#5602_07_2012_FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5602
Laboratory Name:
National Committee for the New River
Inspection Type:
Field Initial
Inspector Name(s):
Jason Smith
Inspection Date:
July 10, 2012
Date Report Completed:
July 26, 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: July 26, 2012
Reviewed by:
Nick Jones
Date Review Completed:
July 30, 2012
Cover Letter to use: X
Insp. Initial _ Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP _Corrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
7/30/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda:
8/2/2012
Date Mailed:
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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P. E. Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
August 2, 2012
5602
Ms. Courtney Wait
National Committee for the New River
P.O. Box 1480
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Initial Inspection
Dear Ms. Wait:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on July 10, 2012 by Jason Smith. 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.
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
828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Jason Smith
Master File
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.dwglab.org
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

LABORATORY NAME:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
ffifllliagr
On -Site Inspection Report
National Committee for the New River
P.O. Box 1480
West Jefferson, NC 28694
5602
July 10, 2012
Field Initial
Jason Smith
Courtney Wait
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:
This is the initial inspection for this facility. The laboratory was clean and well organized. The facility
has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses. The laboratory analyzes samples once per
month up and downstream of several wastewater treatment facilities. The data is reported directly to
the Division of Water Quality's River Coalition Program.
111. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
Comment: Some instances of over writing were observed and error corrections were not initialed and
dated when performed. The Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories document states: All
documentation errors must be corrected by drawing a single line through the error so that the original
entry remains legible. Entries shall not be obliterated by erasures or markings. Wite-Out®, correction tape
or similar products designed to obliterate documentation are not to be used. Write the correction adjacent
to the error. The correction must be initialed by the responsible individual and the date of change
documented. All data and log entries must be written in indelible ink. Pencil entries are not acceptable.
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., this policy will be implemented beginning with the next
sampling event) was received by email on July 11, 2012. No further response is necessary for this
finding.
Comment: The time recorded was not labeled to indicate that it was the sample collection/analysis time.
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 benchsheets 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., the collection/analysis times are now clearly
documented) was received by email on July 11, 2012. No further response is necessary for this
finding.

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#5602 National Committee for the New River
Comment: The analyst's signature or initials were not documented in the field log. 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., the analysts initials are now documented in the field log) was received by email
on July 11, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: The units of measure for pH (S.U.) were not documented in the field log. 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., the units of measure for pH are now documented in the field log) was received
by email on July 11, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Proficiencv Testin
Comment: The laboratory did not document Proficiency Testing (PT) sample analyses in the same
manner as environmental samples. The Proficiency Testing Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision
1.2. document states: All PT sample analyses must be recorded in the daily analysis records as for any
environmental sample. This serves as the permanent laboratory record. Notification of acceptable
corrective action (i.e., PT analyses will be documented in the field log the same as environmental
samples beginning this year) was received by email on July 11, 2012. No further response is
necessary for this finding.
pH — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 4500 H+ B
Conductivity — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2510 B
Temperature — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2550 B
Dissolved Oxyaen — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 4500 O G
Comment: The probe was not being rinsed with deionized or distilled water between samples. The YSI
Professional Plus User Manual states: Thoroughly rinse the sensor tip with distilled or deionized water.
Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., the probe is now rinsed between samples) was
received by email on July 25, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Temperature — Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2550 B
A. Finding: The temperature sensor has not been verified with a NISI certified or traceable
thermometer.
Requirement: All thermometers and temperature measuring devices must be checked every 12
months against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer and the process documented. To
check a thermometer or the temperature sensor of a meter, read the temperature of the
thermometer/meter against a NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer and record the two
temperatures. The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 10C from the NIST
certified or NIST traceable thermometer reading. (NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory
Certification Policy). 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.
(NOTE: Other certified laboratories may provide assistance in meeting this requirement.) Ref:

IV.
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#5602 National Committee for the New River
Approved Procedure for Field Analysis of Temperature. Please submit a copy of the
temperature sensor verification with the reply to this report.
Conductivity — Standard Methods, 20'" Edition, 2510 B
B. Finding: The Conductivity Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) has not been verified.
Requirement: The Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) must be verified by analyzing a
standard at 25 °C (the temperature that conductivity values are compensated to) and a
temperature(s) that bracket the temperature ranges of the samples to be analyzed. This may
require the analysis of a third temperature reading that is > 25 °C. This must be performed on an
annual (i.e., 12 month) basis. Ref: Approved Procedure for Field Analysis of Specific Conductance
(Conductivity). Please submit a copy of the ATC verification with the reply to this report.
PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing field testing records and contract lab reports to Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Data were
reviewed for January, February, and March, 2012. The following errors were noted:
Date
Parameter
Location
Value on Benchsheet or
Contract Lab Report
Value on Client Report
1/23/12
pH
K7010000
7.25 S.U.
7.0 S.U.
1 /23/12
TKN
K3000000
1.12 mg/L
1.98 mg/L
In order to avoid questions of legality, it is recommended that you submit amended report(s) to the
DWQ River Coalition Program. A copy of this report will be made available to the Winston-Salem
Regional Office and the DWQ River Coalition Program.
Comment: In an email received on July 11, 2012, the laboratory stated that all data would be
reviewed, corrected, and re -submitted corrected by July 31, 2012.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above -cited findings will help this la
requirements. The inspector would like to thank the
data review process. Please respond to all findings.
Report prepared by: Jason Smith
Report reviewed by: Nick Jones
b
to produce quality data and meet certification
staff for its assistance during the inspection and
Date: July 26, 2012
Date: July 30, 2012