109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 798
AN ACT 
To provide for a research program for remediation 
of closed methamphetamine production labora-
tories, and for other purposes.
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 798
AN ACT 
To provide for a research program for remediation of closed 
methamphetamine production laboratories, and for other 
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methamphetamine Re-
mediation Research Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Methamphetamine use and production is 
growing rapidly throughout the United States. 
(2) Some materials and chemical residues re-
maining from the production of methamphetamine 
pose novel environmental problems in locations 
where methamphetamine laboratories have been 
closed. 
(3) There has been little standardization of 
measures for determining when the site of a former 
methamphetamine laboratory has been successfully 
remediated. 
(4) Initial cleanup actions are generally limited 
to removal of hazardous substances and contami-
nated materials that pose an immediate threat to 
public health or the environment. It is not uncom-
mon for significant levels of contamination to be 
found throughout residential structures where meth-
amphetamine has been manufactured, partially be-
cause of a lack of knowledge of how to achieve an 
effective cleanup.
(5) Data on methamphetamine laboratory-re-
lated contaminants of concern are very limited, and 
uniform cleanup standards do not currently exist. In 
addition, procedures for sampling and analysis of 
contaminants need to be researched and developed. 
(6) Many States are struggling with estab-
lishing assessment and remediation guidelines and 
programs to address the rapidly expanding number 
of methamphetamine laboratories being closed each 
year. 
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.—
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Research and 
Development of the Environmental Protection Agency (in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Assistant Administrator’’), in 
consultation with the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, shall establish voluntary guidelines, based on 
the best currently available scientific knowledge, for the 
remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories, in-
cluding guidelines regarding preliminary site assessment 
and the remediation of residual contaminants.
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the voluntary 
guidelines under subsection (a), the Assistant Adminis-
trator shall consider, at a minimum—
(1) relevant standards, guidelines, and require-
ments found in Federal, State, and local laws and 
regulations; 
(2) the varying types and locations of former 
methamphetamine laboratories; and 
(3) the expected cost of carrying out any pro-
posed guidelines. 
(c) STATES.—The voluntary guidelines should be de-
signed to assist State and local governments in the devel-
opment and the implementation of legislation and other 
policies to apply state-of-the-art knowledge and research 
results to the remediation of former methamphetamine 
laboratories. The Assistant Administrator shall work with 
State and local governments and other relevant non-Fed-
eral agencies and organizations, including through the 
conference described in section 5, to promote and encour-
age the appropriate adoption of the voluntary guidelines. 
(d) UPDATING
THE GUIDELINES.—The Assistant 
Administrator shall periodically update the voluntary 
guidelines as the Assistant Administrator, in consultation 
with States and other interested parties, determines to be 
necessary and appropriate to incorporate research findings 
and other new knowledge.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
The Assistant Administrator shall establish a pro-
gram of research to support the development and revision 
of the voluntary guidelines described in section 3. Such 
research shall— 
(1) identify methamphetamine laboratory-re-
lated chemicals of concern; 
(2) assess the types and levels of exposure to 
chemicals of concern identified under paragraph (1), 
including routine and accidental exposures, that may 
present a significant risk of adverse biological ef-
fects; 
(3) identify the research efforts necessary to 
better address biological effects and to minimize ad-
verse human exposures; 
(4) evaluate the performance of various meth-
amphetamine laboratory cleanup and remediation 
techniques; and 
(5) support other research priorities identified 
by the Assistant Administrator in consultation with 
States and other interested parties. 
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE. 
(a) CONFERENCE.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and at least every third 
year thereafter, the Assistant Administrator shall convene 
a conference of appropriate State agencies, as well as indi-
viduals or organizations involved in research and other ac-
tivities directly related to the environmental, or biological 
impacts of former methamphetamine laboratories. The 
conference should be a forum for the Assistant Adminis-
trator to provide information on the guidelines developed 
under section 3 and on the latest findings from the re-
search program described in section 4, and for the non-
Federal participants to provide information on the prob-
lems and needs of States and localities and their experi-
ence with guidelines developed under section 3. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 months after each 
conference, the Assistant Administrator shall submit a re-
port to the Congress that summarizes the proceedings of 
the conference, including a summary of any recommenda-
tions or concerns raised by the non-Federal participants 
and how the Assistant Administrator intends to respond 
to them. The report shall also be made widely available 
to the general public. 
SEC. 6. RESIDUAL EFFECTS STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator shall 
enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of 
Sciences for a study of the status and quality of research 
on the residual effects of methamphetamine laboratories. 
The study shall identify research gaps and recommend an
agenda for the research program described in section 4. 
The study shall pay particular attention to the need for 
research on the impacts of methamphetamine laboratories 
on— 
(1) the residents of buildings where such lab-
oratories are, or were, located, with particular em-
phasis given to biological impacts on children; and 
(2) first responders. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 months after the 
completion of the study, the Assistant Administrator shall 
transmit to Congress a report on how the Assistant Ad-
ministrator will use the results of the study to carry out 
the activities described in sections 3 and 4. 
SEC. 7. METHAMPHETAMINE DETECTION RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
The Director of National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, in consultation with the Assistant Adminis-
trator, shall support a research program to develop— 
(1) new methamphetamine detection tech-
nologies, with emphasis on field test kits and site de-
tection; and 
(2) appropriate standard reference materials 
and validation procedures for methamphetamine de-
tection testing.
SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to add to or 
limit the regulatory authority of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental 
Protection Agency to carry out this Act $3,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009. 
(b) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
carry out this Act $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2006 through 2009.
Passed the House of Representatives December 13, 
2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.