Precursors, Drug Residues & Associated Chemical
Waste – IICRC S900 Study Guide, Original Practice
Questions & Answers, Exam Preparation,
Comprehensive Remediation Review, Site
Characterization, Contamination Assessment,
Safety, Risk Management, Cleaning Technologies,
Equipment, Structural Remediation, Contents,
Waste Disposal & Post-Remediation Verification
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard?
A. To provide law enforcement with guidelines for seizing chemical waste.
B. To define criteria and methodology for inspecting, investigating, and remediating sites
contaminated by precursors, drug residues, and associated chemical waste.
C. To establish regulations for the legal disposal of over-the-counter medications.
D. To certify individuals for the handling of hazardous materials in all industries.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To define criteria and methodology for inspecting,
investigating, and remediating sites contaminated by precursors, drug
residues, and associated chemical waste.
Rationale: The S900 Standard's purpose is to establish a consistent framework for
professionals to inspect, investigate, and remediate sites affected by these specific
contaminants, ensuring they are suitable for occupancy .
Question 2: According to the S900 Standard, what is a fundamental
assumption that must be met before remediation work can begin?
A. All hazardous waste has been properly manifested.
B. The site has been released by law enforcement or regulatory agencies.
C. A post-remediation verification has already been completed.
D. The property owner has signed a liability waiver.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The site has been released by law enforcement or
regulatory agencies.
Rationale: The standard explicitly states that it assumes all scenes have been released
by law enforcement or regulatory agencies before the remediation and cleaning process
begins .
Question 3: Which group is the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard primarily written
for?
A. Homeowners and renters seeking to clean their own properties.
B. Law enforcement personnel investigating drug crimes.
C. Remediation companies, their employees, and other Materially Interested Parties
(MIPs).
D. Healthcare providers administering patient care.
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Remediation companies, their employees, and other
Materially Interested Parties (MIPs).
Rationale: The standard is designed for use by those involved in the cleanup process,
mainly remediation companies, their workers, and other stakeholders like consultants
and adjusters who are materially interested in the project .
Question 4: In the context of the S900 Standard, which term describes an
individual capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and has the
authority to take prompt corrective measures?
A. Materially Interested Party (MIP).
B. Qualified Person.
C. Competent Person.
D. Practitioner.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Competent Person.
Rationale: The standard defines a "Competent Person" as someone who can identify
workplace hazards and has the authorization to implement prompt corrective measures
to eliminate them .
Question 5: What is the difference between a Post-Remediation Evaluation
(PRE) and a Post-Remediation Verification/Validation (PRV)?
A. A PRE is performed by an independent third party, while a PRV is an internal
inspection.
B. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
C. A PRE is an internal quality assurance inspection, while a PRV is performed by an
independent third-party expert.
D. A PRE is for chemical contamination, while a PRV is for biological contamination.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A PRE is an internal quality assurance inspection,
while a PRV is performed by an independent third-party expert.
Rationale: A Post-Remediation Evaluation (PRE) is an internal quality assurance check
by the practitioner. In contrast, a Post-Remediation Verification/Validation (PRV) is a
more formal assessment conducted by an independent third-party specialized expert .
Question 6: Which type of test method may be used by a practitioner during a
Post-Remediation Evaluation (PRE) to provide confidence that remedial goals
have been achieved, but is NOT used for formal verification (PRV)?
A. Quantitative laboratory analysis.
B. Surface wipe sampling followed by LC/MS.
C. Presumptive/immunoassay test kits.
D. Bulk material sampling.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Presumptive/immunoassay test kits.
,Rationale: Presumptive or immunoassay test kits may be utilized during the PRE to
provide confidence in the results, but the standard explicitly states they are not used for
PRV, which requires more rigorous quantitative methods .
Question 7: What sampling method is recommended for formal Post-
Remediation Verification (PRV) when testing for drug residues on surfaces?
A. Air sampling using a PID meter only.
B. Collection of surface wipe samples following NIOSH 9111.
C. Visual inspection under natural light.
D. Bulk sampling of the HVAC system.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Collection of surface wipe samples following NIOSH
9111.
Rationale: For PRV, the standard specifies the collection of surface wipe samples,
following the NIOSH 9111 method for methamphetamine and other drugs, for
laboratory analysis .
Question 8: What is the required accreditation standard for a laboratory that
analyzes samples from a S900 remediation project?
A. ISO 9001.
B. ISO/IEC 17025.
C. HAZWOPER.
D. EPA Method 8270.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. ISO/IEC 17025.
Rationale: The standard mandates that laboratory analysis must only be performed by a
laboratory independently accredited for the analysis of the relevant drugs and
contaminants, following the ISO/IEC 17025 standard .
Question 9: According to the S900 Standard, what action should be taken if
Post-Remediation Verification (PRV) indicates that remediation has not been
effective?
A. The site can be immediately re-occupied with a signed waiver.
B. The practitioner should ignore the results and proceed with closing the project.
C. The PRV results should be documented, and further remediation work should be
undertaken.
D. The property must be condemned and demolished.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The PRV results should be documented, and further
remediation work should be undertaken.
Rationale: The standard clearly states that if PRV shows ineffective remediation, further
remediation work should be undertaken and communicated with all MIPs, followed by
additional PRV .
, Question 10: What should a Post-Remediation Verification/Validation (PRV)
report include regarding the sampling results?
A. Only the numerical data from the laboratory analysis.
B. An explanation of the results to determine if they support that the remediation meets
the established goals.
C. A guarantee that the site is safe for habitation without any limitations.
D. A recommendation for legal action against the previous occupants.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An explanation of the results to determine if they
support that the remediation meets the established goals.
Rationale: The PRV reporting must include an explanation of the validation sampling
results as to whether or not they support that the remediation meets the goals
established and agreed upon .
Question 11: The S900 Standard introduces a classification system for
contamination risk. What is this system called?
A. Contamination Levels.
B. Hazard Categories.
C. Exposure Levels (ELs).
D. Risk Zones.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Exposure Levels (ELs).
Rationale: Similar to other IICRC standards, S900 incorporates a classification system.
For S900, this system is based on the potential risk to individuals and is termed
Exposure Levels (ELs) .
Question 12: Which Exposure Level (EL) is associated with the highest risk,
specifically for sites related to fentanyl and carfentanil?
A. EL-1.
B. EL-2.
C. EL-3.
D. EL-4.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. EL-4.
Rationale: The standard categorizes Exposure Levels from EL-1 (Low Risk) to EL-4
(Extreme Risk), with EL-4 specifically designated for fentanyl and carfentanil
manufacturing and distribution sites .
Question 13: Which of the following would be classified as an EL-1 (Low Risk)
site under the S900 Exposure Level system?
A. A site used for heroin distribution.
B. A site used for cocaine manufacturing.
C. A site used for cannabis cultivation.
D. A site used for fentanyl manufacturing.