Section R392-600-5 - Decontamination Procedures(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.Utah Admin. Code R392-600-5
Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2015-10, effective 5/1/2015Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2017-14, effective 6/21/2017Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2018-18, effective 8/24/2018Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-15, effective 7/13/2022