Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1) The
decontamination specialist and owner of record shall comply with applicable
federal, state, municipal, and local laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations
in decontaminating the property.
(2) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall be present on the property during decontamination
activities.
(3) The decontamination
specialist and owner of record shall ensure that sampling and testing pursuant
to this section is performed in accordance with EPA sampling and testing
protocols.
(4) Except for porous
materials from areas not contaminated, the decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall conduct the removal of the contamination from the property as
outlined in Subsection (12).
(5)
The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall ensure that each door
or other opening from areas requiring decontamination is partitioned from other
areas with at least 4-mil plastic sheeting or equivalent before beginning
decontamination to prevent contamination of portions of the property that have
not been impacted by illegal drug operations.
(6)
(a) The
decontamination specialist or owner of record shall clean the ventilation
system as outlined in Subsection (12).
(b) Each air register shall be removed and
cleaned.
(c) Each air register
opening shall be covered by temporary filter media.
(d) A fan-powered HEPA filter collection
machine shall be connected to the ductwork to develop negative air pressure in
the ductwork.
(e) Dirt, dust, and
other material shall be loosened through the use of inserting an air lance,
mechanical agitator, or rotary brush into the ducts through the air register
openings.
(f) Each air handler
unit, including the return air housing, coils, fans, systems, and drip pan
shall be cleaned.
(g) Each porous
lining or filter in the ventilation system shall be removed and properly
disposed.
(h) The ventilation
system shall be sealed off at each opening with at least 4-mil plastic
sheeting, or other barrier of equivalent strength and effectiveness, to prevent
recontamination until the contaminated portion of the property meets the
decontamination standards in Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3).
(7)
(a) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall clean and process each contaminated area and surface in
accordance Subsection (12) and Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3).
(b) Each stained material from an illegal
drug operation shall be removed and properly disposed, unless the
decontamination specialist or owner of record determines that cleaning and
testing can be performed and can demonstrate based on results of confirmation
sampling and testing that the material meets the decontamination standards of
this rule.
(c) Each non-porous
surface, including each floor, wall, ceiling, mirror, window, door, appliance,
and non-fabric furniture, may be cleaned to the point of stain removal and left
in place or removed and properly disposed.
(d) After on-site cleaning, the
decontamination specialist or owner of record shall test each surface to verify
compliance with the decontamination standards of this rule.
(e) Each exposed concrete surface:
(i) shall be cleaned as outlined in
Subsection (12) and tested to meet the decontamination standards contained in
Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3);
or
(ii) may be removed and properly
disposed.
(f) Each
appliance shall be removed and properly disposed, unless the decontamination
specialist or owner of record determines that cleaning and testing can be
performed and can demonstrate, based on results of confirmation sampling and
testing, that the material meets the decontamination standards of this rule.
(i) For appliances that have insulation, a
100 square centimeter portion of the insulation shall be tested; and
(ii) if the insulation does not meet the
decontamination standards of this rule, the appliance shall be removed and
properly disposed.
(g)
Only smooth and easily cleanable surfaces may be decontaminated on -site and
only in accordance with Subsection (12).
(i) Each porous material with no evidence of
staining or contamination may be cleaned by HEPA vacuuming and one of the
following methods:
(i) Steam cleaning: hot
water and detergent shall be injected into the porous material under pressure
to agitate and loosen any contamination. The water and detergent solution shall
then be extracted from the porous material by a wet vacuum; or
(ii) Detergent and water solution: porous
material shall be washed in a washing machine with detergent and water for at
least 15 minutes. The porous material shall be rinsed with water. This
procedure shall be repeated at least two times using new detergent solution and
rinse water.
(j) Each
door or other opening to an area with no visible contamination shall be
partitioned from other areas with at least 4-mil plastic sheeting or equivalent
after being cleaned .
(k) Each
spray-on acoustical ceiling shall be left undisturbed, and shall be sampled and
tested for asbestos and for contamination to determine whether the ceiling
meets the decontamination standards of this rule. If testing shows asbestos or
contamination exceeds the standards of this rule or of Rule R307-801, Utah
Asbestos Rule, the material shall be removed and properly disposed.
(8) If, as a result of
the decontamination, the structural integrity or security of the property is
compromised, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall take
measures to remedy the structural integrity and security of the property.
(9)
(a) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall clean and decontaminate each plumbing fixture in accordance
with this rule.
(b) Each plumbing
inlet to a septic or sewer system, including sinks, floor drains, bathtubs,
showers, and toilets, shall be visually assessed for staining or other
observable residual contamination.
(c) Each plumbing trap shall be assessed for
VOC concentrations with a PID or FID in accordance with Subsection
R392-600-6(5).
(d) Each plumbing trap shall be assessed for
mercury vapors in accordance with Subsection
R392-600-6(9)
by using a mercury vapor analyzer unless the results of the preliminary
assessment show that contamination was unlikely to have occurred.
(e) If the VOC concentration or mercury vapor
concentration exceeds the decontamination standards contained in Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3),
the accessible plumbing and traps where the excess levels are found shall be:
(i) removed and properly disposed; or
(ii) cleaned and tested to meet
the decontamination standards contained in Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3).
(9)
(a) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall obtain documentation from the local health department or the
local waste water company describing the sewer disposal system for the dwelling
and include it in the final report. If the dwelling is connected to an on-site
septic system, a sample of the septic tank liquids shall be obtained and tested
for VOC concentrations unless the results of the preliminary assessment show
that contamination was unlikely to have occurred.
(b) If VOCs are not found in the septic tank
sample or are found at concentrations less than UGWQS and less than 700
micrograms per liter for acetone, no additional work is required in the septic
system area, unless requested by the owner of the property.
