EPA and DEQ Memos and Guidance
This page lists memorandums and letters of approval for methods by various authorities including the Director of the Division of Water Resources, EPA and the Division of Waste Management UST and Solid Waste Sections.
Standard Methods Method Naming Convention
The old system of referencing methods by editions of Standard Methods is no longer used. Instead the methods are referenced by year (i.e., the year approved by Standard Methods Committee). For example, instead of BOD being referenced as SM 18th Edition 5210 B (multiple Editions were approved), the only approved method now is referenced as 5210 B – 2016. The approved date may be found by checking the footnote on the method introduction, as illustrated below:
* Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2016.
Joint Task Group: James C. Young (chair), Victor D. Hahn, Robert V. Menegotto, Devon A. Morgan, Robin S. Parnell, Lisa M. Ramirez, Debra A. Waller.
Individual Organic Analyte Certification
We often receive requests for certification for individual organic analytes. The NC WW/GW LC program is a method certification program and we do not certify for individual organic analytes. If the laboratory holds certification for a method in which the analyte is published within the scope of that method, the laboratory is considered to be certified for analysis of that analyte. In the case where the analyte of interest is not within the scope of a published certifiable method (an example of this would be Tetrahydrofuran by SW-846 Method 8260 B), the laboratory is advised to maintain Method Detection Limit (MDL) and Initial Demonstration of Capability (IDOC) study summary data on file at the laboratory and follow the quality control requirements outlined in the reference method. Any questions (such as whether an analyte of interest may be reported as a Tentatively Identified Compound [TIC] or whether it must be quantitated) should be directed to the regulatory agency receiving the data. This office does not have the authority to certify or otherwise offer any approval for analysis of individual analytes not within the scope of a certifiable method.
Ferrous Iron
The NC WW/GW LC program does not have the authority to certify specifically for the Ferrous state of Iron. We do certify for Total Iron by a method that also allows for measurement of the ferrous state (i.e., Standard Methods 3500-Fe B, 20th Edition and beyond). To measure the ferrous state, however, samples must be analyzed at the sampling site. The program will only certify:
- entities which intend to report Total Iron by this method, or
- entities which intend to report Ferrous Iron by this method and have the capability to analyze samples at the sampling location
Data analyzed, reported and qualified as out of hold time is unusable for the regulatory data receivers' objectives.
Approved Procedures for the Analysis of Field Parameters
Click here to access the Approved Procedures for Total Residual Chlorine, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Specific Conductance, Temperature, Settleable Residue, Free Available Chlorine, Sulfite, Salinity, Turbidity, and VAR Options 5, 6 & 12.
DWR Director Letters
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| Letter removing approval of Chlorophyll a by HPLC | 10/11/2007 |
DWR Point Source Branch Letters
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| Total Residual Chlorine instrument sensitivity must detect below NPDES discharge permit requirements | 8/14/2001 |
| Total Residual Chlorine Compliance Limit is 50 µg/L | 5/01/2008 |
| Total Residual Chlorine Detection and Compliance Levels Policies Letter | 3/11/2015 |
| NPDES Mercury Requirement - EPA Method 1631 | 8/12/2003 |
EPA Approval Letters
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| US EPA Letter of approval for additional Metals not included in 40 CFR Part 136.3, Table IB - Methods 200.7 and 200.8 | 11/07/2007 |
| US EPA Region 4 Memo on the use of discrete analyzers | 1/27/2005 |
Division of Waste Management - UST and Solid Waste Section Guidelines
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| Solid Waste Section memo concerning 1,4-Dioxane and groundwater and surface water samples collected at landfills | 5/29/2018 |
| Link to UST Update on the January, 1998 MADEP Method, effective 02/01/2006, to the May, 2004 Revision 1.1 | 12/07/2005 |
| UST Section request to certify commercial laboratories for EPA SW-846 method 8015B for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons | 3/26/2003 |
| Guidelines for Sampling Links - UST [Summary of Appendix B changes 05/01/2012] | UST Site |
| Solid Waste Section Memorandum regarding THF monitoring at Construction and Demolition Landfills | 6/25/2010 |
Guidelines for North Carolina Action Limits for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) - UST Section NOTE: There one statement that is causing some confusion: "BTEX should be calculated from the TPH GRO peaks." This implies that they should be reported from the GRO analysis (i.e., 8015). UST acknowledged that the wording is not clear and that is not what they were trying to convey. They want TPH GRO and TPH DRO or EPH and VPH and now they want to also monitor BTEX to evaluate if the action levels for initial petroleum contamination cleanup can be raised. The BTEX can be reported by 8260. | 7/26/2016 |
| Memo concerning implementation of the updated VPH Method (February 2018, Rev. 2.1) | 3/10/2018 |
Soil Reporting
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| Memo from Director requiring soil to be reported on dry weight basis | 5/24/1994 |
Aquifer Protection Section
| Regarding | Date |
|---|---|
| APS Policy for Metals determination required by 15A NCAC 2L - States SM 3030C is no longer required. | 4/13/2013 |
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