U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) is helping communities across West Virginia an clean up methamphetamine labs and the toxic mess they leave behind, today adding his support to H.R. 365, Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007, a bill that charges the Environmental Protection Agency with the development of health-based guidelines to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up former meth lab sites.
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 426 to 2.

"Meth labs are often found in residential settings, houses, apartments or hotel rooms. Because the chemicals used in making meth are highly volatile, the toxic residue left behind could threaten the health of whoever should occupy that space next," Rahall said.

"While some states have already passed laws that require the clean-up of former meth labs, there is no good health-based data to guide that process," Rahall said.

In addition to establishing those guidelines, the bill would also:

• Direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to consult with EPA in developing technologies to detect meth labs, emphasizing in field test kits for law enforcement.
• Require the National Academy of Sciences to study the long-term health impacts of meth exposure on first-responders and on children taken from meth lab sites.

"We have an obligation to do everything we can to keep our children safe and to protect our brave first responders," Rahall said. "I am dedicated to taking every step possible to strengthen our communities in our fight against this dangerous drug."

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that more than 213 meth labs were seized in West Virginia in 2005.

According to a 2006 National Drug Threat Survey of state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation, meth was named most often as the greatest drug threat in communities.

"Meth addiction is a serious epidemic in West Virginia and across the country. It is imperative that we approach this problem aggressively and from every angle and this bill will do just that," Rahall said. "This is huge victory for the New Congress, but there are many battles left to be fought in this war and I for one am ready to fight this thing until the end."