Pubdate: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 Source: Tulsa World (OK) Copyright: 2000 World Publishing Co. Contact: P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102 Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/ Author: World's own Service METH MESS Who'll Pay Cleanup Costs Oklahoma's congressional delegation needs to wield some clout to make sure the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation receives funds to clean up illegal methamphetamine labs. Gov. Frank Keating has written to Attorney General Janet Reno asking her to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration to find an additional $500,000 needed by the OSBI to continue cleanup of these hazardous sites through June. Oklahoma ranks third in the nation in the number of meth labs seized. For the past three years, money for cleanups has come from the Community Oriented Policing Services program, administered by DEA. That program is out of money. Over the past year, the OSBI has processed 824 meth lab cases with the help of $930,000 from the DEA. The OSBI spent an additional $110,000 during the same period. The proliferation of meth labs across the state prompted the OSBI this year to seek an additional $1.3 million from the Legislature to hire additional lab workers and investigators. The 900 labs expected to be processed this year compare with 781 a year ago and only 269 in 1998. What this all means is that if a sheriff, in a rural area, calls OSBI, agents will process the site but it soon will have no money for cleanup. The OSBI is required by state law to coordinate the cleanup, transportation and disposal of chemicals from meth lab sites. Meanwhile, OSBI officials have met with leaders in the state House and Senate to discuss a supplemental appropriation. The agency has about two weeks worth of meth lab funds left and is asking for $500,000 to process an anticipated 276 meth labs before the fiscal year ends. "This isn't just a plea for money; we budget conservatively," OSBI spokeswoman Kym Koch said. "We consider this a crisis." The problem also is a public health issue. With more meth labs being detected in public places -- motels, state parks and apartment buildings -- citizens are increasingly exposed to toxic fumes and potentially explosive chemicals. Meth dealers don't clean up after themselves. Somebody's going to have to come up with the money to protect us all. - --- MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst