Utah DAR Rule R392-600, Illegal Drug Operations Decontamination Standards, became effective on November 1, 2005. This new rule requires companies that perform clandestine methamphetamine (meth) laboratory clean ups to do so under the direction of a state-certified decontamination specialist. The newly effected regulations also contain specific requirements for the clean up activities. RMEC has certified decontamination specialists and trained workers on staff to perform the following tasks required under the new regulations:

	Site screening for property transactions and preliminary assessments of contaminated properties
	Development and submittal of decontamination work plans
	Project management, including implementation and oversight of decontamination and disposal of affected building components
	Development and implementation of sampling plans to confirm adequate decontamination
	Development and submittal of final decontamination confirmation reports

Please note, RMEC is a consulting firm and although we are certified to perform meth lab clean-ups, we do not offer decontamination services. Members of our staff hold the State of Utah's decontamination specialist certification for the purpose of allowing us to enter, perform sampling and inspections of contaminated properties. RMEC's primary involvement is to act as an independent entity that performs sampling and project management with little or no interest in the cost for the decontamination of property.

As allowed under the state rules, certified companies or individuals that are in the business of decontaminating properties, are also allowed to perform preliminary assessments (i.e.: sampling to determine if contamination is present) and confirmation sampling (i.e.: sampling to confirm that decontamination efforts were adequate). Many property owners see this arrangement as a potential conflict of interest. Should the same company that performs sampling to determine if a property is contaminated, be allowed to perform decontamination of the property? In addition, should a decontamination contractor be allowed to verify
the adequacy of its own work by performing their own confirmation sampling? Typically, the decontamination contractors will perform contract work on a lump sum or unit cost (i.e.: square footage) basis and it is in their best interest to complete the work with the least amount of time and effort.