Federal law enforcement officers fighting the growth of labs in California that manufacture crack or speed are being hampered by environmental consequences of the busts. With every illegal lab that is closed, Department of Justice officers are stuck with the task of disposing of large quantities of benzene (a carcinogen), ether, acids, and other dangerous chemicals. The department allocates $700,000 annually for cleaning up the toxics, but each lab bust results in disposal costs of $7,000 to $10,000. The department has been forced to apply budget funds to cover the growing price tag.

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