METH QUARANTINE LAW UPDATED

Local law enforcement attended a meeting last week on updates that went
into effect on July 1 concerning the clandestine methamphetamine lab
quarantine law.

This law defines how property contaminated by methamphetamine labs must be
handled, who is responsible, and what steps must be taken to make the
property suitable for human use.

Present at the meeting were law enforcement representatives from the
Humphreys County, McEwen, New Johnsonville, Waverly, Houston County,
Dickson County, the 23rd Judicial Drug Task Force; White Bluff, and the
District Attorney's office, and the Humphreys County Register of Deeds office.

Humphreys County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dan Long arranged for Jim Morrison,
with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Division of
Remediation to speak to attendees.

Upon discovery of a methamphetamine lab, law enforcement officials have the
authority to quarantine the property affected by the drug.

Once quarantined, it is prohibited for any person to inhabit the property
until it is properly cleaned, tested and certified to be safe for human
use. This prevents exposure to the hazards associated with methamphetamine
as well as the chemicals associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Owners of rental property should be especially aware of the possibility of
the manufacturing methamphetamine as it is the property owner's
responsibility to have quarantined property cleaned.

Morrison stated some disturbing facts. A child puts his hand in his mouth
up to 700 times per day. If he is in a home where meth is made or has been
made and not cleaned up, he can get enough of the drug to cause brain
swelling which can affect him for the rest of his life.

Methamphetamine and its residue is also a very big risk to pregnant women
as well as children.

Methamphetamine and the chemicals used in the manufacture of
methamphetamine absorb into walls, carpets, mattresses, pillows,
appliances, curtains, clothing, toys and other surfaces. It can also affect
well water and those who live down grade from where the drug is being made.

If a trailer is contaminated, clean-up is almost impossible and the
solution is to take the trailer to a class one landfill where it can be
crushed and buried.

There are currently four "tiers" or categories of property affected by the
manufacture of methamphetamine.

Tier 1. Manufacture of methamphetamine has been started and may or may not
have been completed.

Tier 2. Multiple "cooks" have occurred with spills and stains evident.

Tier 3. The person who has "cooked" there before is still doing it.

Tier 4. Damage has impacted the environment requiring TDEC clean-up.

Methamphetamine and its manufacture is a real problem, especially in
Tennessee. The Humphreys County Sheriff's Department alone spent $30,000
over budget due to the drug, covering costs including medical and dental
needs of affected prisoners.

For more information about methamphetamine and the quarantine law visit
www.state.tn.us/environment/dsf/meth/news.php.