If the department determines that any object, building, structure, or premises is contaminated by radioactive material and constitutes a hazard to the public health, it shall order the person who has control of the object, building, structure, or premises to cease to use or occupy and to exercise due caution to prevent others from using or occupying the object, building, structure, or premises, except to the extent necessary to accomplish the decontamination, or to the extent necessary to accomplish the disposal of the object, building, or structure as radioactive waste. The normal use or occupancy of the object, building, structure, or premises may not be resumed until decontamination has been accomplished and a release obtained from the department.

If the person who has control of the object, building, structure, or premises fails to comply with the department’s order to decontaminate, the department may impound or seize the object, building, structure, or premises. The department after impounding or seizure of an object, building, structure, or premises, may decontaminate the object, building, structure, or premises.

Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 115185

  • decontamination: as used in this chapter , means the reduction of the level of contamination from radioactive material to the level that the department determines is reasonably necessary to eliminate the hazard to public health that is caused by the contamination of any object, building, structure, or premises. See California Health and Safety Code 115180
  • Department: means the State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 114985
  • Person: means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, agency, political subdivision of this state, any other state or political subdivision or agency thereof, and any legal successor, representative, agent, or agency of the foregoing, other than the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Energy, or any successor thereto, and other than federal government agencies licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, under prime contract to the United States Department of Energy, or any successor thereto. See California Health and Safety Code 114985

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)

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