Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jul 2004
Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.
Contact:  http://www.knoxnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH CLEANUP RULES DON'T COME WITH FUNDS

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - Owners of property where agents raid methamphetamine 
makers in Tennessee should expect new rules for cleanups of hazardous 
residues but no state dollars to pay for the costs.

"There's not any type of funds out there that I'm aware of right now," said 
Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens, chairman of Gov. Phil Bredesen's 
Methamphetamine Task Force.

The state Department of Environment and Conservation has started working on 
cleanup rules, said Rep. Charles Curtiss, D-Sparta, a task force member.

Starting those rules does not require additional legislation, Curtiss said. 
A new state law, when enforced, will require that contaminated property 
remain quarantined until a qualified industrial hygienist or other 
contractor informs law enforcement that it's safe for people.

The task force is discussing how to respond to the state's methamphetamine 
problem. The group is expected to meet Aug. 2 and Aug. 16 in Nashville 
before making recommendations.

While Federal Drug Enforcement Administration records for 2003 show there 
were 1,253 meth labs cleaned up in Tennessee, topping all states for the 
third straight year, there is no standard for cleanups of the sites.

Curtiss said the federal government "has never set benchmarks about what is 
acceptable" in cleanups of meth-contaminated property.

Curtiss said he was hopeful that high-tech detectors would soon become 
available for property owners "to alert them when anything like this is 
going on."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager