#5549 - 02 - 2012 - FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5549
Laboratory Name:
HRP Associates, Inc
Inspection Type:
Field Commercial Initial
Inspector Name(s):
Jason Smith
Inspection Date:
February 2, 2012
Date Report Completed:
March 8, 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: March 8 2012
Reviewed by:
Jeffrey R. Adams
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March n 2012
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Cover
Cover Letter to use: _
Insp. Initial _ Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP X Corrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
3/9/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda:
3/20/2012
Date Mailed: P 9

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4 -
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5549
Mr. Robert Hawkins
HRP Associates, Inc
1327 Miller Road, Suite D
Greenville, SC 29607
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
March 21, 2012
Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
nPar Mr Hawkins -
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on February 2, 2012 by Jason Smith. I
apologize for the delay in getting this report to you. Since the finding(s) cited during the
inspection were all corrected prior to the completion of the enclosed report, a response is not
required. The staff is commended for taking the initiative in correcting the findings in such a
timely manner. 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 electronic mail, or if you have questions or need additional information please
contact me at 828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary
Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
CC: Master File
Gary Francies
DENR DWO Laboratory Section NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch
1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Location: 4405 Reedy Creek Road. Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-6445
Phone: [phone] \ FAX: [phone]
Internet: www.dwqlab.org
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An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

LABORATORY NAME:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
1. INTRODUCTION:
On -Site Inspection Report
HRP Associates, Inc.
1327 Miller Road, Suite D
Greenville, SC 29607
5549
February 2, 2012
Field Commercial Initial
Jason Smith
Robert Hawkins
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 has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses and it appeared to be well maintained.
Technical assistance documents were provided to the laboratory at the time of the inspection.
III. FINDINGS REQUIREMENTS COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
Comment: The laboratory had a good system of traceability; however, the date received and date opened were
written on the bottle but not recorded in the log. This results in the information not being maintained for five years. The
North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1) states in part: Data pertinent to each analysis must
be maintained for five years. The Quality Assurances Policies for Field Laboratories states in part: 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. Notification of acceptable
corrective action (i.e., the date received and date opened have been added to the traceability log) was received by
email on February 9, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
pH — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Comment: A check buffer was not analyzed every four hours. The Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of pH
states: If compliance samples are analyzed throughout the day, a post calibration check (e.g., 7 buffer) must be
analyzed mid -day and at the end of the run (i.e., roughly every 4 hours based on an eight hour day). Notification of
acceptable corrective action (i.e., a mid -day and end -of -run pH calibration check will be analyzed to ensure
calibration throughout a day of sampling) was received by email on February 9, 2012. No further response is
necessary for this finding.
Comment: Units of measure for pH (Standard Units or SU) were not documented. The North Carolina Administrative
Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1) states: 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. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., Standard Units was added to all benchsheets) was
received by email on February 9, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.

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#5549 HRP Associates, Inc.
Comment: Results for pH were reported to two decimal places. Standard Methods, 20t' Edition, 4500 H+ B. (6)
states: A variance of ± 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.
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., pH results are now reported to one decimal place) was received
by email on February 29, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: The temperature sensor of the pH meter has not been checked against the NIST certified thermometer.
The Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of pH states: All thermometers and temperature measuring devices must
be checked every 12 months against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer and the process documented
even if the instrument is not used for reporting temperature results. The thermometer/meter readings must be less
than or equal to 1 °C from the NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer reading. The documentation must
include the serial number of the NIST certified thermometer or NIST traceable thermometer that was used in the
comparison. Also document any correction that applies on both the thermometer/meter and on a separate sheet to
be filed. This was not performed on the pH meter because South Carolina does not require it to be performed on
meters that are not used to report temperature. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., the temperature
sensor was checked on February 8, 2012) was received by email on February 29, 2012. No further response is
necessary for this finding.
Conductivitv — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2510 B
Comment: The Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) of the meter had not been verified. The Technical
Assistance for Field Analysis of Conductivity states: The ATC must be verified by analyzing a buffer at 25° C (the
temperature that Conductivitv values are compensated to) and a temnerature(s) that hracket the tPmnarati irP rnnnas
of the samples to be analyzed. This may require the analysis of a third temperature reading that is > 250 C. As the
temperature increases or decreases, the value of the conductivity standard must be within ± 10% of the true value of
the standard. This must be performed on an annual (i.e., 12 month) basis. Notification of acceptable corrective
action (i.e., the ATC would be checked the week of February 29, 2012) was received by email on February 29,
2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
pH — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Conductivitv — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2510 B
Temperature — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2550 B
Comment: The time of collection and analysis was not clearly documented. The column header was only labeled
"Time" with no indication that the samples were analyzed immediately upon collection. The North Carolina
Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1) states: 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. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., "All well stabilization parameters were
analyzed at the time of sample collection." has been added to the bottom of the field data sheets to clarify that the
field parameters were analyzed at the time of sample collection) was received by email on February 9, 2012. No
further response is necessary for this finding.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail performed.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
All findings noted during the inspection were adequately addressed prior to the completion of this report. The
inspector would like to thank the staff for its assistance during the inspection and data review process. No response
is required.
Report prepared by: Jason Smith Date: March 8, 2012
Report reviewed by: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: March 9, 2012