PRESS RELEASE

Of interest to editors and journalists covering:
Business, Waste Management, Law Enforcement, Safety, Chemicals, NC News


'Meth Lab' Seizures Creating Bio-Hazard Containment Problem for Local Authorities and
Neighbors

DEA Allocates $300,000 to State of Kentucky Which is Partnering With U.S. Chemical Storage,
Inc. in Pilot Program to Safely Store Toxic Chemicals

BOONE, NC - March 31, 2004 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Nationwide raids of makeshift
Methamphetamine labs have gained heightened attention because of the volatile and highly-
toxic nature of chemicals involved and the possibilities of contamination to nearby
communities, according to U.S. Chemical Storage, Inc. (www.uschemicalstorage.com).

"Meth," as it is commonly known, is highly addictive and expensive to attain, causing the
number of these clandestine "cooking" labs to rise sharply in recent years. In Kentucky
alone, the number of lab seizures in 2003 was 372, up from 19 in 1998.

Meth is extremely dangerous to produce, yet labs have been discovered in homes, rental
properties and even vehicles.

Ridding communities of these criminal operations is complicated and risky. Once offenders
have been rounded up, law enforcement officers face the arduous cleanup process,
containment, and safe storage of toxic chemicals.

The DEA has allocated $300,000 to the State of Kentucky, which is partnering with U.S.
Chemical Storage, of Boone, NC, in a pilot program aimed at safely storing these deadly
toxins.

The collaboration aims at identifying and eliminating "mom and pop" laboratories. U.S.
Chemical Storage initially provided nine, Factory Mutual Approved, 8x6-foot containers, one
for each state police headquarters. Nine more will follow. The units provide officials safe
storage that is easily accessible.

"This is not just a legal issue of removing these drugs from the streets. This is a public
health and safety issue," said Thomas Sofield, President of U.S. Chemical Storage. "States
must take proper steps to ensure the safety of their citizens by properly containing
hazardous by-products of this illegal activity."

Kentucky's partnership with U.S. Chemical Storage saves taxpayer money, reducing costs of
cleanup and storage of the deadly chemicals from $6,000 to just $500 per incident, by
eliminating the outsourcing of an independent cleanup contractor.

U.S. Chemical Storage(R) produces heavy-gauge sheet steel construction storage containers
that are EPA compliant.  Features such as three-hour fire-rated double doors, explosion
relief panels and explosion-proof fixtures ensure the safety of officials who work with
chemicals and the general population.

For more information, visit http://www.uschemicalstorage.com (follow the "Haz-mat News"
link), or call U.S. Chemical Storage, 828-264-6032.



	MEDIA CONTACT:
	Gary Jones
	Of Lincoln Media Services
	For U.S. Chemical Storage, Inc.
	+1-847-229-9470
	gary@lincolnmedia.com


 
 
 
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[ source of news = U.S. Chemical Storage, Inc.]
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