2017 PT Requirements and Timetables Memorandum

PAT MCCRORY Governor DONALD R. VAN DER VAART

Secretary S. JAY ZIMMERMAN

Director

MEMORANDUM

DATE: December 16, 2016

TO: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Certified Laboratories

FROM: Dana Satterwhite, Environmental Program Supervisor

SUBJECT: 2017 Proficiency Testing (PT) Requirements Changes

In accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2H .0805, all Certified laboratories are required to analyze PT samples at least annually to maintain Certification.

The laboratory must obtain samples from a proficiency testing sample provider recognized by The NELAC Institute (TNI) and approved by the North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program. These samples may be part of an official study, a supplemental study or quick turnaround type samples. Proficiency testing samples from providers not approved by TNI and the NC WW/GW LC program cannot be accepted. A list of approved PT providers may be found on the NELAC website at http://nelac- institute.org/content/NEPTP/ptproviders.php.

Proficiency testing requirements are outlined in a document titled Proficiency Testing Requirements, Revision 1.2, which can be found here: https://ncdenr.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Water%20Quality/Chemistry %20Lab/Certification/Technical%20Assistance%20Documents/PTRequirementsDocument20120120Revision %201.2F.pdf

This document is currently being revised and will be released early next year. Most changes are editorial, however there are three major changes that will impact how PTs are to be analyzed and reported for the 2017 PT calendar year. They are described below.

1. A PT sample must be analyzed by, and reported for, each parameter method for which your laboratory holds Certification (refer to your Certified Parameters Listing). This means that if you hold Certification for multiple methods employing the same technology, you must report a value for each of those methods. When multiple methods employing the same technology are combined into a single analysis (e.g., EPA 200.8/SW-846 6020B), you must also report a value for each of the individual methods. In either case, that value may be the same for each method.

2. PT samples are not to be analyzed multiple times unless each and every routine compliance sample is analyzed in that same manner.

3. PT samples are not to be spiked.

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: 919-733-3908 \ FAX: 919-733-6241 Internet: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/lab/cert 2017 PT Requirements and Timetables Memorandum Page 2 of 2

NOTE: The proficiency testing deadline is September 30, 2017. We must receive the graded results, directly from the vendor, in this office by the September 30, 2017 deadline. Be cautioned against using the September PT studies because the results may not arrive in our office before the September 30, 2017 deadline. If not performing a quick turnaround type sample, July studies will likely be the latest monthly study that will meet the deadline. Failure to report the required PT results by the September 30 th deadline will be considered as a first unacceptable result for Certification purposes. Any required remedial PTs must be analyzed within 90 days from the date the study results were issued by the accredited PT provider. A laboratory that fails a PT sample for a parameter method must take steps to identify the root cause of the failure, take corrective action, and report the corrective action taken to this office. Additional PT sample results submitted voluntarily at any time during the year will be graded. Failure to complete the required PT samples within the allotted time frames may result in enforcement action in accordance with 15A NCAC 02H .0807.

All facilities in North Carolina remain exempt from the US EPA NPDES DMR-QA PT Studies. Certified Laboratories do not have to follow the DMR-QA Study timetable (usually May to August). PTs may be ordered any time during the Proficiency Testing Calendar Year (January 1 to September 30) from approved vendors.

Although you may be certified for both aqueous and non-aqueous matrices, we will not require PTs specific to each matrix. A single PT in either matrix shall suffice for demonstration of proficiency for that parameter method. A specific matrix PT is required only in cases where a method is matrix-specific (i.e., EPA 9071B and SW-846 7471B). If an unacceptable result is obtained for a specific matrix, the remedial PT must be of the same matrix. NOTE: At this time, a non-aqueous PT is not required for SW-846 9045D.

The NC WW/GW LC address is 1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1623. When completing the PT reporting forms (either hard copy or online), please ensure that the correct address is clearly identified for results to be reported to this office. The laboratory's EPA Lab Code and the State ID number (this may be the lab Certification number assigned by this program) must also be included to ensure proper credit. If you do not have or know your EPA Lab Code, contact this office.

We hope that this will answer many questions that you may have regarding North Carolina's PT requirements. If you have additional questions or concerns, you may contact your assigned auditor. Thank you for your continued cooperation and participation in the WW/GW Laboratory Certification Program of the State of North Carolina.