Attachment 1

Monfalcone FGD Wastewater Treatment Process Flow Diagrams


Attachment 2

Monfalcone Sampling Instructions
Instructions for Sample Collection, Packaging, and Shipment

A2A Monfalcone Plant

This document provides instructions for collecting, packaging, and shipping samples 

from the A2A Monfalcone power plant to laboratories in the United States for analysis. 

If you have any questions regarding these instructions, please contact TJ Finseth at (703) 

633-1698 (office), (703) 969-3316 (cell), or thomas.finseth@erg.com. 

Equipment Needed

Most of the supplies needed for the sampling were provided in the three coolers that were 

shipped to the plant; however, the following are additional items that will be needed:

• Sulfuric acid;

• Garbage bags (at least six bags); and

• Ice.

Sampling Points

As we discussed during the site visit, there are three sampling points from which we need 

you to collect samples.

• FGD Influent (SP-1): This sample should be collected from the sample tap that is 

located on the feed line to the first reaction tank.

• Distillate from Brine Concentrator (SP-2): This sample should be collected 

from the sample tap of the distillate generated from the brine concentrator that is 

transferred to the plate heater. 

• Condensate from Crystallizer (SP-3): This sample should be collected from the 

sample tap of the condensate from the crystallizer. From the site visit, it was 

determined that the condensate would represent both the condensate from the air 

cooler as well as the condensate from the forced circulation heat exchanger. 

Sample Bottles and Preservation

The table below identifies the sample bottles that are needed for collecting samples at 

each of the sampling points. The table also identifies the on-site preservation that is 

required for the samples. As you can see from the table, there are seven bottles that need 

to be filled at each of the sampling points. Additionally, each of the two Group II sample 

bottles will need to be preserved with sulfuric acid to a pH of 2. Within the supplies sent 

to the plant, there are pH strips and pipettes that can be used to transfer the sulfuric acid 

into the sample bottles and test the pH of the samples. Finally, the Group I and Group II 

sample bottles will need to be placed on ice and cooled to <6°C prior to shipping the 

samples to the laboratory.
The total metals and total mercury sample bottles have been specially-cleaned and 

double-bagged in a clean laboratory to help prevent contamination. The outer bag is 

considered “dirty,” while the inner bag and the sample bottle are considered “clean.” The 

Group I and Group II sample bottles have not been specially-cleaned because there are 

fewer contamination concerns with these samples.

Table 2. Summary of Sample Container and Planned Preservation

Parameter

Sample Container 

and Volume On-Site Preservation

Group I One 1-L HDPE

bottle

a ≤6°C

Group II Two 1-L HDPE

bottles

b H2SO4

Total metals (EPA Method 200.8 with 

collision cell)

to pH <2, ≤6°C

One 500-mL HDPE

bottle

None

(acid preserve at laboratory)

Total metals (EPA Method 200.7) One 500-mL HDPE

bottle

None

(acid preserve at laboratory)

Total mercury Two 250-mL glass 

bottles

None

(acid preserve at laboratory)

(a) Group I includes TSS, TDS, sulfate, and chloride.

(b) Group II includes ammonia as nitrogen, COD, nitrate/nitrite as nitrogen, TKN, and total phosphorus.

NOTE: The number of sample bottles refers to the number of sample bottles needed for each sampling point.

Sample Labeling

The 1-L plastic bottles that are used for the Group I and Group II sample bottles are 

already pre-labeled and are ready for sample collection. The total metals and total 

mercury sample bottles are not pre-labeled. Therefore, you will need to label these 

sample bottles. The attached file titled, “Monfalcone_Sampling_Labels.PDF” contains 

the sample labels needed for all three sampling points. For the total metals and total 

mercury sample bottles, you will need to print the labels (preferable onto white shipping 

labels with adhesive backing) and put the label onto the outer bag of the sample bottle. If 

regular paper is used, please tape the label to the outer bag. Each of the total metals and 

total mercury sample bottles has an inner and outer bag, the label can be attached to the 

outer bag of the sample bottle. To ensure that the sample label does not become 

separated from the bottle, the double-bagged sample bottle should be placed in an 

additional storage bag (provided in the orange box included in the shipment to the plant). 

