Berry Votes to Clean Up Meth Labs

Berry Votes to Clean Up Meth Labs

Today, U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) voted in favor of H.R. 365, known as the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. The bill, which passed in the House earlier this afternoon, charges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the development of health-based guidelines to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up former meth lab sites and the toxic mess they leave behind. Congressman Berry is a cosponsor of the bill.

"Reducing the damage of methamphetamine on innocent people is a positive step in the right direction but we must also work to address abuse of the drug, which is the root of the problem," said Berry. "By attacking the source, we will reduce residual problems such as meth labs. I look forward to working with my colleagues and law enforcement officials in finding solutions to the meth epidemic tearing apart our communities."

Because meth can be made with commonly found ingredients, the drug is plaguing poor, rural areas. In addition, the production of the drug creates toxic residue and vapors that collect on countertops and floors and be absorbed into furnishings, posing a health hazard to future residents who are often unknowingly exposed to the dangerous chemicals.

"For years we've witnessed the ravages of methamphetamine strike within local communities and now we know there are innocent victims who are left behind to live and work where these deadly labs once operated. This legislation has the potential to help protect countless lives by developing better detection methods and educating property owners about the dangers from long term exposure to the chemicals used to produce methamphetamine," said Arkansas State Police, Colonel Steve Dozier.

According to a 2006 National Drug Threat Survey of state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation, meth was named most often as the greatest drug threat in communities. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that more than 425 meth labs were seized in Arkansas in 2005.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ar01_berry/272007Berryvotestocleanupmeth.html