The DEA's Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup Program (Cleanup Program) was established in 1989. The Cleanup Program focuses on the removal and disposal of the chemicals, contaminated apparatus, and equipment that can be used to manufacture illegal drugs. The DEA contracts with vendors who have specialized training and equipment to remove the waste from the clandestine drug laboratory sites seized by the DEA or by state and local law enforcement agencies, and to transport the waste to an EPA-regulated transportation, storage, and disposal facility (disposal facility). Based on the quantities of hazardous waste produced, the majority of DEA funded clandestine laboratory cleanups are exempt from EPA regulations. However, the DEA's policy is to manage the hazardous waste from all clandestine drug laboratories as if they were large enough in volume to be subject to EPA regulations.

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Each year large quantities of illegal drugs are manufactured in clandestine drug labs (CDL). Due to the chemicals used to make the drugs and the wastes generated during the ¿cooking,¿ CDL present significant safety and health risks to law enforcement and to the public. The DEA¿s CDL Cleanup Program focuses on the removal and disposal of the chemicals, contaminated apparatus, and equipment that can be used to manufacture illegal drugs. This report: (1) determined whether the DEA ensures that CDL cleanups performed by its vendors comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and contract require.; and (2) evaluated the DEA¿s overall effectiveness in administering and managing the CDL Cleanup Program funding. Charts and tables.