(A) Overall responsibilities.
(1) The Building Inspector’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Posting methamphetamine or other illegal drug labs and property with “DANGER - UNSAFE FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY”, “CONDEMNED” and “NO TRESPASSING” signs and placards, as required by § 154.160, and placing boards over windows and doors to prevent access;
(b) Reviewing contractor test methods and results;
(c) Monitoring contractor decontamination, sampling, clean-up and testing; and
(d) Approving final decontamination.
(2) The decontamination contractor shall be responsible for:
(a) Inspecting the property and structures containing methamphetamine or other illegal drug labs;
(b) Determining levels of contamination;
(c) Performing all sampling and testing in a responsible manner;
(d) Developing a decontamination work plan which includes a floor plan of the structure;
(e) Performing decontamination;
(f) Verifying decontamination;
(g) Proper disposal of all contaminated materials;
(h) Recording pre-cleanup contamination levels and post-cleanup decontamination levels; and
(i) Details of final report including photographs of sampling sites, floor plans, description of decontamination procedure.
(B) Inspecting property. After a law enforcement agency notifies the Building Inspector of potential property contamination, the Building Inspector shall notify the property owner to have a decontamination contractor inspect and test the property. Any decontamination contractor who has been hired to clean and test structures shall notify the Building Inspector before testing or cleanup begins.
(1) To determine contamination, the property inspection shall include, but be limited to, an acquisition of data such as evidence of:
(a) Hazardous chemical use or attempted use or storage of hazardous chemicals on site (when available);
(b) Chemical stains; or
(c) Glassware or other paraphernalia associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine on site.
(2) As part of the property’s inspection, the Building Inspector may request copies of any law enforcement reports, forensic chemist reports and any other information needed to evaluate:
(a) The total square footage of the structure used in the manufacture or attempted manufacture or storage of methamphetamine or other illegal drugs;
(b) What chemical process was involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine or other illegal drugs;
(c) What chemicals were removed from the scene;
(d) The location of the methamphetamine or other illegal drug lab site in relation to the habitable areas of the property; and
(e) The Building Inspector shall provide law enforcement reports, if available, to the decontamination contractor upon request.
(3) The Building Inspector may coordinate the property’s inspection with other appropriate agencies. At the request of the Building Inspector, the appropriate County Health Department may conduct an environmental assessment and may sample the property’s ground water, surface water, septic tank water, soil and other media necessary to enable the County Health Department to evaluate the long-term public health threats.
(4) Once a structure has been designated contaminated, all porous materials such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, draperies, clothing, toys and carpets shall be deemed beyond decontamination and shall be disposed of in a safe manner. Record of the disposal shall be part of the final decontamination report.
(Ord. 09-14, passed 12-15-2009)