MARIJUANA CULTIVATION & ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES SAN DIEGO, CA MARCH - PDF document

MARIJUANA CULTIVATION & ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 6, 2018 JORGE DEL PORTILLO D.D.A. MAJOR NARCOTICS UNIT SAN DIEGO COUNTY CDAA MATT CARR 1

“MARIJUANA”  HS11018: All parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., the seeds, the resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound…. “MARIJUANA”  HS11018: Does NOT include: a. Industrial hemp b. Weight of any other ingredient combined with marijuana 2

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES WATER VIOLATIONS 3

PESTICIDE VIOLATIONS FISH & GAME VIOLATIONS 4

WASTE VIOLATIONS MISC. VIOLATIONS 5

PROP 64 – CULTIVATION  HS11358(d) >6 plants, as a felony wobbler (adults only):  Super strike or PC290 registrant  2 or more 11358 priors  Violation of Water Code, F&G, HS, or PC 374.8 (see later slide) FELONY VIOLATIONS  WATER CODE: 1052, 13260, 13264, 13272, 13387  FISH & GAME: 5650, 5652, 1602, 2080, 3513, 2000  PENAL CODE: 374.8  H&S: 25189.5, 25189.6, 25189.7  Intentionally or w/gross negligence causing substantial environmental harm to public lands or other public resources. 6

Water Code section 13387 ‐ Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act is powerful, but requires:  Knowing or Negligent Discharge from a Point Source of a Pollutant to Waters of the United States (without a permit)  Point Source: a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe, including heavy equipment  Pollutant: rock, sand, solid waste, agricultural waste, etc.  Waters of the U.S.: “connected” waters is main basis Water Code section 13387 ‐ Clean Water Act Pe naltie s Ne glige nt : Wo bble r + $5-25k fine s pe r day  o f vio latio n + asse ssme nts, up to 50k and 16-20-24 triad fo r se c o nd c o nvic tio n Knowing : F e lo ny + $5-50k fine s pe r day o f  vio latio n + asse ssme nts, up to 100k and 2- 4-6 triad fo r se c o nd c o nvic tio n 7

Penal Code § 374.8 (b) Knowingly causes any hazardous substance to be deposited upon any road, land, or waters. 16 ‐ 2 ‐ 3 (c) Hazardous substance means: Potential hazard to human health and safety 1. or to the environment. MSDS required 2. Radioactive 3. Listed in Labor Code 6382(b ) 4. NOT Prop-64 Penal Code § 374.2 Listed (a)maliciously discharge, dump, release, place, drop, pour, or otherwise deposit substances that can substantially harm a sewer system, or (b) deposit in commercial quantities any other substance …into a manhole, cleanout, or other sanitary sewer facility, not intended for use as a point of deposit for sewage, which is connected to a public sanitary sewer system, without possessing a written authorization. 8

Water Code section 1052(a) Diversion or use of water other than as authorized in this division is a trespass. California’s Water Regime & Law California’s water rights system is generally divided into two types of water rights: riparian rights and appropriative rights. Growers may have riparian rights to waterways that touch the parcels they cultivate on, but history of the parcel is important. 9

California’s Water Regime & Law “ Beneficial use ” of water is the test. Right is to the “ natural flow ” of water, which means that storage of water does not fall within riparian right.  “Storage” is impoundment > 30 days BUT can get appropriation to store riparian water California’s Water Regime & Law Appropriative right probably needed – requires diversion Diversion Riparian right possible 10

Water I mpoundment & Diversion 11

For diversions, consider: • Rate o f Dive rsio n • Canno t assume pump was g o ing at full c apac ity • Vide o ve rsus math? • Pe rc e ntage o f F lo w Dive rte d • E ffe c ts o f Dive rsio n c o lo gic al E • T HE N, DOCUME NT IT ! • Also , did the y have an L SAA? California’s Water Regime & Law One must apply for an appropriative water right. Search for e-WRIMS – California water rights database Changes in use require notification to the SWRCB. “Farming”? Absence of a public record plus evidence there is no riparian or pre-1914 appropriative right may be sufficient proof that the diverter did not have a lawful right to the water diverted. 12

Fish and Game Prop . 64- Listed Code section 1602 Types of Violations As to a stream or lake, one needs a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement (“LSAA”) before doing any of the following: • Obstructing natural flow • Substantial water diversions • Substantial changes bed, bank, or channel • Substantial use of material “Stream” includes intermittent/periodic streams EVIDENCE COLLECTION for WATER POLLUTION Sample s ar e the gold-standar d, but do not e ndange r your se lf to ge t a sample . • In a pinc h, a c offe e c up is an OK c ontaine r . • T r y to ke e p sample fr om be ing e xpose d to the e nvir onme nt; avoid c ontamination. • Ge t the sample to a lab ASAP; fill out Chain of Custody. Photos & vide os c an some time s r e plac e a sample , e .g., se dime nt, but this star ts c ase out on a we ake r footing. State me nts may also be e vide nc e of both ID of substanc e and who got it into the wate r . 13

