#5429 - 11 - 2011 - FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
5429
Laboratory Name:
Coats American
Inspection Type:
Field Maintenance
Inspector Name(s):
Jason Smith
Inspection Date:
November 3 2011
Date Report Completed:
December 13 2011
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: December 13 2011
Reviewed by:
Todd Crawford
Date Review Completed:
December 14, 2011
Cover Letter to use: _
Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP _Corrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
12/14/2011
Date Forwarded to Linda:
12/28/2011
Date Mailed:,
t 1-

Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5429
Mr. Phillip Pittman
Coats American
P.O. Box 368
Marion, NC 28752
Aj
NCDENR
Notch Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Coleen H. Sullins
Director
December 28, 2011
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Pittman:
Dee Freeman
Secretary
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on November 3, 2011 by Jason Smith. 1 apologize for the
delay in getting this report to you. Where finding(s) are cited in this report, a response is required. Within 30
days of receipt, please supply this office with a written item for item description of how these finding(s) were
corrected. 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 828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary Francies
Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
CC: Jason Smith
Gary Francies
Master files
DENR DWQ 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: wvvw.dwglab.org
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer Customer Service: 1-877-623-6748 www.ncwaterquality.org

LABORATORY NAME:
NPDES PERMIT M
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I1!It13•I91114t P►F
Coats American
NC0004243
P.O. Box 368
Marion, NC 28752
5429
November 3, 2011
Field Maintenance
Jason Smith
Phillip Pittman
This laboratory was inspected to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800 for the
analysis of environmental samples.
The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses. Copies of technical assistance and
quality assurance policies were provided to the laboratory. The requirements associated with Findings A, B,
and C are new policies that have been implemented since the last inspection.
Documentation
Comment: The laboratory did not have the log book containing past National Institute of Standards and
Technology (MIST) thermometer checks. Personnel loaned the log book to another laboratory to help them
create their own log book. The North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (2) states: A
record of instrument calibration where applicable, must be filed in an orderly manner so as to be readily
available for inspection upon request. Additionally, 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. Notification of
acceptable corrective action (i.e., that the log book had been returned to the laboratory) was received by
electronic mail on December 12, 2011. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: Temperature corrections were not posted on the meter/thermometer. The Technical Assistance for
Field Analysis of Temperature states: 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). Notification of acceptable corrective action
(i.e., the temperature correction is now posted on the meter and thermometer) was received by electronic
mail on December 12, 2011. No further response is necessary for this finding.
A. Finding: Error corrections are not dated.
Requirement: 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

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#5429 Coats American
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. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories.
B. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials and reagents.
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. A system (e.g., traceable identifiers) must be in place that links
standard/reagent preparation information to analytical batches in which the solutions are used.
Documentation of solution preparation must include the analyst's initials, date of preparation, the
volume or weight of standard(s) used, the solvent and final volume of the solution. 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 pre -made standards are included in this requirement. Ref:
Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories.
C. Finding: Proficiency Testing (PT) samples are not documented in the same manner as
environmental samples.
Requirement: 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. Ref: Quality Assurance
Policies for Field Laboratories.
Total Residual Chlorine — Standard Methods, 20t" Edition, 4500 Cl G
D. Finding: The time of calibration check standard analysis is not documented.
Requirement: The following must be documented whenever sample analysis is performed: the time
the calibration check was performed. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of Total Residual
Chlorine. Please submit a copy from the log book or a benchsheet with this information
recorded with the reply to this report.
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 Coats
American (NPDES permit #NC0004243) for June, 2011. 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
requirements. The inspector would like to thank the
review process. Please respond to all findings.
Report prepared by: Jason Smith
Report reviewed by: Todd Crawford
lab to produce quality data and meet certification
staff for its assistance during the inspection and data
Date: December 13, 2011
Date: December 14, 2011