South Carolina sheriffs are scrambling to clean meth labs after exhausting federal money for the effort.
The Greenville News reported Monday that South Carolina was given about $727,000 by the federal government last year to clean up sites.
The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration said in February it could no longer pay to clean up labs.
Jeff Moore with the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association said deputies could eventually have to choose between letting labs cook and distribute meth or taking them down and blocking the scene with yellow tape while awaiting cleanup funds.
Authorities hire licensed contractors to dispose of meth labs in accordance with state regulations. They put on hazmat suits to collect waste that can explode, burn children and contaminate the environment.
