#5468_1216_FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
Laboratory Name:
Inspection Type:
Inspector Name(s):
Inspection Date:
Date Report Completed:
Date Forwarded to Reviewer:
Reviewed by:
Date Review Completed:
Cover Letter to use:
Unit Supervisor/Chemist III:
Date Received:
Date Forwarded to Linda:
Date Mailed:
5468
EMA Resources, Inc.
Field Maintenance
Beth Swanson, Gary Francies
December 16, 2015
January 5, 2016
January 5, 2016
Nick Jones
January 6, 2016
❑ Insp. Initial ® Insp. Reg.
❑ Insp. No Finding ❑ Insp. CP
❑ Corrected ❑ Insp. Reg. Delay
Gary Francies
1 /6/2016
1/19/2016
1 /20/2016

Water- Resources
ENVIRQNMEN FAL QUALITY
January 19, 2016
5468
Mr. Brent Collins
EMA Resources, Inc.
755 Yadkinville Road
Mocksville, NC 27028
PAT MCCRORY
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Collins:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on December 16, 2015 by Beth Swanson and Gary
Francies. Where Finding(s) are cited in this report, a response is required. Within thirty days of receipt,
please supply this office with a written item for item description of how these Finding(s) were corrected.
Please describe the steps taken to prevent recurrence and include an implementation date for each
corrective action. If the Finding(s) cited in the enclosed report are not corrected, enforcement actions
may be recommended. For Certification maintenance, your laboratory must continue to carry out the
requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 2H .0800.
Copies of the checklists completed during the inspection may be requested from this office. Thank you
for your cooperation during the inspection. If you wish to obtain an electronic copy of this report by email
or if you have questions or need additional information, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Gary Francies, Technical Assistance/Compliance Specialist
Division of Water Resources
Attachment
cc: master file
Beth Swanson

• • b - • • _I
LABORATORY NAME: EMA Resources, Inc.
ADDRESS: 755 Yadkinville Road
Mocksville, NC 27028
CERTIFICATE #: 5468
DATE OF INSPECTION: December 16, 2015
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance
AUDITOR(S): Beth Swanson and Gary Francies
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Brent Collins
INTRODUCTION:
This laboratory was inspected by a representative of the North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A
NCAC 2H .0800 for the analysis of environmental samples.
GENERAL COMMENTS:
The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses. Compliance monitoring is
performed for clients during lime stabilization, i.e., pH adjustment through alkaline treatment. The
inspectors noted that the proposed Rules revision includes the addition of Vector Attraction Reduction
Option 6 to Field Parameters, which more accurately defines the compliance testing that the facility
performs. We will keep the facility up to date with any changes to Field Parameter Certification.
Proficiency Testing (PT) samples were analyzed for all certified parameters for the 2015 proficiency
testing calendar year. The laboratory fulfilled its PT requirements for the 2015 calendar year.
Current Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories and Approved Procedures for the analysis of
the facility's currently certified parameters were provided at the time of the inspection.
FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
Comment: The benchsheets from 8/19/2014 and 10/27/2014 did not contain the analyst's initials.
Benchsheets from 2015 data were acceptable. Please continue to include analyst's initials on all data.
A. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the traceability of purchased materials.
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, 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

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#5468 EMA Resources, Inc.
pre -made standards are included in this requirement. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for Field
Laboratories.
Comment: No traceability information is retained. A traceability log was emailed to the lab
following the inspection. Use of this log and recording pH buffer lot numbers on the benchsheets
will fulfill traceability requirements.
B. Finding: The laboratory benchsheet was lacking pertinent data: Instrument identification.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed: Instrument Identification. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis
of Temperature.
C. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting Proficiency Testing (PT) sample analyses in the
same manner as environmental samples.
Requirement: All PT sample analyses must be recorded in the daily analysis records as for any
environmental sample. This serves as the permanent laboratory record. Ref: Proficiency Testing
Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2.
pH — Standard Methods, 4500 H+13-2000
pH — SW-846 Method 9040 C
Comment: The facility does not currently analyze solid samples for pH. If a new client requiring the
analysis of solid samples is obtained, remember to seek Certification for SW-846 Method 9045 D.
Comment: The facility currently sends the pH meter to an outside vendor for yearly calibration. This is
not required.
Comment: Benchsheets reviewed showed instances where pH analysis time preceded meter calibration
time. However, the initial pH analysis is not intended for compliance monitoring, only to estimate the
volume of lime needed to raise the pH to >_12 S.U. For instance, on 8/19/2015, the initial pH analysis was
documented as 8:45 AM and the meter calibration was documented as 9:45 AM. It is recommended that
the meter calibration be performed prior to any pH analysis, regardless of the sample type.
D. Finding: The pH calibration is not being verified with a check buffer.
Requirement: The meter must be calibrated with at least two buffers. In addition to the calibration
buffers, the meter calibration must be verified with a third standard buffer solution. The calibration
and check standard buffers must bracket the range of the samples being analyzed. Ref: NC
WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of pH.
Requirement: The check standard buffer must read within ±0.1 S.U. to be acceptable. If the
meter verification does not read within ±0.1 S.U., the meter must be recalibrated before any
samples are analyzed. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of pH.
E. Finding: The calibration log and benchsheet do not include units of measure for pH (i.e., S.U.).
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 of the analyst, and
proper units of measure for all analyses. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1).

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Temperature — Standard Methods, 2550 B-2000
F. Finding: The temperature correction for the thermometer is not documented.
Requirement: All thermometers and temperature measuring devices must be checked every 12
months against a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable thermometer.
The process must be documented and proper corrections made to all compliance data The
documentation must include the serial number of the NIST traceable thermometer that was used
in the comparison. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed: The temperature correction (even if it is zero) must be posted on the meter as well as
in hard copy format (to be retained for 5 years). Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the
Analysis of Temperature.
Comment: The thermometer is calibrated annually by CATLab but the facility does not maintain
documentation of the calibration or any correction factor, if applicable.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail was completed. The benchsheets are submitted to the client as a complete form.
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 and include an implementation date for each
corrective action.
Report prepared by: Beth Swanson Date: January 5, 2016
Report reviewed by: Nick Jones Date: January 6, 2016