[110th Congress Public Law 143]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[DOCID: f:publ143.110]
[[Page 121 STAT. 1809]]
Public Law 110-143
110th Congress
An Act
To provide for a research program for remediation of closed
methamphetamine production laboratories, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 21, 2007 - [H.R. 365]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Metham-
phetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. 42 USC
9660 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methamphetamine Remediation Research
Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Methamphetamine use and production is growing rapidly
throughout the United States.
(2) Materials and residues remaining from the production of
methamphetamine pose novel environmental problems in locations
where methamphetamine laboratories have been closed.
(3) There has been little standardization of measures for
determining when the site of a closed methamphetamine laboratory
has been successfully remediated.
(4) Initial cleanup actions are generally limited to removal
of hazardous substances and contaminated materials that pose an
immediate threat to public health or the environment. It is not
uncommon for significant levels of contamination to be found
throughout residential structures after a methamphetamine
laboratory has closed, partially because of a lack of knowledge
of how to achieve an effective cleanup.
(5) Data on methamphetamine laboratory-related contaminants
of concern are very limited, and cleanup standards do not
currently exist. In addition, procedures for sampling and
analysis of contaminants need to be researched and developed.
(6) Many States are struggling with establishing remediation
guidelines and programs to address the rapidly expanding number
of methamphetamine laboratories being closed each year.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Establishment of Voluntary Guidelines.--Not
later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act
referred to as the ``Administrator''), in consultation with the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, shall establish voluntary
guidelines, based on the best currently available scientific knowledge,
for the remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories,
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including guidelines regarding preliminary site assessment and the
remediation of residual contaminants.
(b) Considerations.--In developing the voluntary guidelines under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) relevant standards, guidelines, and requirements found
in Federal, State, and local laws and regulations;
(2) the varying types and locations of former
methamphetamine laboratories; and
(3) the expected cost of carrying out any proposed
guidelines.
(c) States.--The voluntary guidelines should be designed to assist
State and local governments in the development and the implementation of
legislation and other policies to apply state-of-the-art knowledge and
research results to the remediation of former methamphetamine
laboratories. The Administrator shall work with State and local
governments and other relevant non-Federal agencies and organizations,
including through the conference described in section 5, to promote and
encourage the appropriate adoption of the voluntary guidelines.
(d) Updating the Guidelines.--The Administrator shall periodically
update the voluntary guidelines as the Administrator, in consultation
with States and other interested parties, determines to be necessary and
appropriate to incorporate research findings and other new knowledge.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
The Administrator shall establish a program of research to support
the development and revision of the voluntary guidelines described in
section 3. Such research shall--
(1) identify methamphetamine laboratory-related chemicals of
concern;
(2) assess the types and levels of exposure to chemicals of
concern identified under paragraph (1), including routine and
accidental exposures, that may present a significant risk of
adverse biological effects, and the research necessary to better
address biological effects and to minimize adverse human
exposures;
(3) evaluate the performance of various methamphetamine
laboratory cleanup and remediation techniques; and
(4) support other research priorities identified by the
Administrator in consultation with States and other interested
parties.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> Conference.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, and at least every third year
thereafter, the Administrator shall convene a conference of appropriate
State agencies, as well as individuals or organizations involved in
research and other activities directly related to the environmental, or
biological impacts of former methamphetamine laboratories. The
conference should be a forum for the Administrator to provide
information on the guidelines developed under section 3 and on the
latest findings from the research program described in section 4, and
for the non-Federal participants to provide information on the problems
and needs of States and localities and their experience with guidelines
developed under section 3.
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(b) Report.--Not later than 3 months after each conference, the
Administrator shall submit a report to the Congress that summarizes the
proceedings of the conference, including a summary of any
recommendations or concerns raised by the non-Federal participants and
how the Administrator intends to respond to them. The report shall also
be made widely available to the general public.
SEC. 6. RESIDUAL EFFECTS STUDY.
(a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the
National Academy of Sciences for a study of the status and quality of
research on the residual effects of methamphetamine laboratories. The
study shall identify research gaps and recommend an agenda for the
research program described in section 4. The study shall pay particular
attention to the need for research on the impacts of methamphetamine
laboratories on--
(1) the residents of buildings where such laboratories are,
or were, located, with particular emphasis given to biological
impacts on children; and
(2) first responders.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 months after the completion of the
study, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report on how the
Administrator will use the results of the study to carry out the
activities described in sections 3 and 4.
SEC. 7. METHAMPHETAMINE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
The Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, in
consultation with the Administrator, shall support a research program to
develop--
(1) new methamphetamine detection technologies, with
emphasis on field test kits and site detection; and
(2) appropriate standard reference materials and validation
procedures for methamphetamine detection testing.
SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect or limit the
application of, or any obligation to comply with, any State or Federal
environmental law or regulation, including the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42
U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et
seq.).
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Environmental Protection Agency.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this
Act $1,750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute
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of Standards and Technology to carry out this Act $750,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
Approved December 21, 2007.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 365 (S. 635):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110-8 (Comm. on Science and Technology).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 110-157 accompanying S. 635 (Comm. on Environment
and Public Works).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 153 (2007):
Feb. 7, considered and passed House.
Dec. 11, considered and passed Senate.
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