In one sense, Commerce caught a break in the recent discovery of a methamphetamine production operation on Spring Street: It did not have to pay for the cleanup.
The ingredients that go into methamphetamine produce what amounts to a hazardous waste that, if handled improperly (or not handled at all) can sicken or even kill those exposed to it. Until last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assumed responsibility for such cleanups.
Not anymore.
Trying to cut its operating costs, DEA has announced it will no longer pay for such cleanups, relegating those costs to the states — which in all likelihood, will pass them down to cities and counties.
The Commerce cleanup cost was minimal. Police chief John Gaissert estimates the cleanup cost at $1,700-$2,000. Unfortunately, depending upon the quantity of methamphetamine produced, the duration of the operation and how “waste” materials were disposed of, the cost of a cleanup could increase significantly, even to the point of removing soil from property or demolishing a building — and disposing of the contaminated materials at a registered hazardous waste dump site. The entire process must meet federal standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA.
Local jurisdictions should seriously consider another add-on to the fines levied on methamphetamine offenses to set aside money for the inevitable cleanup. The added charge should apply only to those found guilty of crimes involving methamphetamine, however. It’s only fair that those caught possessing and consuming methamphetamine contribute to the cost of cleaning up the hazard their crimes helped create.
