Purpose
Currently Alaska has no standards or requirements for the clean up of illegal drug labs. SB 9 sets
standards for clean up of illegal drug manufacturing sites to ensure the safety of future residents.

Background
Illegal drug manufacturing labs, such as “meth labs,” are rising in Alaska with seizures doubling
in number from 2000 to 2001. Often these labs are in homes, apartments, and hotels where
chemical contamination can pose a serious health hazard to future residents.
Currently Alaska has no standards or requirements for the clean up of illegal drug labs. Once
law enforcement discovers an illegal lab it falls to the property owner to properly clean up the
hazardous material. If this clean up is not done properly it could pose a serious health risk to
future occupants of the property, especially children.

Solution
• SB 9 creates a simple system whereby law enforcement, once they have discovered a lab,
will notify the property owner and provide them with materials developed by the DEC.
These materials will outline testing procedures and guideline limits for a number of
dangerous chemicals that commonly contaminate illegal drug lab sites. In order to
demonstrate the property is fit for habitation, the owner must provide test results showing
the levels of contamination are below DEC set limits.
• SB 9 also offers safeguards for future purchasers and occupants of the property. Under
this bill, the property owner may not allow the reoccupation or rental of the property until
it has been tested and shown to be below DEC set limits. SB 9 also requires full
disclosure to any purchaser of the property if it was a former illegal lab site and has not
been properly cleaned.
• SB 9 requires full disclosure to any purchaser of the property if it was an illegal drug
manufacturing site and has not been properly cleaned.