Meth Lab Criminals Will Clean Up The Mess In Bedford

The city of Bedford on Tuesday passed an ordinance authorizing the cost of clean up to be charged to those convicted of operating meth labs. To serve as a safeguard for taxpayers, Lynchburg City Council passed a similar ordinance in September. Federal grants had been available through the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to help localities with the costs BUT funding was eliminated in 2011. Meth labs can create toxic waste that is expensive and dangerous to remove; special training and equipment is needed in the clean up. The General Assembly last year established a new state law giving localities the authority to pass the cleanup costs onto convicted felons involved in the labs.