Publisher's Synopsis
Clandestine drug laboratories are used in the illicit production of illegal drugs, most often methamphetamine, but also other types of illegal drugs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office Methamphetamine Initiative provides grant funding to state, local, Tribal, and other public (not Federal) law enforcement entities (referred to throughout this document as "state and local law enforcement agencies) for their methamphetamine initiatives. The state and local law enforcement agencies receive grant funding to purchase equipment, administer training, and fund law enforcement and technical and administrative personnel to investigate and identify the locations of clandestine drug laboratories and conduct law enforcement actions to apprehend suspects and remove illegal drugs and other evidence. Grant-funded personnel may include, but are not limited to, sworn law enforcement personnel, analytical laboratory chemists, computer programmers, analysts, administrative staff, and specialized staff to administer specific methamphetamine initiatives, including but not limited to Drug Endangered Children and Small Rural Community programs. The DOJ COPS Office may also provide supplemental grants to previously funded agencies under the supplemental funding program. Grant-funded equipment may include, but is not limited to, vehicles; surveillance equipment; health and safety equipment including personal protective equipment, environmental monitoring equipment, personnel decontamination equipment, and chemical analytical laboratory equipment and supplies, computer equipment (hardware and software), and office supplies. Grant funding may also be applied to administration of law enforcement, health and safety training, and other training. After law enforcement actions are completed at a clandestine drug laboratory site, the site generally contains hazardous materials that were used in the production of illegal drugs, articles and fixtures that are contaminated with drug residues or hazardous materials, and/or drugs and drug precursors. Illicit production of methamphetamine may involve hazardous materials that are toxic, corrosive, flammable, or explosive. Under the DOJ COPS Methamphetamine Initiative grant award criteria and in accordance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, the grantee becomes the legal "generator" of any hazardous waste that is identified in the conduct of grant-funded activities. Removal of the hazardous wastes from the discovered site therefore becomes the responsibility of the state or local law enforcement agency that discovers the materials. The state or local law enforcement agencies may either perform the removal action themselves using qualified law enforcement personnel or other qualified government personnel (referred to throughout this document as "qualified law enforcement personnel); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hazardous waste management contractors; or other qualified contractors. State and local law enforcement agencies may also use grant funding to pay commercial hazardous waste disposal fees. The entity performing the hazardous waste removal action may package and transport the hazardous waste from the discovered clandestine laboratory to a temporary storage location. They also may repackage the hazardous wastes and/or consolidate the hazardous wastes into larger containers for transport, and then transport the hazardous wastes from the temporary storage unit to a permitted hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility. Under the Proposed Action, any hazardous waste management activity associated with clandestine laboratory seizures may be grant funded including hazardous waste removal, transportation, and storage, and payment of hazardous waste disposal fees. Grantees may theoretically be any non-Federal law enforcement agency.
