Senate Approves Gordon Smith`s Bill to Clean-Up Meth Labs

Bill Will Create National Guidelines to Ensure Meth Labs are Cleaned Up.

Photos of a meth house in Salem, Oregon by Tim King

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The U.S. Senate advanced legislation this week authored by Oregon’s Gordon Smith that will establish national cleanup standards for former meth lab sites – the bill awaits the President’s signature.

The new guidelines are part of Senator Smith’s continued effort to combat Oregon’s meth epidemic and the struggle to protect local communities from after effects of the devastating drug.

"Meth lab chemicals are extremely toxic and dangerous and often go undetected,” said Smith. “Exposure to the dangerous toxins has devastating health consequences. Public health should be guarded from the criminals who make the drug and the long term impact of their crimes."

Since 2003, there have been nearly 1200 meth labs seized in Oregon according to the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services. Presently, there are no national guidelines for state and local governments to follow to make certain that a site is safe for public use.

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The Methamphetamine Remediation Act instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to establish health-based clean-up guidelines for states and localities to use to ensure former meth labs are safe and free from contamination.

The bill also launches a research program to develop meth detection equipment for field use. This equipment will be used by local enforcement agencies to measure the toxicity levels in meth sites.

Both chambers of Congress have approved Senator Smith’s bill and it is now on the way to the President for his approval. The legislation has received endorsements from numerous national organizations including the National Sheriff’s Association, the National Association of Counties and the National Association of Realtors.

Source: Gordon Smith