Fish & Game Code section 5652 It is unlawful, regardless of 1a. Abandon, dispose of, or intent, to: throw away  1a. Deposit into; 2. Within 150 feet of high  1b. Permit to pass into; water mark of waters of or the state  1c. Place where it can 3. [Garbage.] pass into  2. Waters of the State  3. Cans, bottles, garbage, motor vehicle or parts thereof, rubbish, litter, refuse, waste, debris, or the viscera or carcass of any dead animal or bird. See A Violation? 14

Stream Stream Befor Before Jun Junction ction with with Road Road At & After At After Jun Junction ction With With Road Road Compare previous photos with these samples The case resolved with no samples. Photos were compelling and supported science 15

EVIDENCE COLLECTION Ve r y R ough Summar y of Pr otoc ol  Safe ly ID substanc e  Sample if possible  Cir c umstantial e vide nc e (labe ls, stmts, e tc .)  Afte r war d, analyze if it’s “de le te r ious” or on the CWA pollutant list. It might also be “hazar dous.” Sc ie ntists c an he lp with this.  While on sc e ne , c he c k on othe r e le me nts of the c r ime and doc ume nt suc h e vide nc e  Conne c t a pe r son to the c r ime s disc ove r e d. Fish & Game Code section 5650 It is unlawful, regardless of intent, to:  1a. Deposit into;  1b. Permit to pass into; or  1c. Place where it can pass into  2. Waters of the State  3. Petroleum distillates or Substances Deleterious to Fish “Deleterious” means harmful. Milk, for instance, can be harmful to fish. 16

Fish & Game Code Violation of California Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty are also listed in Prop. 64’s amendment to H&S 11358. CESA: Cannot hunt, pursue, catch, capture, kill, or attempt to do the same, of a listed species. MBTA: similar prohibition, as to specified birds. See Cannabis Crimes guide at p. 8 Health & Safety Code section 25189.5 – Hazardous Waste Control Law See Guide for what may be hazardous: unrinsed pesticide containers and fuel waste are likely to be the most common. 17

More Possible Hazardous Waste: Non ‐ Empty Butane Canisters Of concern when there is a volume of illegal disposal. Can be a felony. Butane is hazardous. Crimes Associated with Cannabis Cultivation: Prop. 64 Felonies “Enhancements” in Lay ‐ Terms 7 or more cannabis plants +  Water theft  Water pollution  “Messing with” streams w/o permit (use material, change, divert, obstruct)  Kill/harm protected animals  Dispose/store hazardous waste  Catch ‐ all – substantial environmental harm to public lands/resources 18

OUTDOOR GROWS E nvir onme ntal Issue s Assoc iate d with Cannabis Cultivation  Ope r ation T r ide nt, 2009-2010  Made ra, F re sno , and T ulare Co untie s  663,898 marijuana plants re mo ve d  84,590 po unds o f de bris re mo ve d  93.3 mile s o f drip line s  5.4 to ns o f fe rtilize r  239.6 po unds o f vario us pe stic ide s  400+ pro pane tanks and 24 c ar batte rie s  253 he lic o pte r lo ads in to tal 19

Pr oje c t: Sc ie nc e with Solutions Oc tobe r 13-16, 2014 7 site s, Humbo ldt & T rinity c o untie s, natio nal fo re st land  8,188 lbs . o f fe rtilize r Se pte mbe r 12-15, 2015  104 lbs. o f ro de ntic ide 560 gal. o f inse c tic ide  4 site s, Plumas Co unty, natio nal fo re st  68 oz. o f c arbo furan land c o nc e ntrate (e quivale nt o f 60 to 70 gal.)  28,710 gal. to tal wate r dive rsio n  4 tons o f g arbag e disc o ve re d  250 bags (50 gal. e ac h)  105,342 gal. e stimate d wate r use pe r day  8 mile s o f irrig atio n line  3,845 lbs . o f fe rtilize r 33 lbs. o f ro de ntic ide  April 1-2, 2015  10 oz. o f c arbo furan 6 site s, Humbo ldt Co unty, bo th tribal & 6.9 tons o f g arbag e  natio nal fo re st land  3.98 mile s o f irrig atio n line  3 tons o f g arbag e  Wildlife : 3 be ars, 1 gray fo x,  133 bags (55 gal. e ac h) se ve ral birds and ro de nts fo und  5.25 mile s o f irrig atio n line de ad 20

INDOOR GROWS 21

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THC(BHO) Extraction Labs THC(BHO) Extraction Labs 23

THC(BHO) Extraction Labs THC(BHO) Extraction Labs NTF / DEA Team 9 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE 24

INDOOR GROWS INDOOR GROWS 25