Saturday, January 27, 2007

By Josh Brodesky

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Back home for the third weekend since becoming congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords spent Thursday morning meeting with members of the Meth Free Alliance and law enforcement officials to outline possible federal guidelines for the cleanup of former meth labs.

During the meeting at her district office, Giffords outlined the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, which was introduced earlier this month.

The act, among other aspects, requires the Environmental Protection Agency to develop guidelines for the cleanup of buildings where meth was made. More than 30 chemicals can be used to make meth, and many of the dangerous vapors can accumulate in walls or countertops. There is also the possibility of explosions and spills from the chemicals used in meth production.

Cleanup of former meth labs can take months and cost thousands of dollars, and Giffords, a Democrat, said the bill was designed to bring uniformity and best practices to remediation. While some states, like Arizona, have remediation guidelines, others do not.

“It’s a way to collect expertise from throughout the nation and disseminate it,” she said.

Amelia Craig Cramer, chief deputy attorney for Pima County, said such guidelines are needed.

Arizona has guidelines developed by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, “But I don’t know if it’s the best remediation protocol,” Cramer said.

For example, Cramer said, there are only a handful of private companies in the state that do remediation for former meth labs, and it can take at least several months for the work to get done.
Often property owners, if they are not involved with the drug processing, are on the hook to pay for the remediation.

“Where are they going to come up with that kind of money?” Cramer said. “A lot of houses just sit unremediated.”

‘They then lower property values and pose a health risk to anyone living nearby or people who might trespass into the buildings, she said.

The purpose of Giffords’ meeting with local law enforcement and members of the Meth Free Alliance was to hear about how the various community members thought the proposed legislation could be amended to better suit their needs.

In addition to developing federal guidelines, the legislation also will fund research for meth detection equipment and requires a study by the National Academy of Sciences on the long-term health effects for children and first responders who are exposed to meth labs.

Click here to read the article in the Arizona Daily Star