10a ncac 41d .0102      PRE-DECONTAMINATION ASSESSMENT

The responsible party shall conduct a pre-decontamination assessment in accordance with the following:

(1)           Contact hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team member(s) or law enforcement personnel to collect specific methamphetamine lab information including:

(a)           the drugs manufactured;

(b)           the chemicals found;

(c)           the manufacture ("cook") recipes/methods used at the lab site;

(d)           duration of lab operation;

(e)           chemical equipment found; and

(f)            the location of contaminated cooking and storage areas.

(2)           Determine whether the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system serves more than one unit or structure such as motels, apartments, row houses or multiple-family dwellings to determine whether contamination entered other residences or rooms.

(3)           Assess the plumbing system for visible contamination such as chemical etching or staining and for the presence of chemical odors coming from the drain.

(4)           Conduct a visual assessment of the severity of contamination inside and outside of the structure where the lab was located:

(a)           document any visible chemical spills;

(b)           assess adjacent rooms, units, apartments or structures for contamination, e.g. chemical odors, staining, chemical spills; and

(c)           determine whether disposal methods used by the "cooks" at and near the lab site (e.g., dumping, burning, burial, venting, and drain disposal) caused contamination of soil, groundwater, on-site sewage disposal systems, or other environmental contamination.

(5)           Develop a plan for waste disposal in accordance with the rules and statutes administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Waste Management for materials removed from the structure and wastes produced during cleaning, including solid wastes, hazardous wastes, and household hazardous wastes.

(6)           Determine whether the severity and type of contamination creates a risk of explosion or fire and thereby requires disconnection of power sources to the structure until after decontamination is complete.

(7)           Determine the necessary personal protective equipment needed for cleanup workers.

(8)           Notify the local health director of potential contamination of septic systems, soil, or groundwater.

(9)           Notify the lead law enforcement agency for the site if lab remnants or other evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing is discovered that may have been overlooked during bulk decontamination.

(10)         Document and retain for three years findings of the pre-decontamination assessment and provide a copy to the local health department in accordance with Rule .0104 of this Section.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-284;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2005;

Eff. April 1, 2005;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.