#593_2010

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET

To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.

Laboratory Cert. #: 593

Laboratory Name: Schneider Laboratories, Inc.

Inspection Type: Commercial Maintenance

Inspector Name(s): Tonja Springer, Chet Whiting and David Livingston

Inspection Date: August 18, 2010

Date Report Completed: August 31, 2010

Date Forwarded to Reviewer: September 1, 2010

Reviewed by: Chet Whiting

Date Review Completed: September 21, 2010

Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial x Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding Insp. CP

Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite

Date Received: September 21, 2010

Date Forwarded to Alberta: September 30, 2010

Date Mailed: October 1, 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Schneider Laboratories, Inc.

ADDRESS: 2512 W. Cary Street
Richmond VA, 23220-5117

CERTIFICATE #: 593

DATE OF INSPECTION: August 18, 2010

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Commercial Maintenance

AUDITOR(S): Tonja Springer, Chet Whiting and David Livingston

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Raja Abouzaki, Linda Adams, Gail Branch, Ericka Marshall
and Missy Kanode

I. INTRODUCTION:

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 area was clean and well organized. All the equipment needed to perform the certified
analyses was present. The system for traceability of standard and reagent preparation is effective,
thorough and easy to follow. Records were well organized and easy to retrieve.

III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Metals

Comment: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification policy states: For
analyses requiring a calibration curve, the concentration of method and reagent blanks must not
exceed 50% of the reporting limit, unless otherwise specified by the reference method. The laboratory
must have a system in place to take corrective action for data reported to the State of North Carolina
when method and reagent blanks do not meet this requirement. No North Carolina data was available
for review with the exception of Mercury by EPA Method 245.2 and this data met the acceptance
criterion.

Comment: All data receivers in North Carolina (i.e., state government agencies receiving data subject
to G.S. 143-215.1, 143-215.63, et seq.) require the results for soil and sludge sample analyses be
reported on a dry weight basis. There may be occasions when the composition of a particular sample
may require an exemption from this policy. In these instances, an appeal may be made to the
appropriate data receiver.

Comment: All groundwater samples for metals analyses required by the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality (DWQ), Aquifer Protection Section, must be collected and analyzed according to
Standard Method 3030 C “Preliminary Treatment for Acid-Extractable Metals”, Standard Methods for
the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 17th Edition, 1989, 18th Edition, 1992, and 19th Edition,
1995. Ref: Aquifer Protection Section Memorandum dated August 15, 2007. A copy of this memorandum
is attached to this report. The laboratory is not currently analyzing any metals samples reported to the
Page 2
#593 Schneider Laboratories, Inc.

NC DWQ Aquifer Protection Section, however, the laboratory must have a system in place to insure
digestions are performed within 72 hours of collection and must document the process.

Mercury – EPA Method 245.2

A. Finding: The laboratory is analyzing samples and reporting data for parameters without proper
North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification.

Requirement: Commercial laboratories are required to obtain certification for parameters
which will be reported by the client to comply with State surface water monitoring, groundwater,
and pretreatment Rules. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0804 (a).

Comment: An Amendment to Application form was completed at the time of the inspection to
request the addition of EPA Method 245.2 and the deletion of EPA Method 245.1. Acceptable
Performance Evaluation sample results have been reported. Method Detection Limit (MDL)
study and Initial Demonstration of Capability (IDOC) study summaries must be submitted
to this office for review before this method can be added to the laboratory’s certificate
attachment.

Metals – EPA Method 200.7

B. Finding: The acceptance criterion for the Instrument performance check (IPC) solution analyzed
immediately following calibration (the laboratory refers to it as the Initial Calibration Verification or
ICV) is set at ±10%.

Requirement: Analysis of the IPC solution immediately following calibration must verify that
the instrument is within ±5% of calibration with a relative standard deviation <3% from
replicate integrations ≥4. Subsequent analyses of the IPC solution must be within ±10% of
calibration. Ref: EPA Method 200.7, Rev. 4.4 (1994), Section 9.3.4.

C. Finding: A calibration blank and/or calibration verification standard (mid-range) are not
analyzed after every tenth sample.

Requirement: The calibration blank and calibration verification standard (mid-range) must be
analyzed initially (i.e., prior to sample analysis), after every tenth sample and at the end of
each sample group to check for carry over and calibration drift. If either fall outside established
quality control acceptance criteria, corrective action must be taken (e.g., repeating sample
determinations since the last acceptable calibration verification, repeating the initial calibration,
etc.). Ref: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy based upon
Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 1020 B. (10) (c), 3020 B. (2) (b), and 4020 B. (2).

IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:

No paper trail performed.

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.
Report prepared by: Tonja Springer Date: August 31, 2010
Report reviewed by: Chet Whiting Date: September 21, 2010