35-9-156. Local response authority.

(a) Every political subdivision of the state shall designate a local emergency response authority for responding to and reporting of hazardous material or weapons of mass destruction incidents that occur within its jurisdiction. The designation of a local emergency response authority and copies of any accompanying agreements and other pertinent documentation created pursuant to this section shall be filed with the director, office of homeland security within seven (7) days of the agreement being reduced to writing and signed by all appropriate persons.

(b) Every local emergency response authority shall coordinate the response to an incident occurring within its jurisdiction in a fashion consistent with standard incident command protocols. The local emergency response authority shall also coordinate the response to an incident which initially occurs within its jurisdiction but which spreads to another jurisdiction. If an incident occurs on a boundary between two (2) jurisdictions or in an area not readily ascertainable, the first local emergency response authority arriving at the scene shall coordinate the initial emergency response and shall be responsible for seeking reimbursement for the incident on behalf of all responding authorities entitled to reimbursement under W.S. 35-9-157(a).

(c) Any unusual incident involving hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction and any incident involving a clandestine laboratory operation shall be investigated to determine if a criminal act has occurred until it is determined otherwise. To ensure preservation of evidence while mitigating the threat to life and property under this subsection, a command structure with primary command authority by the appropriate law enforcement agency shall be implemented.

(d) The incident commander shall declare an incident ended when he has determined the threat to public health and safety has ended. Until the incident commander has declared the threat to public safety has ended the incident commander shall have the authority to issue an order on behalf of the political subdivision that any portion of the building, structure or land is uninhabitable or contaminated, secure the portion of the building, structure or land that is uninhabitable or contaminated and take appropriate steps to minimize exposure to identified or suspected contamination at the site or premise. If the subject of the site or premise is commercial real estate, the incident commander shall limit the declaration of uninhabitable or contaminated to the areas affected by the clandestine laboratory operation and shall not declare the entire commercial real estate uninhabitable or contaminated unless the entire commercial property has been documented and determined uninhabitable or contaminated using the standards promulgated by the state emergency response commission under W.S. 35-9-153(h). The incident commander shall provide written notice to the commercial real estate owner, describing with specificity the extent of the commercial property deemed uninhabitable or contaminated. Any property that is ordered uninhabitable or contaminated under this subsection shall only be transferred or sold prior to remediation if full, written disclosure is made to the prospective purchaser, attached to the earnest money receipt if any, and shall accompany the sale documents but not be a part of the deed nor shall it be recorded. The transferor or seller shall notify the incident commander of the transfer or sale within ten (10) days of the transfer or sale. Receipt of full written disclosure under this subsection constitutes a full release of liability on the part of the seller or transferor and acceptance of liability on the part of the buyer or transferee unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the transferor and transferee.

(e) The order issued under subsection (d) of this section shall be in writing, shall state the grounds for the order and shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of the county in which the building or structure is situated. A copy of the order shall be served in accordance with the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure upon the owner and any occupants of the building or structure with a written notice that the order has been filed and shall remain in force, unless the owner or occupant files his objections or answer with the clerk of the district court within the time specified in subsection (f) of this section. A copy of the order shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the building or structure.

(f) Within twenty (20) days of service of an order issued under subsection (d) of this section, the owner or occupant may file with the clerk of the district court and serve upon the political subdivision issuing the order, an answer denying the existence of any of the allegations in the order. If no answer is filed and served, the court shall affirm the order declaring the site uninhabitable and fix a time when the order shall be enforced. If an answer is filed and served, the court shall hear and determine the issues raised as set forth in subsection (g) of this section.

(g) The court shall hold a hearing within eleven (11) days from the date of the filing of the answer. If the court sustains the order, the court shall fix a time within which the order shall be enforced. Otherwise, the court shall annul or set aside the order declaring the property to be uninhabitable.

(h) An appeal from the judgment of the district court may be taken by any party to the proceeding in accordance with the Wyoming Rules of Appellate Procedure.