METH-LAB CLEANUP EFFORTS FIND RELIEF IN FEDERAL FUNDS

Federal money for methamphetamine-lab cleanups in Arkansas is now
available, offering some financial relief to law enforcement agencies faced
with handling a hazardous soup of confiscated chemicals.

State law enforcement agencies learned in mid-June that the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration received $5 million for the cleanups from the
U.S. Justice Department.

The funding comes at a welcome time for state law enforcement officials,
who are busting a skyrocketing number of labs. Arkansas ranks first in the
nation per capita in meth-lab seizures.

"Our people going out to the labs say they're picking up [in number] after
a little bit of a lull," Jim Clark, director of the state Crime Laboratory,
said Monday.

In 1998, the Crime Laboratory was called to 433 sites, and there were 544
illegal drug labs reported last year.

The Crime Laboratory had investigated 389 labs as of Monday, putting the
state on pace to break records.

In Pulaski County, meth-lab seizures have tapered off from the first of the
year, even though the illegal labs keep a constant local presence.

Faced with the explosion in the number of meth labs in Arkansas, police
were left in the lurch when federal drug money dried up earlier this year.

Some departments sought help from state agencies such as the state
Department of Environmental Quality and the Office of Emergency Management,
both of which had employees trained to handle the chemicals used to make
meth, which is also called crank, ice and crystal meth.

In March, the state Department of Environmental Quality allocated $60,000
for meth-lab cleanups.

So far, $40,880 has been used to remove the debris left by 77 labs. The
department, which is using an Arkansas-based contractor to dispose of the
chemicals, is averaging about $500 a job.

"Now that Congress has appropriated money to DEA, we will be getting out of
this," said Randall Mathis, director of the state Department of
Environmental Quality.

Environmental officials say that the chemicals found in meth tend to break
down easily and can be deposited in most landfills.

Most of the chemicals can be deposited at household recycling centers. They
include drain cleaner, acetone and over-the-counter medicines containing
ephedrine, which is a stimulant.

The DEA has funded meth-lab cleanups through the federal Community Oriented
Police Service program since 1998.

This year, however, Congress decided to change the way it funded cleanup
efforts by focusing on 15 of the nation's "hot spots." Arkansas was not on
that list.

After pressure from states, the federal Office of Management and Budget
agreed to shift money from five Justice Department programs to the cleanup
fund.

The money will be available to law enforcement agencies nationwide on a
"first come, first served" basis. But a waiting period is no longer
required before money is allocated.