BROWNFIELDS FUNDING IN USE
States such as Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, and Tennessee
are using portions of their state response program funds from
EPA to combat meth problems in their communities. Activities
include:
• Public outreach
• Meth lab training
• Technical assistance
• Building response capabilities
Kansas also provides assistance to other states and local
governments interested in implementing similar programs.
Public Health Seattle & King County in Washington State, was
awarded an EPA assessment grant specifically to address meth
lab contamination by:
• Posting warnings
Informing the public of hazards
Assessing the extent of contamination
Overseeing decontamination and determining when
structures can safely be reoccupied
Assuring that cleanup contractors properly handle
and dispose of wastes generated during the cleanup
process
Region States
Region \ CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
Region 2 NJ, NY, VI, PR
DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV
(617) 918-1424
(212) 637-4314
(215) 814-3129
L, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN (404) 562-8866
.egion a IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI (312) 886-7576
Legion 6 AR, LA, NM, OK, TX (214) 665-6736
IA, KS, MO, NE (913) 551-7646
.egion 8 CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY (303) 312-6803
'.egion 9 AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU (415) 972-3092
•\ 10 AK, ID, OR, WA (206) 553-2100
EPA-560-F-05-232
October 2005
For more information on how Brownfields grants can be
used to address clandestine drug labs, please visit
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
or call the appropriate EPA Regional Brownfields Office
listed below.
MethFields
Brownfields Funding and
Technical Assistance to Address
Clandestine Drug Labs
..ice of Brownfields
Cleanup and Redevelopment
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THE BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM
CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS:
A GROWING PROBLEM
BROWNFIELDS FUNDING AND
ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES
The U.S. EPA Brownfields Program empowers states,
communities, and other stakeholders to work together
to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. The program offers a variety of funding and
assistance opportunities for redevelopment, bringing life
and economic vitality back to communities.
Due to growing national concern, Congress made
properties contaminated by controlled substances such
as methamphetamine (meth) eligible for Brownfields
funding. Brownfields redevelopment is not the primary
solution to the emerging clandestine drug lab issue.
However, some stakeholders may find Brownfields
Program funding and technical assistance beneficial to
combating the meth problem in their area.
Clandestine drug labs are an increasing problem in
the United States. Once seen as only a rural issue in
western states, drug labs—specifically meth labs—are
multiplying throughout the nation and becoming a major
social, economic, and public health concern for some
communities.
Over five pounds of waste produced for
every one pound of meth manufactured.
Waste is typically dumped on the ground
or down drains, which contaminates drain
fields, soils, and surface waters.
High danger of explosion—inexperienced
people are mixing volatile, unstable
compounds usually without the proper
safety equipment.
Health effects from exposure include:
shortness of breath, chemical burns,
damage to central nervous system, and in
some cases, death.
What are the Ingredients of Meth?
Methamphetamine can be manufactured from a variety
of easy-to-access ingredients such as cold medicines
containing pseudophedrine, anhydrous ammonia, starter
fluid, drain cleaner, and paint thinner.
Where are Meth Labs Found?
Meth is constructed in labs found in settings such as
private residences, trailers, campgrounds, hotel rooms,
and vehicles.
The Brownfields Program provides several types of
funding and assistance opportunities that can be used to
address clandestine drug labs.
Assessment Grants fund a variety of pre-cleanup
environmental activities such as site assessment,
inventory, characterization, prioritization,
community outreach, and cleanup planning and
design.
Cleanup Grants fund the cleanup of brownfield
sites.
Revolving Loan Fund Grants help establish state
or locally administered loan funds.
Job Training Grants are designed to help
unemployed/underemployed local residents take
advantage of jobs created by the assessment/
cleanup of brownfield sites.
Targeted Brownfields Assessments provide
funding and technical assistance for
environmental assessments at brownfield sites.
State and Tribal Response Program (Section 128)
Funds for state and tribal response programs are a
non-competitive grant source for states and tribes
to establish and enhance response programs.
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