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, Equipment,
Structural Remediation, Contents, Waste Disposal &
Post-Remediation Verification
Question 1: According to the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard, what is the
foundational assumption regarding a site before remediation work for
precursors, drug residues, and associated chemical waste can begin?
A. That all visible drug paraphernalia has been removed by the property owner.
B. That the site has been released by law enforcement or regulatory agencies.
C. That a preliminary risk assessment has been completed by the practitioner.
D. That the structure is unoccupied and all utilities have been disconnected.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. That the site has been released by law enforcement or
regulatory agencies.
Rationale: The ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard explicitly states that it assumes all scenes
have been released by law enforcement or regulatory agencies before remediation
activities commence . This ensures that the site is safe for remediation practitioners to
enter and that all evidence has been collected.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard?
A. To provide a certification for law enforcement officers handling chemical evidence.
B. To define criteria and methodology for inspecting, investigating, and remediating
chemical contamination to make a site suitable for occupancy.
C. To establish a legal framework for prosecuting individuals involved in illicit drug
manufacturing.
D. To outline the medical treatment protocols for individuals exposed to fentanyl.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To define criteria and methodology for inspecting,
investigating, and remediating chemical contamination to make a site suitable
for occupancy.
Rationale: The standard's purpose is to provide a framework for professionals to inspect,
investigate, and remediate sites contaminated by chemical waste, ensuring they are safe
for re-occupancy .
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT a specified subject area addressed
by the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard?
A. Safety and Health
B. Contents Remediation
,C. Financial Auditing and Insurance Fraud
D. Structural Remediation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Financial Auditing and Insurance Fraud
Rationale: The S900 standard covers a range of operational and safety topics including
Safety and Health, Structural Remediation, and Contents Remediation . Financial
auditing or fraud investigation are not within the scope of this technical remediation
standard.
Question 4: The S900 Standard's classification system for potential risk to
individuals within a contaminated environment is known as what?
A. Hazard Categories
B. Conditions of Loss
C. Exposure Levels (ELs)
D. Remediation Tiers
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Exposure Levels (ELs)
Rationale: Similar to other IICRC standards, S900 uses a classification system. For drug-
related hazards, it introduces "Exposure Levels (ELs)" to categorize potential risk, which
drives planning, controls, and PPE requirements .
Question 5: Which Exposure Level (EL) in the S900 Standard is associated with
the highest risk, specifically for fentanyl and carfentanil manufacturing and
distribution sites?
A. EL-1 (Low Risk)
B. EL-2 (Moderate Risk)
C. EL-3 (High Risk)
D. EL-4 (Extreme Risk)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. EL-4 (Extreme Risk)
Rationale: The S900 standard defines EL-4 (Extreme Risk) as applying to fentanyl and
carfentanil manufacturing and distribution sites, representing the highest potential risk .
Question 6: A remediation company is called to clean a site that was a
cannabis grow operation with no evidence of synthetic drug production. This
site is likely classified under which Exposure Level?
A. EL-1 (Low Risk)
B. EL-2 (Moderate Risk)
C. EL-3 (High Risk)
D. EL-4 (Extreme Risk)
CORRECT ANSWER: A. EL-1 (Low Risk)
Rationale: The S900 standard designates Cannabis grow sites, along with fertilizers and
pesticides, as EL-1 (Low Risk) .
,Question 7: A site contaminated with heroin and cocaine residues, but not
associated with active manufacturing, would be classified under which
Exposure Level?
A. EL-1 (Low Risk)
B. EL-2 (Moderate Risk)
C. EL-3 (High Risk)
D. EL-4 (Extreme Risk)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. EL-2 (Moderate Risk)
Rationale: According to the S900 standard, drug residues such as heroin and cocaine are
categorized as EL-2 (Moderate Risk) .
Question 8: A project involving the cleanup of an active methamphetamine
manufacturing laboratory would fall under which Exposure Level
classification?
A. EL-1 (Low Risk)
B. EL-2 (Moderate Risk)
C. EL-3 (High Risk)
D. EL-4 (Extreme Risk)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. EL-3 (High Risk)
Rationale: The standard classifies drug manufacturing and distribution sites as EL-3
(High Risk), reflecting the complex chemical hazards present .
Question 9: What is the definition of a "Precursor" according to the
terminology used in the ANSI/IICRC S900 Standard?
A. A chemical that is a byproduct of drug use.
B. A compound that participates in a chemical reaction that produces another
compound.
C. Any substance listed on the DEA's controlled substances schedule.
D. A biological agent that causes disease.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A compound that participates in a chemical reaction
that produces another compound.
Rationale: The S900 standard's glossary defines a precursor simply as a compound that
participates in a chemical reaction to produce another compound .
Question 10: In the context of the S900 Standard, who is defined as a
"Materially Interested Party" (MIP)?
A. Only the property owner and the occupants.
B. Law enforcement officials who seized the property.
C. An individual or entity substantially and directly affected by a contract, such as
consultants, estimators, and adjusters.
D. The laboratory analyst performing the final verification testing.
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. An individual or entity substantially and directly
affected by a contract, such as consultants, estimators, and adjusters.
Rationale: MIPs are defined as individuals or entities directly affected by the contract,
including property owners, managers, government bodies, consultants, and insurers .
Question 11: What is the definition of a "Practitioner" according to the S900
Standard?
A. A person who holds a degree in chemistry or toxicology.
B. A person who demonstrates competency from training and experience to restore the
worksite to a safe and healthy condition.
C. A state-licensed general contractor.
D. An individual who is a member of the IICRC.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A person who demonstrates competency from training
and experience to restore the worksite to a safe and healthy condition.
Rationale: The standard defines a Practitioner as one who demonstrates competency
through training and experience to restore a worksite to a safe and healthy condition .
Question 12: Which of the following best describes a "Post-Remediation
Evaluation" (PRE) as defined in the S900 Standard?
A. An independent third-party verification with laboratory analysis.
B. An internal quality assurance inspection performed by the practitioner.
C. The final phase of construction and rebuilding.
D. A legal proceeding to determine the cause of contamination.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An internal quality assurance inspection performed by
the practitioner.
Rationale: A PRE is an internal quality assurance inspection performed after a
decontamination project, which may include visual inspection, field data, or odor
detection to confirm probable return to a pre-determined condition .
Question 13: What is the key distinction between a "Post-Remediation
Evaluation" (PRE) and a "Post-Remediation Verification/Validation" (PRV)
under S900?
A. A PRE is voluntary, while a PRV is mandatory.
B. A PRE is performed by the practitioner, while a PRV is performed by an independent
third-party specialized expert.
C. A PRE is less expensive than a PRV.
D. A PRE focuses only on visual inspection, while a PRV always requires destructive
testing.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A PRE is performed by the practitioner, while a PRV is
performed by an independent third-party specialized expert.