Clandestine Drug Lab Cleanup Program

Methamphetamine is a derivative of amphetamine and is a powerful stimulant that affects the brain and central nervous system. Methamphetamine can be easily produced in simple labs (clandestine drug labs) using readily available ingredients including over the counter drugs and household chemicals that are cooked to produce the drug.

In response to clandestine drug labs and the growing concern over the nature of potential health effects associated with residual methamphetamine in the environment, the Utah State Legislature passed the Illegal Drug Operations Site Reporting and Decontamination Act during the 2004 General Session. The Act was subsequently amended during the 2008 General Session to change the definition of contamination to include use, production or the presence of methamphetamine in excess of decontamination standards. In short, the law provides a mechanism for cleanup of contamination and certification by local health departments that a contaminated property has been cleaned up to established standards.

Links

• Decontamination Specialist Certification Program (DEQ)
• Illegal Drug Operations Decontamination Standards (Department of Health)
• Illegal Drug Operations Site Reporting and Decontamination Act and Amendment
• Utah Department of Health: Decontamination Standard
• Utah Department of Health: Decontamination Information
• Utah Department of Health: Frequently Asked Questions
• Utah’s Local Health Departments

Online Methamphetamine Resources

• Department of Justice
• Department of Justice: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
• Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Salt Lake County Health Department
• Utah Department of Health Methamphetamine Information
• Utah Department of Public Safety

Additional Public Resources

There are many resources available on-line. The following are a few of the resources that may be helpful.

• Decontamination Specialist Certification List 
  (Updated Monthly)—Individuals on this list have met the requirements of a Decontamination Specialist.
• Decontamination Specialist Training Manual—March 2022 
• Decontamination Standard
  For Methamphetamine; Utah Health Department.
• House Bill 404—Disclosure of Real Property
  Utah State Legislature.
• Office of National Drug Control Policy
  On the White House Website.
• Tips for Hiring a Certified Decontamination Specialist 
  DERR fact sheet.
• Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup
  EPA Emergency Response site.

For questions relating to sampling, meth lab cleanup, waste disposal and contractor certification, please contact the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation at (801) 536-4100.