INDIANA MAY GET $1.5 MILLION FOR METH LAB CLEANUPS

State Police Could Get Money, Part Of Proposed 2003 Federal Budget Bill, As
Early As Next Spring.

Indiana State Police expect to break up more than 800 methamphetamine labs
this year -- a growing problem that costs the state millions of dollars.

More help may be on the way from the federal government.

A U.S. Senate committee on Thursday approved $1.5 million for the Indiana
State Police to clean up meth-making sites and teach officers how to
dismantle the toxic labs.

"If we're really going to make a dent in this problem, it's going to take a
coordinated effort of local, state and federal officials," said Sen. Evan
Bayh, D-Ind., who helped secure the funds. "I don't think anyone would have
imagined the increase in meth production and abuse."

The money is included in the 2003 federal budget bill, though an exact
amount won't be guaranteed until the House and Senate meet in a conference
committee later this year.

But Bayh said he expects all $1.5 million to be approved and made available
to police next spring.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug made from a combination of
anhydrous ammonia and such over-the-counter products as cold medicine and
lithium batteries.

State Police broke up six methamphetamine labs in 1995. That number jumped
to 427 in 2000 and to 681 in 2001. This year, police project an increase of
at least 15 percent over last year.

The state needs more trained officers, more equipment and more help
cleaning up toxic lab sites, said Master Trooper Tom Hannon, a meth lab
specialist at the State Police post in Terre Haute. Only 40 state troopers
are certified in cleanup, he said.

Even a small lab can cost as much as $15,000 to clean up.

Bayh is also working to have 29 counties in southwest Indiana declared
High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, which would provide federal funds to
coordinate anti-meth efforts among local, state and federal agencies.