WHEREAS, the number of clandestine laboratories seized nationwide by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) according to the National Clandestine Laboratory Database in CY2002 was 557. The National Clandestine Laboratory Database reports 8,911 clandestine laboratory seizures in CY2002 by state and local police. More than 90 percent of these laboratories are clandestine methamphetamine laboratories; and

WHEREAS, methamphetamine addiction and trafficking has resulted in increased violence and has severely impacted the quality of life in many communities; and

WHEREAS, significantly increasing methamphetamine production and abuse poses a unique challenge for drug enforcement in the United States. The added burdens of law enforcement include additional specialized training for officers in hazardous waste disposal, environmental contamination, and additional public safety issues (fires, explosions, and poisonous gas), in addition to the crime, violence and abuse problems typically associated with controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, in 1997, DEA reported 31 fires and 11 explosions associated with 1,451 clandestine drug laboratory seizures in which DEA participated. In CY2002, the National Clandestine Laboratory Database documented 94 incidents of laboratories which had explosives and/ or booby traps, and 2078 incidents where children were present during the seizure of the laboratory; and

WHEREAS, as part of the National Methamphetamine Strategy, DEA has taken the lead role in providing hazardous waste cleanup contractors and laboratory safety training to state and local police, who have limited resources to address this problem; and the demise of the COPS funding mechanism and dramatic increases in laboratory seizures have created funding shortfalls of crises proportions for providing these services; and

WHEREAS, pseudoephedrine which is the primary precursor required for the production of methamphetamine, is smuggled in large quantities into the country through Canada and is also readily available for over-the-counter purchases in smaller quantities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges Congress to provide DEA continued and adequate funding resources to confront the clandestine laboratory problem. This problem consists of thousands of small production laboratories across the United States, which require specialized training for thousands of police to counteract the public safety hazards. These funding resources are mandated in order for DEA, state and local police agencies to comply with OSHA regulations and successfully combat the clandestine drug laboratory problem in addition to the overall methamphetamine problem; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges Congress to provide continued funding directly to the DEA to insure adequate financial assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. This funding supports the training of law enforcement personnel in the safe and environmentally sound disposition of seized clandestine chemical laboratories and to enable DEA to efficiently and effectively administer this program; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP calls on all governments to provide their law enforcement agencies with the resources necessary to support the training of law enforcement personnel in the safe and environmentally sound disposition of seized clandestine chemical laboratories; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP asserts that a basic course should be developed for all law enforcement officials as an officer safety issue to ensure that officers will be knowledgeable about the dangers of clandestine laboratory operations in the event they are confronted with the situation; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges that private companies and commercial establishments should provide safeguards for the pseudoephedrine products under their control.