"Cleaning up the toxic and very dangerous wastes left behind from these illegal laboratories can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000 per site," said Grassley. "If federal funding for clean-up is taken away it will bury small local law enforcement agencies in debt, or worse, allow dangerous meth sites to remain as a very real threat to our children and environment."
In April, $10 million was granted nationally to clean-up methamphetamine laboratories, but essential future funding was removed from the recent conference report on the Military Construction Appropriations Bill. This leaves the DEA without the necessary funding for both the remainder of this fiscal year and FY 2001.
"As methamphetamine use and production continue to dramatically rise, especially in rural areas, it is critical that the DEA be provided adequate funds for clean-up reimbursements in the 2001 appropriations bill," said Grassley.
Sen. Grassley addressed his concerns in letters to Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary, Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Ranking Member of Subcommitte on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary, and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) The letter was signed by a bipartisan contingent of Senators.
In addition to asking that the funding be reinstated, Sen. Grassley urged Sens. Gregg, Hollings, and Lott not to earmark funds so that the DEA would be given the flexibility to directly address methamphetamine lab problems wherever and whenever they are encountered.