#487-final 2007

On-Site Inspection Report

LABORATORY NAME: Southern Petroleum Laboratories, Inc.

ADDRESS: 500 Ambassador Caffrey Pkwy.
Scott, LA 70583-8544

CERTIFICATE NO: #487

DATE OF INSPECTION: April 9-11, 2007

TYPE OF INSPECTION: Maintenance Inspection

EVALUATOR: Mr. David G. Livingston

LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Mr. John Trahan, Mr. Ron Benjamin, Mr. Tristan Davis, Ms. Isabel
Schiro, Mr. Conrad Meaux, Ms. Brandy Oppenheimer, Mr. Keith
Rush, Ms. Diane Boger, Ms. Karen Lefleur, Ms. Rebecca Hebert,
Ms. Christina Hebert and Mr. Paul Johnson

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) 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,
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.
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Southern Petroleum laboratories, Inc.

6) 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.

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) 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 is not making corrections to the data as required.

REQUIREMENT: If a mistake is made in data recording, the mistake must be removed by making
a single line through the incorrect entry, recording the correct entry beside mistake, and initialing
and dating the error. Ref: SW 846 Sept. 1994 Test Methods for Evaluating Wastes, Chapter
One pg. 13

NITRATE/NITRITE:

(B) COMMENT: The initial calibration curve data sheet(s) do not have units of measurement associated
with the standards. Is it mg/ or µg/L?

REQUIREMENT: All laboratories must use printed laboratory bench worksheets that include a space to
enter the signature or initials of the analyst, date of analyses, sample identification, volume of sample
analyzed, value from the measurement system, factor, and final value to be reported, and each item
must be recorded each time samples are analyzed. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0800 (a) (7) (H).

EPH:

(C) COMMENT: The laboratory is not checking the response ration of C28 to C 20.

REQUIREMENT: In order to demonstrate the absence of aliphatic mass discrimination, the response
ration of C28 to C20 must be at least 0.85. If <0.85, this nonconformance must be noted in the laboratory
case narrative. The chromatograms of Continuing Calibration Standards for aromatics must be reviewed to
ensure that there are no obvious signs of mass discrimination. Ref: Method for the Determination of
Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection May 2004 revision 1.1 section 10.2.4

IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:

This consisted of comparing data with the values obtained on laboratory bench worksheets.
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Southern Petroleum laboratories, Inc.

V. CONCLUSIONS:

Correcting the above cited and comments and implementing the requirements and 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: 4/30/2007