RURAL AREAS BEING WARNED ABOUT METH LAB DUMPS

A letter circulating the community has sparked concern over meth lab
dump sites in rural areas.

The letter is being forwarded on by a Grande Prairie man after the
information was presented by safety official at a worksite.

While the information is accurate, Peace River RCMP Staff Sgt. John
Haney said methamphetamines tend not to be found in large quantities
in the region.

"We're not naive to think the product is unavailable here, but it's
not the drug of choice, which remains to be cocaine," he said. "It
becomes evident in the community if you have an issue with it."

Haney said RCMP have encountered meth in Peace River but in low quantities.

"It can be produced anywhere but really at this point we haven't been
exposed to things like dump sites to provide us with an indication
it's being produced here."

Also known as crystal meth, the drug can be produced with over the
counter medications and household products.

When meth is manufactured, there are five to seven kilograms of toxic
waste produced for every one kilogram of meth made.

In the information, Whitecourt, Edson, Drayton Valley were identified
as a major meth triangle in Western Canada.

It has become a concern on oilfield lease sites because when
disposing of the toxic waste, drug manufacturers often chose isolated areas.

Haney said while many of the materials do not pose an imminent danger
if people come in contact with them, it may be indicative of the drug
being produced in the community and the RCMP should be contacted.

"The whole key is to create awareness. Different people see different
things an in essence its another mechanism and a reminder to be vigilant."

Some items which may indicate a meth lab dump are:

* cold or diet pill containers

* jars containing clear liquid with white colored solid on the bottom

* jars containing red phosphorus or a fine dark red or purple powder

* coffee filters containing a white pasty substance, a dark red
sludge or small amounts of shiny white crystals

* bottles containing sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid

* any bottles, jars or containers with tubing coming out of them

* coolers with tubing coming out of them

* glass cookware or frying pans containing a powdery residue

* number of cans of coleman fuel, paint thinner, acetone, starting
fluid, Gillette lye and drain cleaners, bottles of muratic acid, toluene or MSM

* large amounts of lithium batteries, especially if they have been stripped

* soft silver or gray metallic ribbon (in chunk form) stored in
kerosene or mineral spirits

* propane bottles with fittings that have turned blue

* strong smell of urine (ammonia)

* cooking process produces a stench described as mix of battery acid
and rotten eggs.