(c) If VOCs are found in the septic tank at
concentrations exceeding the UGWQS or exceeding 700 micrograms per liter for
acetone then:
(i) The decontamination
specialist or owner of record shall investigate the septic system discharge
area for VOCs, lead, and mercury unless there is clear evidence that mercury or
lead was not used in the manufacturing of illegal drugs at the illegal drug
operation.
(ii) The horizontal and
vertical extent of any VOCs, mercury, and lead detected in the soil samples
shall be delineated relative to background or EPA residential risk based
screening concentrations contained in the document listed in Section
R392-600-8.
(iii) If any of the VOCs, mercury, and lead
used in the illegal drug operations migrated down to groundwater level, the
decontamination specialist or owner of record shall delineate the vertical and
horizontal extent of the groundwater contamination.
(iv) After complete characterization of the
release, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall remediate the
impacted soils to concentrations below background or EPA residential risk based
screening concentrations as contained in the document listed in Section
R392-600-8 and any
impacted groundwater to concentrations below the UGWQS and below 700 micrograms
per liter for acetone.
(v) The
contents of the septic tank shall be removed and properly disposed.
(d) The decontamination specialist
or owner of record shall also notify the Utah Department of Environmental
Quality, Division of Water Quality, if a release has occurred as a result of
illegal drug operations to a single -family septic system or a multiple family
system serving less than 20 people.
(10)
(a)
The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall characterize, remove,
and properly dispose of each bulk waste remaining from the activities of the
illegal drug operations, including any burn area and trash or debris pile or
pit, or other waste impacted by compounds used by the illegal drug operation.
(b) The decontamination specialist
or owner of record shall examine the property for evidence of any burn area,
burn or trash pit, debris pile, and stained area suggestive of contamination.
The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall test any burn area,
burn or trash pit, debris pile or stained area with a LEL/O2 meter, pH paper,
PID, FID, mercury vapor analyzer, or equivalent equipment to determine if the
area is contaminated.
(c) If a burn
area, burn or trash pit, debris pile, or stained area is not in a part of the
property that has been determined to be contaminated, the decontamination
specialist shall recommend to the owner of the property that these areas be
investigated.
(d) If a burn area,
burn or trash pit, debris pile or stained area is part of the contaminated
portion of the property, the decontamination specialist or owner of record
shall investigate and remediate this area.
(e) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall investigate each burn area, burn or trash pit, debris pile, or
stained area for the VOCs used by the illegal drug operation and lead and
mercury, unless there is clear evidence that mercury or lead was not used in
the manufacturing of illegal drugs at the illegal drug operation.
(f) The decontamination specialist or owner
of record shall delineate the horizontal and vertical extent of any VOCs, lead,
or mercury detected in the soil samples relative to background concentrations
or EPA residential risk based screening concentrations as contained in the
document listed in Section
R392-600-8.
(g) If any compound used by the illegal drug
operation migrated into groundwater, the decontamination specialist or owner of
record shall delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of the groundwater
contamination relative to the UGWQS and relative to the maximum contaminant
level of 700 micrograms per liter for acetone.
(h) After complete characterization of the
release, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall remediate any
contaminated soil to background or EPA residential risk based screening
concentrations as contained in the document listed in Section
R392-600-8, and
contaminated groundwater to concentrations at or below the UGWQS and at or
below 700 micrograms per liter for acetone.
(11) If an illegal drug operation is
encountered in a motor vehicle, the decontamination specialist or owner of
record shall conduct a preliminary assessment in the manner described in this
rule to determine if the vehicle is contaminated. If it is determined that the
motor vehicle is contaminated and the vehicle cannot be cleaned in a manner
consistent with this rule, the motor vehicle may not be occupied and shall be
properly disposed.
(12)
(a) For each item, surface or material that
is identified as easily cleanable and for which the work plan indicates will be
decontaminated on -site, the decontamination specialist or owner of record
shall wash the item, surface, or material with a detergent and water solution
followed by a thorough rinse.
(b)
This procedure shall be repeated at least two times using new detergent
solution and rinse water.
(c) The
decontamination specialist or owner of record shall test each item, surface, or
material where decontamination on -site has been attempted to verify compliance
with the decontamination standards in Subsections
R392-600-6(2)
and
R392-600-6(3).
(13)
(a) The decontamination specialist and owner
of record shall dispose of hazardous waste and contaminated debris generated
during decontamination of an illegal drug operation in accordance with this
rule and Title R315, Waste Management and Radiation Control, Waste Management.
(b) Waste, impacted material or
contaminated debris from a decontamination of an illegal drug operation may not
be removed from the site or waste stream for recycling or reuse without the
written approval of the local health department.
(c) Each item removed from an illegal drug
operation and waste generated during decontamination work shall be properly
disposed.
(d) Any liquid waste,
powder, pressurized cylinder and equipment used during the production of
illegal drugs may not be characterized as household hazardous waste and shall
be:
(i) properly characterized by sampling or
testing before making a determination regarding disposal; or
(ii) considered hazardous waste and properly
disposed.
(e) Each
impacted material and contaminated debris that is not determined by the
decontamination specialist or owner of record to be a hazardous waste may be
considered a solid waste and properly disposed.
(f) Any infectious waste shall be managed in
accordance with federal, state, and local requirements.
(14) The decontamination specialist and owner
of record shall ensure that the disturbance, removal, and disposal of asbestos
is done in compliance with Rule R307-801, Utah Asbestos Rule.
(15) The decontamination specialist and owner
of record shall ensure that the removal and disposal of lead based paint is
done in compliance with Rule R307-840, Lead-Based Paint Program Purpose,
Applicability, and Definitions.
(16) The decontamination specialist and owner
of record shall comply with federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to
waste storage, manifesting, record keeping, waste transportation and
disposal.