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RCW 69.50.51 allows the Department of Ecology to arrange
for clean up of meth lab operations/wastes. It reads as follows:
RCW 59.50.51 Clean-up of hazardous substances at
illegal drug manufacturing facility – Rules. Law enforcement agencies who during
the official investigations or enforcement of any illegal drug manufacturing facility come
in contact with or are aware of any substances suspected of being hazardous as defined in
RCW 70.105D.020(5),[1]
Shall notify the Department of Ecology for the purpose of
securing a contractor to identify, clean-up, store, and dispose of suspected hazardous
substances, except for those random and representative samples obtained for evidentiary
purposes. Whenever possible, a destruct order covering hazardous substances which may be
described in general terms shall be obtained concurrently with a search warrant. Materials
that have been photographed, fingerprinted, and subsampled by police shall be destroyed as
soon as practical. The Department of Ecology shall make every effort to recover costs from
the parties responsible for the suspected hazardous substance. All recoveries shall be
deposited in the account or fund from which contractor payments are made.
The Department of Ecology may adopt rules[2] to carry out
its responsibilities under this section. The Department of Ecology shall consult with law
enforcement agencies prior to adopting any rule or policy relating to this section.
(1989c271 228.)
1. RCW 70.105D.020(5) is found in the Definitions
section of the Hazardous Waste Cleanup – Model Toxics Control Act, wherein hazardous
substance is defined by statute.
2. As of 3/11/97 the Department of Ecology has not seen
the need to adopt rules to implement its responsibilities under this act. Ecology
addresses its responsibilities via policies and procedures found in the Spill Response
Operation Manual and through cost recovery procedures used by the agency.
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