South Carolina legislators will put $1 million into cleaning up methamphetamine labs after the federal government stopped paying states for the work.
The state Senate on Tuesday agreed to use $1 million in surplus state cash to cover the cleanup programs.
Meth labs create toxic waste that can't easily be disposed of. Each site can cost up to $3,500. The Drug Enforcement Administration last year gave the state about $727,000 for cleanup work, but those funds expired and sheriffs have been using contingency funds and forfeited drug money for cleanups since February.
State Sen. Mike Fair of Greenville said that without the state cash, local law enforcement agencies would be responsible for covering the costs.
