|
8/1/05 - To All IEHA Members.. and Public Health Officials
From: Jason LeMaster, R.E.H.S.
IEHA GEHSC Chair
Dear Colleague:
The General Environmental Health Service Committee of the
Indiana Environmental Health Association has been researching
and gathering information to aid our profession in dealing
with the aftermath of a methamphetamine lab. The result of
this effort is attached. Law Enforcement officials will only
remove chemicals and related manufacturing equipment from
a lab, leaving behind the common household items that may
have been exposed to meth and the production chemicals. We
believe there are serious potential health issues remaining.
For every pound of meth, approximately six pounds of waste
is produced. A meth cooker is not focused on proper handling
and disposal of waste products, thus meth production does
involve the public and environmental health profession.
Recent legislation (SB 444) requires law enforcement agencies
to notify local health officials of the existence of a meth
lab. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is
also tasked with creating clean-up contractor standards. The
Indiana State Department of Health has developed medical exposure
policies for children exposed to meth production. While the
rulemaking process can be time consuming, Governor Daniels
is supporting a “Meth Free Indiana”. Methamphetamine
production and abuse is quickly becoming a priority issue
for many other state regulatory agencies.
The first step for any public or environmental health official
is to gain knowledge to improve decision making. Contact your
local law enforcement agencies and express the public and
environmental health concerns regarding the occupancy of former
meth lab locations. Use the attached document to assist you
in this pursuit. A color 8.5.x11 PDF version is available
online at the IEHA website at www.iehaind.org . Please copy
and distribute this document as needed.
The GEHSC will be involved in the rule making process. We
will continue to bridge existing communication gaps between
all agencies involved. We will continue to provide information
to the IEHA membership as it becomes available. The up to
date GEHSC minutes are posted on the website. Please review
our activities and participate in these important discussions
as you can.
Meth_After_the_Bust_GuidelinesJuly05.pdf
Thank You
Jason LeMaster
|