TECHNOLOGY AIDS FIGHT AGAINST 'METH'

HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING: Might not find 'Mom and Pop' meth labs but may be
able to stop the big labs.

HARRIMAN - The Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine met Monday morning
in Harriman to discuss options for combating the ever-increasing problems
associated with methamphetamine abuse. The Task Force has met several times
this year to find ways to combat the abuse of the drug and take the
information back to Gov. Phil Bredesen in September.

Bredesen appointed the panel after lawmakers failed to agree on legislation
concerning meth in March.

Monday's session at Roane State Community College in Harriman dealt with
future technology that could be adapted to find labs. In earlier sessions,
groups within the panel have discussed children's advocacy issues, outreach
and education and recovery issues. Members of the task force include
legislators, local officials, police and educators from the Southeastern
portion of Tennessee.

Marty Dunn, a member of the Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force,
out of Hamilton County, told the panel how current technology is being used
to help law enforcement officials in their fight against meth labs.

Dunn said the meth task force currently has five heavy-duty response trucks
equipped with safety and cleanup equipment and one educational truck. The
response trucks are stationed in five counties but serve 41 counties. He
said the trucks currently cost about $60,000 each and carry equipment that
costs thousands of dollars.

Some of the equipment onboard include breathing apparatus, ventilation fans,
protective suits, portable laptop computers, global positioning systems and
additional lighting. Drivers also carry water and other items for police
officers who often stay at a lab for hours during the cleanup process.

"The trucks responded to 48 labs last month," said Lt. Tommy Farmer, of
Chattanooga. "We could have used three more. We roll on all labs we are
called on."

The trucks are located in Washington, Sequachie, Coffee, Hamilton and
Anderson counties.

"The trucks are not for lab cleanup," said Dunn. "We move them (chemicals)
out of the house."

In the technology segment of the discussion, Col. Bill Hartbarger, of the
Tennessee National Guard, Nashville, told the panel what the military plays
in the task force.

"We provide unique training and equipment," Hartbarger said. "The military
just supports."

He showed how an ion scanner, used to detect narcotics or explosives has
been used to detect chemicals associated with meth, particularly on
clothing.

A test sample can be put into a scanner and will tell what substance or
chemical is on the test sample. The scanner detects trace elements.

Hartbarger said the task force currently has two scanners but has plans to
buy a new updated version.

"We'll take the drug dealers' money and buy one of these," he said of the
newer model.

Lee Riedinger, deputy director for science and technology at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, also introduced possible new technology. He introduced
the panel to microcantilever sensors but Michael A. Kuliasha, technical
director, took the panel through the complexities of how the sensors could
be used in the future.

"We have not worked with methamphetamine yet but with chemicals weapons and
explosives," Kuliasha said.

He said with the new technology in sensors, law enforcement may be able to
detect meth labs from the air by using hyperspectral imaging.

"Technically, it's feasible to do it," he said. "It probably won't detect
the Mom and Pop labs but may be able to stop the big labs."

Kuliasha also said sensors can "smell" the chemicals before a person can but
not as good as a dog.

The task force panel will meet again in July to discuss other issues before
taking their information to the governor in September. Click here to return
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