HomeMy WebLinkAbout#5370_0331_finalTC_2015_c4i Y.)
HCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
April 15, 2015
5370
Town of Magnolia
Sudie Matthis
P.O. Box 459
Magnolia, NC 28453
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Ms. Matthis:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on March 31, 2015 by Todd Crawford. 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 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 us at (919)
733-3908.
Attachment
cc: Todd Crawford
Sincerely,
Dana Satterwhite, Environmental Program Supervisor
Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section
INC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch
1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Location, 4405 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Phone: 919-733-39081 FAX: 919-733-6241
Internet: www.dwgiab.ora
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5370
Laboratory Name:
Town of Maqnolia
Inspection Type:
Field Maintenance
Inspector Name(s):
Todd Crawford
Inspection Date:
March 31, 2015
Date Report Completed:
April 13, 2015
Date Forwarded to Reviewer:
April 13, 2015
Reviewed by:
Nick Jones
Date Review Completed:
April 13, 2015
Cover Letter to use:
❑ Insp. Initial ® Insp. Reg.
❑ Insp. No Finding ❑ Insp. CP
❑ Corrected ❑ Insp. Reg. Delay
Unit Supervisor/Chemist III:
Dana Satterwhite
Date Received:
4/13/2015
Date Forwarded to Linda:
4/14/2015
Date Mailed:
4/15/2015
LABORATORY NAME:
WATER QUALITY PERMIT # :
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
On -Site Inspection Report
Town of Magnolia
NCO020346
PO Box 459
Magnolia, NC 28453
5370
March 31, 2015
Field Maintenance
Todd Crawford
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Sudie Matthis
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.
II. GENERAL COMMENTS:
The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses.
Proficiency Testing (PT) samples for the 2015 proficiency testing calendar year have not yet been
analyzed. The laboratory is reminded that these results must be submitted to this office directly from the
vendor by September 30, 2015.
Contracted analyses are performed by Vann Laboratories (Certification #22).
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.
The requirements associated with Findings A, B, C, D, E and H have been implemented by our program
since the last inspection.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
Comment: The laboratory needed to increase the documentation of purchased materials and reagents.
The Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories document states: 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. Consumable materials
such as pH buffers and lots of pre -made standards are included in this requirement. An auditor -supplied
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#5370 Town of Magnolia
Lab Supply Receipt Log showing all required documentation for reagents currently in use was filled out
and implemented during the inspection. No further response is necessary for this finding.
A. Finding: The laboratory benchsheet was lacking pertinent data for all parameters: Facility
name.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed: Sample site including facility name and location, ID, etc. Ref: NC WW/GW LC
Approved Procedure for the Analysis of pH, NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the
Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen, NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of
Temperature. Please send a copy of the updated benchsheet with the response to this
report.
B. Finding: The laboratory benchsheet was lacking pertinent data for all parameters: Parameter
analyzed.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed: Parameter analyzed. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of
pH, NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen, NC WW/GW LC
Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature. Please send a copy of the updated
benchsheet with the response to this report.
C. Finding: The laboratory benchsheet was lacking pertinent data for Temperature: 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. Please send a copy of the updated benchsheet with the response to this
report.
Proficiency Testing
D. Finding: The laboratory is not analyzing Proficiency Testing (PT) samples in the same manner as
environmental samples.
Requirement: All PT samples are to be analyzed and the results reported in a manner consistent
with the routine analysis and reporting requirements of compliance samples and any other
samples analyzed according to the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800. Ref: Proficiency Testing
Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2.
Comment: The laboratory's common practice was to analyze a known standard along with the PT
sample as additional quality control. Since this is not performed with all environmental samples, it
is considered additional quality control. However, known samples are recommended when
analyzing remedial PT samples as part of the troubleshooting and corrective action process.
E. 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.
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#5370 Town of Magnolia
Comment: The analysis of PT samples is designed to evaluate the entire process used to
routinely report environmental analytical results; therefore, PT samples must be analyzed and the
process documented in the same manner as environmental samples.
PH — Standard Methods, 4500 H+B-2000
F. Finding: The units of measure are not documented on the benchsheet.
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).
G. Finding: Values were reported that exceed the method specified accuracy of 0.1 units.
Requirement: By careful use of a laboratory pH meter with good electrodes, a precision of ±0.02
unit and an accuracy of ±0.05 unit can be achieved. However, ± 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,
4500 H+ B-2000, (6).
Dissolved Oxygen — Standard Methods, 2550 B-2000
H. Finding: The meter calibration check reading is not verified to be within ±0.5 mg/L of the
theoretical Dissolved Oxygen (DO).
Requirement: For LDO sensors that cannot be calibrated, the calibration must be verified each
day of use. This can be performed by back calculating the theoretical DO for the current air
calibration conditions (e.g., temperature, elevation, barometric pressure, etc.). The calculated DO
value must verify the meter reading within ±0.5 mg/L. Refer to the Dissolved Oxygen Meter
Calibration Verification handout that was provided during the inspection. If the meter verification
does not read within ±0.5 mg/L of the theoretical DO, corrective action must be taken. Ref:
Dissolved Oxygen Meter Calibration Verification attachment to NC WW/GW LC Approved
Procedure for the Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen. Please send a copy of calibration logsheet
with the response to this report.
Comment: The calibration is checked and documented prior to sample analyses and again after
analyses. All observed calibration check data was acceptable. Only the documentation that the
check was within 0.5 mg/L of the theoretical value was missing.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing original records (e.g., laboratory benchsheets, logbooks, etc.) and
contract lab reports to Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of
Water Resources. Data were reviewed for November and December, 2014 and January, 2015. No
transcription errors were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately
transcribing data.
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
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#5370 Town of Magnolia
review process. Please respond to all findings and include an implementation date for each
corrective action.
Report prepared by: Todd Crawford Date: April 13, 2015
Report reviewed by: Nick Jones Date: April 13, 2015