
amples in duplicate.
Requirement: Lab must analyze samples in duplicate at a frequency of
at least 10 % to document precision. ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a)(7)(C)
pg. 6.
Deviation: Lab has not documented refrigerator
refrigerator log. Previously Cited.
temperatures on the
Requirement: Lab must record temperatures and initial the temperature
log each day of use, for all refrigerators, incubators and ovens.ref:
15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) (J) pct.7
Comment: Lab has calibrated all of the thermometers against a NIST
traceable thermometer, but has done so at approximately 20°C for all
thermometers calibrated. A temperature within the range that the
individual thermometers are required to operate should be selected for
calibration.
IV. DATA REVIEW:
Data review consisted of a review of the bench sheets and DMR's for.
the months of January 1996 thru May 1996. No problems in adhering to
required hold times or in properly calculating data were detected.
V. CONCLUSION:
This lab is doing a good job overall. Personnel contacted were
cooperative and competent. Someof the deviations cited in the
maintenance inspection on May 24, 1995 remain uncorrected. Since
these deviations were cited previously, supporting documentation must
be provided to this -office showing the appropriate corrective action.
Failure to correct these deviations could result in the loss of method
certification, and/or enforcement action. Correction of the above
cited deviations should help this lab continue to produce quality
data, and meet North Carolinacertification requirements.
Report Prepared by: Harvi C. Cooper- Date: July 19, 1996