R392-600-5. Decontamination Procedures

  (1) The decontamination specialists, and owner of record shall comply with all 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 all decontamination activities.

  (3) The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall conduct the removal of the contamination from the property, except for porous materials from areas not contaminated that may be cleaned as outlined in sub-section R392-600-5(11).

  (4) The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall see that doors or other openings from areas requiring decontamination shall be partitioned from all 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.

  (5) Ventilation Cleaning Procedures.

  (a) Air registers shall be removed and cleaned as outlined in subsection R392-600-5(11).

  (b) All air register openings shall be covered by temporary filter media.

  (c) A fan-powered HEPA filter collection machine shall be connected to the ductwork to develop negative air pressure in the ductwork.

  (d) Air lances, mechanical agitators, or rotary brushes shall be inserted into the ducts through the air register openings to loosen all dirt, dust and other materials.

  (e) The air handler units, including the return air housing, coils, fans, systems, and drip pan shall be cleaned as required in subsection R392-600-5(11).

  (f) All porous linings or filters in the ventilation system shall be removed and properly disposed.

  (g) The ventilation system shall be sealed off at all openings 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 R392-600-6(2) and (3).

  (6) Procedures for Contaminated Areas.

  (a) All stained materials from the illegal drug operations 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 materials meet the decontamination standards contained in subsections R392-600-6(2) and (3).

  (b) All non-porous surfaces such as floors, walls, ceilings, mirrors, window, doors, appliances, and non-fabric furniture may be cleaned to the point of stain removal and left in place or removed and properly disposed. After on-site cleaning, the decontamination specialist shall test all surfaces to verify compliance with the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3).

  (c) All exposed concrete surfaces shall be thoroughly cleaned as outlined in R392-600-5(11) and tested to meet the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3) or may be removed and properly disposed.

  (d) All appliances 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 materials meet the decontamination standards contained in subsections R392-600-6(2) and (3). Only smooth and easily cleanable surfaces may be decontaminated on site and only in accordance subsection R392-600-5(11). After on-site cleaning, the decontamination specialist shall test all surfaces to verify compliance with the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3). For appliances such as ovens that have insulation, a 100 square centimeter portion of the insulation shall also be tested. If the insulation does not meet the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3), the insulated appliances shall be removed and properly disposed.

  (e) Porous materials 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 materials 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.

  (ii) Detergent and water solution: porous materials shall be washed in a washing machine with detergent and water for at least 15 minutes. The porous materials shall be rinsed with water. This procedure shall be repeated at least two additional times using new detergent solution and rinse water.

  (f) Doors or other openings to areas with no visible contamination shall be partitioned from all other areas with at least 4-mil plastic sheeting or equivalent after being cleaned to avoid re-contamination.

  (g) Spray-on acoustical ceilings shall be left undisturbed, and shall be sampled and tested for asbestos and for contamination to determine whether ceilings meet the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3), and if in need of removal, whether asbestos remediation protocols are applicable. If the materials exceed the standards, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall properly remove and dispose of them.

  (7) Structural Integrity and Security Procedures.

  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.

  (8) Procedures for Plumbing, Septic, Sewer, and Soil.

  (a) All plumbing inlets to the septic or sewer system, including sinks, floor drains, bathtubs, showers, and toilets, shall be visually assessed for any staining or other observable residual contamination. All plumbing traps shall be assessed for VOC concentrations with a PID or FID in accordance with Section R392-600-6(6). All plumbing traps shall be assessed for mercury vapors in accordance with Section R392-600-6(9) by using a mercury vapor analyzer unless the results of the preliminary assessment indicate that contamination was unlikely to have occurred. If VOC concentrations or mercury vapor concentrations exceed the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3), the accessible plumbing and traps where the excess levels are found shall be removed and properly disposed, or shall be cleaned and tested to meet the decontamination standards contained in R392-600-6(2) and (3).

  (b) 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 indicate that contamination was unlikely to have occurred.

  (c) 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.

  (d) If VOCs are found in the septic tank at concentrations exceeding the UGWQS or exceeding 700 micrograms per liter for acetone the following applies:

  (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 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 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.

