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Home My WebLink About#5330 09 - final INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only. Laboratory Cert. #: 5330 Laboratory Name: Atlantic Environmental Associates, Inc. Inspection Type: Field Maintenance Inspector Name(s): Jeffrey R. Adams Inspection Date: October 06, 2009 Date Report Completed: October 14, 2009 Date Forwarded to Reviewer: October 16, 2009 Reviewed by: Todd Crawford Date Review Completed: October 19, 2009 Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding Insp. CP Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite Date Received: October 19, 2009 Date Forwarded to Alberta: October 22, 2009 Date Mailed: _____________________________________________________________________ On-Site Inspection Report LABORATORY NAME: Atlantic Environmental Associates, Inc. NPDES PERMIT #: WQ0002838 ADDRESS: 2483 Reliance Ave. Apex, NC 27539 CERTIFICATE #: 5330 DATE OF INSPECTION: October 06, 2009 TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance AUDITOR(S): Jeffrey R. Adams LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Candice Brewington 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 had all of the necessary equipment and reagents needed for the certified field parameters. The inspector had requested all equipment, raw and contract data and Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) be available for inspection in a pre-inspection letter dated September 22, 2009. At the time of the inspection, some of the raw data requested was not available for review. The laboratory stated that the Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) data was recorded on a separate log sheet located at the site. The laboratory was reminded that all analytical data pertinent to each analysis must be filed in an orderly manner so as to be readily available for inspection upon request and must be maintained for at least five years. The laboratory was able to submit this data in a timely manner after the inspection. An example benchsheet for field parameters was provided by the inspector. This format would allow the laboratory to document all compliance parameters from each site on a single benchsheet. Using this format will aid in keeping all data from each site together expediting future data review and will help to insure all required information is recorded. The laboratory may adapt this example to their facility’s operations. The laboratory was also given copies of the Technical Assistance Documents for all field parameters during the inspection. III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Quality Assurance Comment: The laboratory had a new analyst since the last inspection and the new analyst was unaware of North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification regulations and policies. Recommendation: It is recommended that the laboratory develop a formal documented training process. The laboratory management shall ensure the competence of all who operate specific equipment, perform tests and/or calibrations, evaluate results, and sign test reports. Steps must be taken to insure the competency of analysts before performing sample analyses without direct supervision. Page 2 #5330 Atlantic Environmental Associates, Inc. pH - Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B A. Finding: A check buffer is not being analyzed prior to sample analysis. Requirement: For routine work, use a pH meter accurate and reproducible to 0.1 pH unit with a range of 0 to 14 equipped with a temperature compensation device. Follow all manufacturers’ recommendations for the calibration of the meter each analysis day. In all cases, the meter must be calibrated with at least two buffers. Calibrating with the pH 4 and pH 10 buffers meets the standard methods requirements and brackets the pH range for most monitoring (with the exception of sludge) scenarios. The calibration, however, must bracket the range of the samples being analyzed. In addition to the calibration standards, the meter must be verified with a third buffer solution (e.g., pH 7 buffer). Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of pH. Total Residual Chlorine – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 Cl G B. Finding: A mid-range post calibration check standard is not being analyzed when sample analyses are performed throughout the day. Requirement: If compliance samples are analyzed throughout the day, a post calibration check (mid-range) must be analyzed mid-day and at the end of the run (i.e., roughly every 4 hours based on an eight hour day). Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of Total Residual Chlorine. C. Finding: The Gel Standards are not being verified annually with the 5-point annual verification curve. Requirement: Purchased “Gel-type” or sealed liquid ampoule standards may be used for daily calibration verification only. These standards must be verified initially and every 12 months thereafter, with the standard curve. Zero the instrument with the gel blank. Read and record gel standard values. Assign the obtained values as the true value. Ref: Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of Total Residual Chlorine. IV. 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 Deer Hurst Mobile Home Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPDES permit #WQ0002838) for March and July, 2009. 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 and implementing the recommendation will help this lab to produce quality data and meet certification requirements. The inspector would like to thank the staff for its assistance in the inspection and data review process. Please respond to all findings. Report prepared by: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: October 14, 2009 Report reviewed by: Todd Crawford Date: October 19, 2009