President Barack Obama signed a wide-ranging appropriations bill that included the restoration of $12.5 million for methamphetamine lab cleanups.

Fortunately in the West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri area,meth lab cleanups have continued without delaydespite federal funding issues.

The Quincy-based Illinois State Police Meth Response Team has agents trained in meth lab cleanups. After a lab is dismantled, hazardous chemicals and items are taken to a storage facility, and the Drug Enforcement Agency then pays for it to be taken to an approved disposal site.