DESTRUCTIVE PRACTICES

The dangers of meth labs are becoming more apparent to people,
following a couple of high-profile meth dumps in the eastern portion
of Surrey. One is just two blocks from the Langley border, in an area
of rapid development and construction activity in both Surrey and Langley.

It appears that meth lab operators are disposing of their excess
materials by dumping these materials in a sufficiently remote
location. Just a few weeks ago, a dump of chemicals was found outside
Williams Park.

The two dumps that were found in Surrey are a serious health and
environmental hazard. In one case, hazardous materials crews were
forced to retreat when a gaseous cloud was formed, which police
estimate was at least 100 cubic metres in size.

In the other case, a construction worker was taken to hospital after
he and an excavator operator attempted to move some of the chemical
drums with the machine. He did not know that it was a meth lab dump
- -- garbage is regularly dumped at these construction sites overnight.

The worker experienced feelings of numbness from the chemical
reaction that resulted when some of the drums were moved.

Both dump sites remained intact until Friday. One was removed that
morning, while police, fire department, environmental and and
hazardous material crews decided what to do with the other.

At one time, police suggested that the area might have to be
evacuated so that the materials could be moved. The call for an
evacuation has been rescinded, but problems could still arise -- if
not at these dumps, at the next ones that are discovered.

Crystal meth use is a rampant problem in this area. Meth labs are a
big problem -- often doing major damage, if not complete destruction,
to the homes they are located in.

Now the operators of these labs are dumping toxic chemicals, some
which should not be left in close proximity, in isolated places.

All these problems indicate the importance of taking the issue of
crystal meth much more seriously. It is destroying lives, and at the
same time, damaging our community.