Natrona County, including its cities and towns, needs a uniform way to clean the mess left by clandestine labs used to make methamphetamine and other drugs, a city-county health department official said Tuesday.

"It would be ideal if the state addressed this issue, but that probably won't happen in this budget session," said Mary Janssen, director of community nursing and public health.

Natrona County and the City of Casper have abatement codes, but they don't necessarily mesh, Janssen said.

County Commissioner Kathleen Dixon gave the informal proposal a qualified yes, but wanted to know what the health department needed.

Janssen said it would like direction, cooperation with county emergency agencies, legal advice, and maybe money to address a problem that poisons manufacturers, users and especially children.

Depending on the process, meth makers use toxic chemicals that can leave residue with iodine, mercury, acetone, the drug itself and other chemicals embedded in carpet, woodwork, wallboard and other areas of a residence, Janssen said. "As you clean out buildings, what do you do with (the waste)?"

Some materials would need to be burned, some would need to be buried, and all would need a designated graveyard, Janssen said.

Clandestine labs aren't the only problem, Commissioner Jon Campbell said.

The county should consider a method of disposing of old tires, Campbell said, and commissioner Cathy Killean added Janssen's proposal may push the county to acquire an incinerator.

Some property owners with clandestine labs and waste may not want to participate, Janssen said.

The district attorney can prosecute criminal cases, responded County Attorney Bill Harden.

But forcing property owners to pay would require the county to place liens on buildings and land, and that could take as long as two or three years to work through the courts, Harden said.

The county may still determine that the property isn't worth cleaning, which could pose a major financial liability, he said.

Other states that have set up remediation funds for cleaning clandestine labs have seen the money go quickly, Janssen said.

Janssen she said 17 meth labs in Wyoming were busted in 2004, adding she's heard that only one lab is found for every 10 in existence.

While a uniform statewide response would be best, Janssen said the health department can't wait.

"The goal is to start in Natrona County and protect our own citizens," she said.

Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net.