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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#5614_03_2015_FINAL��;'�tr sNCDENR M April 7, 2015 5614 Mr. David Tolson Ocracoke Sanitary District P.O. Box 567 Ocracoke, NC 27960 Donald P, van der Vaart Secretary SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) Maintenance Inspection Dear Mr. Tolson: Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on March 24, 2015 by Nick Jones. Since the finding(s) cited during the inspection were all corrected prior to the completion of the enclosed report, a response is not required. But please submit completed benchsheets after your next sampling/analysis event in May as requested. 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. Attachment cc: master file Nick Jones Sincerely, Gary Francies, Technical Assistance/Compliance Specialist Division of Water Resources Water Sciences 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 Phone: 919-733-39081 FAX: 919-733-6241 Internet: www.d Iab,orq An Equal Opportunity " Affirmative Action Employer INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only. Laboratory Cert. #: Laboratory Name: Inspection Type: Inspector Name(s): Inspection Date: Date Report Completed: Date Forwarded to Reviewer: Reviewed by: Date Review Completed: Cover Letter to use: Unit Supervisor/Chemist III: Date Received: Date Forwarded to Linda: Date Mailed: 5614 Ocracoke Sanitary District Field Initial Nick Jones March 24, 2015 April 1, 2015 April 1, 2015 Tonia Springer April 2, 2015 ❑ Insp. Initial ❑ Insp. Reg. ❑ Insp. No Finding ❑ Insp. CP ® Corrected Gary Francies 4/2/2015 4/7/2015 Lk- IIult5 LS�_ On -Site Inspection Report LABORATORY NAME: NPDES PERMIT # : ADDRESS: CERTIFICATE #: DATE OF INSPECTION: TYPE OF INSPECTION: AUDITOR(S): LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: INTRODUCTION: Ocracoke Sanitary District NCO041530 P.O. Box 567 Ocracoke, NC 27960 5614 March 24, 2015 Field Initial Nick Jones David Tolson This laboratory was inspected by a representative of the North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800 for the analysis of environmental samples. GENERAL COMMENTS: The laboratory was clean and well organized. The facility has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses. Proficiency Testing (PT) samples for the 2015 proficiency testing calendar year have not yet been analyzed. The laboratory is reminded that these results must be submitted to this office directly from the vendor by September 30, 2015. Contracted analyses are performed by Environment 1, Inc. (Certification #10) and Meritech, Inc. (Certification #165). Current quality assurance policies for Field Laboratories and approved procedures for the analysis of the facility's currently certified parameters were provided at the time of the inspection. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Documentation Comment: Error corrections were not performed properly. The NC WW/GW LC 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 Page 2 #5614 Ocracoke Sanitary District 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., a statement that as of 4/1/2015 the lab will henceforth make error corrections according to the NC WW/GW LC policy) was received by email on 4/1/2015. No further response is necessary for this finding. Comment: The lab did not have a system of traceability for the documentation of purchased materials and reagents. The NC WW/GW LC Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories document states: 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. Consumable materials such as pH buffers and lots of pre -made standards are included in this requirement. Demonstration of acceptable corrective action (i.e., laboratory personnel implemented the traceability log provided by the inspector) was witnessed during the inspection. No further response is necessary for this finding. Temperature - Standard Methods, 2550 B-2000 Comment: The temperature sensor on the Dissolved Oxygen meter used to obtain reported temperature values had not been checked against a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable thermometer. The NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature document states: Thermometers and temperature measuring devices, used to measure temperature for compliance monitoring, must be checked every 12 months against a NIST traceable thermometer. The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 1°C from the NIST traceable thermometer reading. The documentation must include the serial number of the NIST traceable thermometer that was used in the comparison. Document any correction that applies on both the thermometer/meter and on a separate sheet to be filed. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., documentation of the NIST traceable thermometer verification) was received by email on 4/1/2015. No further response is necessary for this finding. Dissolved Oxygen - Standard Methods, 4500 O G-2001 pH - Standard Methods, 4500 H+ B-2000 Comment: The lab was not calibrating the pH or DO meter prior to use on each analysis day. The NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of pH and The NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedures for the Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen state: Instruments are to be calibrated according to the manufacturer's calibration procedure prior to analysis of samples each day compliance monitoring is performed. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., a statement that as of 4/1/2015 the lab will henceforth begin calibrating the pH and DO meter prior to use on each analysis day) was received by email on 4/1/2015. No further response is necessary for this finding. Page 3 #5614 Ocracoke Sanitary District Dissolved Oxygen - Standard Methods, 4500 O G-2001 pH - Standard Methods, 4500 H+ B-2000 Temperature - Standard Methods, 2550 B-2000 Comment: The laboratory did not have benchsheets for DO, pH and Temperature. Sample results were written directly on the Discharge Monitoring Report. The North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) (H) states: All laboratories must use printed bench worksheets that include a space to enter the signature or initials of the analyst, date of analyses, sample identification, volume of samples analyzed, value from the measurement system, factor and final value to be reported and each item must be recorded each time samples are analyzed. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., a statement that as of 4/1/2015 the lab will henceforth implement the use of the benchsheets supplied by the inspector) was received by email on 4/1/2015. The lab only samples/ analyzes samples quarterly. Please submit a benchsheet after the next sampling/ analysis event in May. IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION: The paper trail consisted of comparing contract lab reports to Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. Data were reviewed for August and November, 2014 and February, 2015. No transcription errors were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately transcribing data. 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. Please submit your benchsheet after the next sampling/ analysis event in May. Report prepared by: Nick Jones Date: April 1, 2015 Report reviewed by: Tonja Springer Date: April 2, 2015