#618 inspection-final DL2007

On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Gulf Coast Analytical Laboratories, Inc.

ADDRESS: 7979 GSRI Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70820

CERTIFICATE NO: #618

DATE OF INSPECTION: April 12-13, 2007

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Maintenance Inspection

EVALUATOR: Mr. David G. Livingston

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Ms. Allison Naquin, Mr. Mark Peterman, Ms. Julia Robertson, Ms.
Karen Melerine, Ms. Teresa Shealey, Ms. Michelle Rabon, Ms.
Betsy Adams, Ms. Stacey Haniford, Mr. Robert Wilson, and Ms.
Katherine Brown

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 is spacious and well equipped. All facilities and equipment are well maintained. Records
are well kept. Some further quality control procedures need to be implemented. Below are Policy changes
or reminders for the laboratory since the last inspection.

North Carolina Laboratory Certification (NCLC) POLICIES:

1) All North Carolina regulatory data for Waste Water must be reported on a dry weight basis.

2) Each sample collected in North Carolina must clearly indicate the State of North Carolina as the
collection site on all record transcripts.

3) Whenever a certified commercial laboratory refers or subcontracts samples to another certified
laboratory for analyses, the referring laboratory must supply the date and time samples were collected to
insure holding times are met. Subcontracted samples must clearly indicate the State of North Carolina as
the collection site on all record transcriptions. Laboratories may subcontract sample fractions, extracts,
leachates and other sample preparation products provided that all Rules and requirements of 15A NCAC
02H .0800 are documented. The initial client requesting the analyses must receive the original or a copy of
the report made by the laboratory that performs the analyses. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .08005 (e) (2)

4) Certified analytical weights, Class S, 1 or 2, must be recalibrated and recertified a minimum of every
5 years.

5) NIST certified thermometers must be recalibrated, at a minimum, every five years or the NIST
traceable thermometer within expiration date. A new certificate must be issued and maintained for
inspection upon request.

6) The blank must not exceed 50% of the PQL/LRL. The lab must obtain a signal in which the
constituent concentration in reagent water is 2(1.645)s above the mean of blank analyses (Lower Limit
of Detection). The constituent concentration that produces a signal sufficiently greater than the blank,
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Gulf Coast Analytical laboratories, Inc.

that it can be detected within specified limits, by good laboratories, during routine operating conditions,
is the Limit of Quantitation. Typically it is the concentration that produces a signal 10s above the
reagent water blank signal. In most cases, this requires an absorbance value greater than 0.005 units,
preferably greater than 0.010 units. Ref: Standard Methods, 20th Edition - Method 1010 C. and 1030 C.

7) For metals analysis of North Carolina Groundwater monitoring well samples, method 3030C must
be used.

8) NCLC Requires 5% of samples to be analyzed in duplicate unless the method specifies a higher
frequency.

9) NCLC Temperature requirements for sample handling and preservation are the same as stated in
40 CFR Part 136 Table II

10) Each titrant must be standardized monthly. All certified titrants which are purchased, may be used
initially without standardization. They must be standardized monthly, thereafter, for as long as they are
used. If the normality changes, a new titrant must be purchased or the results must be calculated by a
factor derived from the new adjusted normality.

11) NCLC follows the EPA policy of 5% sample duplication unless otherwise stated in a method.

Note: I recommend that your laboratory regularly visit our NCLC web site for our must up to date policies.
You can visit our website at www.dwqlab.org

III. DEFICIENCIES, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

GENERAL:

(A). COMMENT: The laboratory was not checking NC samples for Residual Chlorine.

REQUIREMENT: For any sample that requires the removal of residual chlorine, (8260, 8270, 8021,
TKN, Ammonia, BOD, etc.) the laboratory must check to ensure that the chlorine has been removed.
The residual chlorine check must be performed to verify that the residual chlorine level is below 0.5
mg/L. Commercially available starch iodide paper can be used to perform this determination.

WALK THROUGH:

(B). COMMENT: The laboratory was not aware of the certification rule requiring the Laboratory to notify
the NCLC program when NC samples are received which do not meet sample collection, holding time, or
preservation requirements.

REQUIREMENT: At any time a laboratory receives samples which do not meet sample collection,
holding time, or preservation requirements, the laboratory must notify the sample collector or client and
secure another sample if possible. If another sample cannot be secured the original sample may be
analyzed, but the results reported must be qualified with the nature of the infraction(s) and the
laboratory must notify the State Laboratory about the infraction(s) . The notification must include a
statement indicating corrective action taken to prevent the problem for future samples. Ref. 15A NCAC
2H .0805 (a) (7) (N)

(C). COMMENT: During the walk through a thermometer, in the metals digestion room, was observed to
have a correction factor of 2° C.

REQUIREMENT: The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 1ºC from the NIST
thermometer reading. REQUIRED for certified data. Ref: NCLC Policy
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Gulf Coast Analytical laboratories, Inc.

TKN:

(D). COMMENT: The laboratory does not analyze an organic standard in conjunction with the TKN sample
analysis.

REQUIREMENT: It is strongly recommended that the laboratory analyze an organic standard with each
TKN analysis. A recommended standard for this purpose is Glutamic acid.

COD:

(E). COMMENT: the laboratory is not documenting the time samples are placed on and the time samples
are taken off of the COD reactor.
RECOMMENDATION: It is strongly recommended that the laboratory record the time that the samples
were placed into the reactor and removed from the reactor in order to verify that the samples were
digested for the appropriate amount of time.

(F). COMMENT: The laboratory is not documenting the temperature of the COD reactor during
digestion.

RECOMMENDATION: Document the temperature of the block heater/reactor to meet method
requirements. Block heater or oven to operate at 150 +/- 2°C. Ref: Standard Methods 18th Edition
5520 C. 2. c.

IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:

This consisted of comparing data with the values obtained on laboratory bench worksheets.

V. CONCLUSIONS:

Correcting the above cited and comments and implementing the requirements/recommendations will
help this lab to produce quality data and meet certification requirements. Please respond to all
lettered comments.

Report prepared by: David G. Livingston Date: 4/23/2007

Report reviewed by: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: 4/27/2007