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KDHE Home - Environment - BER - Assessment and Restoration - Methlabs

Kansas Clandestine Drug Lab Information

Introduction

Meth is produced in illegal clandestine drug laboratories that are found throughout Kansas; rural areas away from the general public; and residential areas, including houses, apartments, motels, garages and abandoned buildings. Mobile labs have also been found in vehicles and discarded along roadsides or parking lots.

Methamphetamine labs commonly have an unusually sweet or strong odor such as ether, ammonia, or auto parts cleaner. The windows of buildings are often covered, blacked out or frosted to prevent any one seeing inside the structure containing the lab. Sporadic traffic throughout the day and night and unusual trash containing large amounts of ether starting fluid cans, camping fuel cans, battery parts, stained coffee filters, drain cleaners, and glassware are common attributes of meth labs.

Meth and the Environment

Meth labs have the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies, soil and air, causing a great danger to nearby residences. Meth labs are highly explosive and can cause health problems including respiratory illness, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. KDHE provides cleanup guidance for meth labs to ensure the safety of the citizens of Kansas and our natural resources.  Click this link for information on Cleaning Up Former Methamphetamine Labs.

History and Current Status of the Kansas Clandestine Drug Lab Information

The Chemical Control Act was passed on July 1, 1999, initiating an education and notification program and a chemical cleanup program associated with meth labs.  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) worked together to help educate the citizens of Kansas on the dangers of methamphetamine ("meth").  The program initiated the Kansas Meth Watch Program which was created to provide community awareness and to help retailers control the availability of precursor chemicals needed to produce meth.  The KDHE and KBI worked together to provide specialized training for law enforcement officers to certify them to respond to meth labs.  The program also provided direct response to remove chemicals from seized meth labs and to oversee clean up of contaminated properties until 2009 when funding for the program ended.  The KDHE currently can only provide technical advice and clean up guidance through the Spill Response Unit and through information posted on this website.  If local law enforcement needs chemicals removed from a seized meth lab they should consult with the KBI.

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