Sample Collection

For the collection of the samples at each sampling point, you will need two sampling 

personnel, a “clean hands” sampler and a “dirty hands” sampler. The “dirty hands” 

sampler will get all the supplies ready, open and close the sample tap valve, and hand the 

bottles to the “clean hands” sampler. The “dirty hands” sampler should only handle the 

outer bag of the bottles and should NOT touch the inner bag or the bottle itself. The 
“clean hands” sampler does not touch anything other than the inner bag and the sample 

bottle and fills the sample bottle. 

The following steps should be used for the sample collection at each of the three sampling 

points.

Grab Sample Collection

1. Arrive at the sampling point location and organize supplies and bottles for 

the sample collection. 

2. “Clean hands” and “dirty hands” put on Tyvek® suits, masks, and powderfree gloves.

3. “Dirty hands” opens the valve to the sample tap and purges the tap for at 

least two minutes. Note: the tap should be kept flowing until all samples 

are collected; therefore, a bucket can be placed under the tap, if desired.

4. “Dirty hands” opens the outer bag for the total mercury sample bottle and 

pulls the outer bag down slightly. “Clean hands” pulls the sample bottle 

and inner bag out of the outer bag. “Clean hands” opens the inner bag and 

pulls it down slightly, opens the lid of the sample bottle and fills the total 

mercury sample bottle. “Clean hands” caps the sample bottle as quickly as 

possible and then closes the inner bag.

5. “Dirty hands” holds the outer bag open so “clean hands” can place the 

sample bottle and inner bag into the outer bag. “Dirty hands” closes the 

outer bag. 

6. The samplers repeat this procedure for the collection of the total metals 

samples (both EPA 200.8 with collision cell and EPA 200.7).

7. The samplers then collect the Group I and Group II samples by filling the 

the bottles directly from the tap. NOTE: the “clean hands/dirty hands” 

sampling techniques do not need to be following for the collection of the 

Group I and Group II samples.

8. The samplers then preserve the Group II samples using sulfuric acid to 

bring the pH to 2 S.U.

9. The samplers then place the Group I and Group II samples on ice to cool 

them to <6°C.

Sample Packing and Shipment

The following steps should be used when packing and shipping the samples to the 

laboratories. 

1. Make sure that each sample bottle has a label, and that the label correctly 

specifies the sample point.

2. Tighten the lid on each filled sample bottle, being careful not to 

overtighten the lid. NOTE: the total mercury and total metals samples 

should not be removed from the inner/outer bags when checking the lids. 

3. Prior to packaging, place each sample bottle requiring ≤6°C preservation 

(Group I and Group II samples) into an ice chest with wet ice to cool.
4. When each sample requiring ≤6°C preservation has reached the desired 

temperature, wipe the sample bottle dry with paper towels (or rag) and 

place in a plastic storage bag.

5. Wrap each glass

6. Place each total metals plastic sample bottle in a plastic storage bag.

sample bottle (mercury samples) with two layers of 

“bubble wrap”. The bubble wrap must fit snugly and completely cover the 

sample bottle. Enclose each “bubble-wrapped” mercury sample in a plastic 

storage bag. Note: do not remove the inner and outer bags prior to bubble 

wrapping the samples.

7. Place two garbage bags inside each other in each of the coolers used to 

ship samples to the laboratories (the large cooler will be used for Group I 

and Group II sample shipment and one small cooler will be used for the 

mercury sample shipment and the other small cooler will be used for the 

metals sample shipment).

8. Place the Group I and Group II samples in the garbage bags in the coolers 

with proper end up, close the interior garbage bag by tying.

9. Prepare ice bags by scooping ice into a Ziploc freezer bag and then 

placing the ice bag into a second Ziploc freezer bag. Approximately 12 

bags of ice (half full) will be needed for the shipment. 

10. Add the ice bags to the cooler (between the interior and exterior garbage 

bags) to keep samples cold during shipment. Arrange sealed plastic freezer 

bags filled with wet ice on the sides and on top of the sample bottles. Place 

the ice inside the second garbage bag. Place as much ice as possible in the 

cooler to ensure the samples stay cold.

11. Close the second garbage bag by tying.

12. Place the metals samples in the garbage bags in a different cooler with 

proper end up, close the interior garbage bag by tying. Close the second 

garbage bag by tying. NOTE: the metals samples are not required to be 

cooled.

