Law enforcement agencies who during the official investigation 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 70A.305.020, 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 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.

Explanatory statement—2021 c 65: See note following RCW 53.54.030.

Application—Construction—2007 c 104: See RCW 64.70.015.

Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.