BILL WOULD FUND FIGHTING METH IN 2-STATE FOREST

The Senate has approved $250,000 to fight methamphetamine production
in the Ouachita National Forest, U.S. Sen. Don Nickles, R-Ponca City,
said Wednesday. The funding will be used to hire, train and equip law
enforcement officers for drug enforcement in the 1.8 million- acre
forest in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The Drug Enforcement Agency seized 562 meth labs in Oklahoma in
2001.

"We must use our resources to fight the growing trend of
methamphetamine production and abuse and the increase in crime
associated with it," Nickles said.

The funding was included in the Interior Appropriations Bill for
fiscal year 2004, passed by the Senate on Tuesday night. The bill goes
to a House-Senate committee.