  (e) 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.

  (f) All sampling and testing pursuant to this section shall be performed in accordance with EPA sampling and testing protocol.

  (9) Procedures for burn areas, trash piles and bulk wastes.

  (a) The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall characterize, remove, and properly dispose of all bulk wastes remaining from the activities of the illegal drug operations or other wastes impacted by compounds used by the illegal drug operations.

  (b) The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall examine the property for evidence of burn areas, burn or trash pits, debris piles, and stained areas suggestive of contamination. The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall test any burn areas, burn or trash pits, debris piles or stained areas with appropriate soil sampling and testing equipment, such as a LEL/O2 meter, pH paper, PID, FID, mercury vapor analyzer, or equivalent equipment to determine if the area is contaminated.

  (c) If the burn areas, burn or trash pits, debris piles, or stained areas are not in a part of the property that has otherwise been determined to be contaminated, the decontamination specialist shall recommend to the owner of the property that these areas be investigated.

  (d) If the burn areas, burn or trash pits, debris piles or stained areas are part of the contaminated portion of the property, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall investigate and remediate these areas.

  (e) The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall investigate burn areas, burn or trash pits, debris piles, or stained areas for the VOCs used by the illegal drug operations 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 operations.

  (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 R392-600-8.

  (g) If any of the compounds 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 contaminated soils to background or EPA residential risk based screening concentrations as contained in the document listed in R392-600-8, and contaminated groundwater to concentrations at or below the UGWQS and at or below 700 micrograms per liter for acetone.

  (i) All sampling and testing conducted under this section shall be performed in accordance with current EPA sampling and testing protocol.

  (10) Decontamination procedures for motor vehicles.

  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 no longer be occupied. The vehicle shall also be properly disposed.

  (11) Cleaning Procedure.

  For all items, surfaces or materials that are identified as easily cleanable and for which the work plan indicates they will be decontaminated on site, the decontamination specialist or owner of record shall wash them with a detergent and water solution and then thoroughly rinse them. This procedure shall be repeated at least two additional times using new detergent solution and rinse water. The decontamination specialist or owner of record shall test all surfaces where decontamination on site has been attempted to verify compliance with the decontamination standards in R392-600-6(2) and (3).

  (12) Waste Characterization and Disposal Procedures.

  The Hazardous Waste Rules of R315-1 through R315-101, the Solid Waste Rules of R315-301 through R315-320 and the Illegal Drug Operations Decontamination Standards regulate the management and disposal of hazardous waste and contaminated debris generated during decontamination of an illegal drug operations. The decontamination specialist and owner of record shall comply with these rules and meet the following criteria.

  (a) No waste, impacted materials or contaminated debris from the decontamination of illegal drug operations may be removed from the site or waste stream for recycling or reuse without the written approval of the local Health Department.

  (b) All items removed from the illegal drug operations and waste generated during decontamination work shall be properly disposed.

  (c) All liquid waste, powders, pressurized cylinders and equipment used during the production of illegal drugs shall be properly characterized by sampling or testing prior to making a determination regarding disposal or the waste shall simply be considered hazardous waste and properly disposed, except the waste shall not be deemed to be household hazardous waste.

  (d) All impacted materials and contaminated debris that are not determined by the decontamination specialist or owner of record to be a hazardous waste may be considered a solid waste and properly disposed.

  (e) All Infectious Waste shall be managed in accordance with Federal, State and local requirements.

  (f) The disturbance, removal and disposal of asbestos must be done in compliance with all Federal, State, and local requirements including the requirements for Asbestos Certification, Asbestos Work Practices and Implementation of Toxic Substances Control Act, Utah Administrative Code R307-801.

  (g) The removal and disposal of lead based paint must be done in compliance with all Federal, State, and local requirements including the requirements for Lead-Based Paint Accreditation, Certification and Work Practice Standards, Utah Administrative Code R307-840.

  (h) The decontamination specialist and owner of record shall comply with all Federal, State, Municipal, County or City codes, ordinances and regulations pertaining to waste storage, manifesting, record keeping, waste transportation and disposal.