DeLisle Associates has performed work for the law enforcement community for many years and with the rise in the number of clandestine drug laboratories across the country, DeLisle has increased the number of projects it performs annually as it relates to contaminated properties, building and homes. Residues left post-production or use of illicit drugs has left landlords, residents or tenants with either severely contaminated homes, condemned structures or unusable natural resources. Activities typically conducted for these sites, depending upon the objectives for the client may include but not be limited to the following.

•  Inspections of buildings or property for drug lab paraphenalia or debris

•  Risk assessments including preliminary sampling

•  Remedial specification design

•  Validation sampling

•  Summary of findings report generation

RISK ASSESSMENTS / PRELIMINARY SAMPLING

The types of assessments vary and generally depend on availability of pre-established data including but not limited to: public health department records, EPA enforcement mandates and law enforcement seizure reports. Together, prior data coupled with site investigations delineate the scope of contamination and thus the parameters necessary to complete the health risk assessment. Sampling parameters depending upon the public health authorities regulations or guidelines may include analysis for:

• Hydrocarbons
• Metals
• Acids
• Iodine ammonia
• Phosphorus
• Methamphetamine
• Opiates
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Other constituents

Depending upon the areas intiially identified on site for production or disposal, an environmental site assessment in accordance with the CERCLA regulations and State environmental cleanup standards may require soil and groundwater characterization (See DeLisle Environmental Divison Services). Property Devaluement issues plague landlords, realtors and property management individuals from clandestine laboratory impact.

REMEDIAL SPECIFICATION DESIGN

Many states have not adopted any firm clean-up criterion to allow contractors to ability to clean up facilities to “acceptable” limits. As a result, depending upon the state, different tolerances for clean up exist which deciding “how clean is clean?” DeLisle, from its years for hazardous material assessments and remedial design is knowledgeable in specification design and can provide written protocols which are achievable and meet most clients objectives.

VALIDATION SAMPLING

Depending upon the state where the work is performed and the levels of regulatory requirements placed on the job, DeLisle conducts sampling to produce data on the levels of contaminants still present on the property (where applicable). If exposure limits are existing, those limits will be evaluated and recommendations made. Should further cleanup work be necessary it is at this time additional work is proposed.