Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2000
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2000 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102
Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/

BUSTED

Meth-Lab Cleanup Funds Needed

Methamphetamine, or crank, once was considered the drug of choice among
rural abusers, while crack cocaine was the drug of the inner cities. Now
meth has come to the cities in a big way, in Oklahoma and across the nation.

It is popular at least in part because it is cheap and easy to manufacture
in small, even mobile facilities with readily available chemicals.
Unfortunately the chemicals are noxious in certain combinations and can
catch fire or explode, which makes meth labs a danger to law enforcement
officers, firefighters or anyone who is unlucky enough to be nearby.

Police and sheriffs' deputies in Oklahoma are busting illicit meth labs at a
rapidly growing rate. No longer limited to out-of-the-way country shacks,
meth labs are being discovered where large numbers of people live --
suburban houses, city apartment complexes and motel rooms.

Cleaning up the lab sites requires special handling that is costly to law
enforcement agencies. The task of dealing with these hazardous sites is
beginning to overwhelm police and sheriffs' departments. Not to mention the
federal government: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency last March ran out of
funds used to help state and local law enforcement officials clean up meth
lab sites.

The Clinton administration shifted $5 million from another Justice
Department agency as a stopgap measure but it was not enough to last through
end of the fiscal year. Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma and other key
Republicans asked for $40 million to help. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, asked
for $10 million to help states that already have overspent their cleanup
budgets.

Both requests were turned down this week by a subcommittee of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. There was no explanation from committee Chairman
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.

It is possible to get around a negative subcommittee vote. Nickles was right
to seek the money for local law enforcement agencies and he ought to persist
in his effort. Perhaps there will be an outbreak of common sense at some
point in the process.
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