Methamphetamine Lab Clean-up and Remediation Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
March 13, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RL32959 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Michael Simpson, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Methamphetamine (meth), a drug with limited medical use and high potential for abuse and
addiction, is a subject of widespread concern. Once associated mainly with the West Coast and
white, male, blue-collar workers, illicit meth is now used by diverse population groups nationwide,
with concentrations in the West, Southwest, and Midwest. Meth is supplied primarily by clandestine
labs in California and Mexico. The drug is relatively simple to make from easily obtained recipes,
but access to certain ingredients has become more difficult. Meth production in small, toxic labs
(STLs) increased initially due to the successful closure of some "super-labs" (labs capable of making
more than 10 pounds of meth in a 24-hour cycle), relative ease of making meth, continuing demand
for the drug, and desire for potential wealth and involvement in a criminal underground social
activity. Although the greater fraction of meth used and distributed across the nation comes from
super-labs, the sheer number of STLs, their geographic diffusion, and their residual impacts have
prompted concern in Congress, state and local governments, law enforcement agencies, and real
estate and other groups.
Meth labs have many significant and widespread residual impacts. According to the United
States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), there were 9,092 STLs and related meth sites in
2000 and 17,356 in 2003; the number has been declining since. These sites can be found in a wide
range of places, such as apartments, motel rooms, abandoned buildings, and packed in car trunks in
parks and other locations. Meth makers can use common items such as mason jars, coffee filters,
hot plates, over-the-counter medications containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine (e.g., Sudafed and
some other nonprescription decongestants), acetone, hydrochloric acid, and anhydrous ammonia.
Making meth can result in eye and respiratory irritations, chemical burns, explosions and fires, toxic
wastes, and contaminated surroundings. Some residual impacts of meth production threaten the
health and welfare of children removed from meth sites. This report focuses on the residual
environmental impacts of STLs.
Cleaning and remediating a meth site can cost more than $200,000, depending on the magnitude
of contamination. State and local governments that incur expenses cleaning a site can apply to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reimbursement, up to $25,000 per incident.
Alternatively, rather than incur costs and apply for a capped reimbursement, state and local
governments can notify DEA of a site, and DEA will perform and pay for cleaning. In addition,
funds have been available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to
redevelop a former meth production site.
No uniform federal guidelines or standards exist governing the process or the endpoint for
cleaning or remediating STLs. Across various states, acceptable levels of meth residue, after
remediation, range from 0.05 to 0.1 micrograms of meth per 100 square centimeters of surface.
Twelve congressional bills, one enacted into law in March, relate broadly to meth site cleaning or
remediation. This report will be updated as warranted.