13. Fill in any free space around the bottles in the metals cooler with 

additional cushioning material. Sufficient packing material should be used 

so that the sample containers will not shift during shipment.

14. Finish filling out and print a traffic report form for the classicals and 

metals samples (provided electronically by ERG). Seal the last two pages 

of the traffic report forms in a plastic envelope secured to the inside of the 

top of the cooler. NOTE: the top page of the traffic report must be sent to 

ERG at the following address:

Eastern Research Group

14555 Avion Parkway, Suite 200

Chantilly, VA 20151

Attn: TJ Finseth

(703) 633-1698

15. Close the cooler(s).
16. Place a completed laboratory address label on the lid of the cooler(s). The 

classicals and metals samples should be shipped to TestAmerica as 

follows:

TestAmerica

4955 Yarrow Street

Arvada, CO 80002

Attn: Elizabeth Eichelberger

(303) 736-0138

17. Make several wraps with strapping tape around the cooler perpendicular to 

the seal to ensure that the lid will remain closed if the latch is accidentally 

released or damaged.

18. Place the mercury samples in the garbage bags in a separate cooler with 

proper end up, close the interior garbage bag by tying,.

19. Do not add ice to the mercury cooler; simply close the second garbage bag 

by tying. 

20. Fill in any free space around the bottles with additional cushioning 

material. Sufficient packing material should be used so that the sample 

containers will not shift during shipment. 

21. Fill out and print a traffic report form for the mercury samples (provided 

electronically by ERG). Seal the last two pages of the traffic report form 

in a plastic envelope secured to the inside of the top of the cooler. NOTE: 

the top page of the traffic report must be sent to ERG at the same address 

provided in step 14.

22. Close the cooler.

23. Place a completed laboratory address label on the lid of the cooler. The 

mercury samples should be shipped to Frontier as follows:

Frontier GeoSciences

414 Pontius Ave. North

Seattle, WA 98109

Attn: Patrick Garcia-Strickland

(206) 957-1428

24. Make several wraps with strapping tape around the cooler perpendicular to 

the seal to ensure that the lid will remain closed if the latch is accidentally 

released or damaged.

25. For each of the three coolers, attach a FedEx cooler tag (large white tag) to 

the handle of the coolers. Then place a FedEx international pouch on the 

cooler tag by removing the adhesive backing and placing on the tag.

26. Print out the necessary paperwork for FedEx to prepare the shipment for 

pick up or drop off. ERG will prepare the three FedEx shipments on-line 

using our account number. After the shipments are prepared, labels will 

be converted to PDF and will be e-mailed to Javier for printing. You will 

need to print four copies of the labels that are provided. Fold them 
together, with the bar code facing outward, and place them in the 

International pouch.

27. Update and print the invoices needed for the shipment to the laboratories 

(provided electronically by ERG). You will need to print four copies of 

the invoices and sign and date each copy (or print one, sign and date and 

make three additional copies). Fold the invoices together and place them 

in the International pouch.

28. After the coolers have been dropped off (or picked up), please contact TJ 

Finseth at (703) 633-1698, to notify him that the samples have been 

shipped to the laboratories. 

Traffic Reports

ERG is providing electronic copies of the traffic reports (e.g., chain of custody forms) 

needed for the Monfalcone shipments. The samplers will need to update some 

information, such as the date and sample collection times and the FedEx airbill number,

which must be entered after the sample collection and therefore, will not be included in 

the forms provided by ERG.

After the traffic report is completed, you must print the four pages in the file. The last 

two pages in the file must be placed in the cooler for shipment to the laboratories and the 

first page must be sent to ERG. You can keep the second page of the traffic report.

FedEx Paperwork

ERG will prepare the paperwork for the FedEx shipping and will email the information to 

Javier on Thursday morning. You will need to print four copies of the FedEx labels, each 

on different sheets of paper, and place them into the FedEx International shipping pouch 

with the barcode facing outward so it can be scanned by FedEx.

Invoices

ERG is providing electronic copies of the invoices that will be associated with each of the 

three shipments. The samplers will need to update some information, such as FedEx 

airbill number, prior to printing the forms. Additionally, you will need to provide the Tax 

Payer ID Number for HPD on the invoice form to prevent customs delays. You will need 

to print four copies of the Invoices and sign and date each copy. The invoices can then 

be folded together and put in the FedEx International shipping pouch along with the 

FedEx labels.