Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Danielle Bell DRUG LAB CLEANUP COSTS MOUNT FAST Owner Of A Building Where RCMP Allege Date-Rape Drug Was Being Made Could Face A Huge Bill For Police Time The owner of a commercial building in central Nanaimo where police spent days dismantling a suspected date-rape drug lab could be hit with a massive bill for cleanup and enforcement costs. Enacted in 2006, the city's controlled substance and cost recovery bylaw has been used to force the owners of marijuana-growing operations to cover cleanup and enforcement expenses. This is the first time it has been used in connection with a drug-manufacturing lab, according to city bylaw manager Randy Churchill. City, fire and police costs to clean up a single drug lab could easily top $100,000, according to an earlier estimate by RCMP. In the latest incident on McGarrigle Road, about a dozen RCMP officers were on site from late Thursday afternoon until Saturday night. Due to the volatile nature of chemicals used to manufacture drugs, and the discovery of what may have been explosives, both the hazardous material team and bomb squad were brought in from Vancouver. Fire officials were also on standby, as the chemicals posed a risk of explosion. The hourly rates charged to have different fire and police officials on-site could double depending on the time of day and equipment they needed. A single fire engine could cost $250 an hour. "(The high cost) is a major deterrent," said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O'Brien yesterday. "It's also to keep landlords on their toes." Similar bylaws have passed in Langley and Duncan. If the property owner suspects or finds a grow-op or drug lab on their property and reports it to police, they may only be responsible for remediation costs. There is a process the city can use if owners cannot pay. "The citizens shouldn't have to pay the bill to clean up," said bylaw enforcement officer Tim Davidson. "Chemicals can be a lot more money (to clean up) than marijuana (grow-ops)." Police say the McGarrigle incident is the first of such labs found in the city in the past three years. The property is considered hazardous and cannot be rented until it is remediated. City supervisor of building inspections Ralph Topliffe said a consultant will examine things such as residue on glass and walls to determine the next steps. The investigation, launched by Transport Canada when investigators believed chemicals were to be shipped on an airline, found several chemicals that are used in the production of GHB, commonly known as the date-rape drug. Police are recommending charges of production of a controlled substance against a 36-year-old man. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D