METH LAB DIDN'T POLLUTE LAKE: MOE

Months after the discovery of one of the biggest meth labs in
Ontario, the Ministry of the Environment is confident that the lab
did not have an impact on Tamarack Lake's water quality.

However, the ministry is still awaiting the results of soil testing.

Police discovered the meth lab in a rental cottage on the lake south
of Gooderham in early winter. They confiscated a large volume of
meth and crystal meth but did not know what had been done with the
toxic waste that was left over when the highly addictive drugs were made.

John Steele, a media relations officer with the MOE, says that, "all
wastes have been removed from the site." As well, the rental
property's septic tank was pumped by licensed hazardous waste
carrier and disposed of at a licensed facility.

However, because the lake and the ground were frozen when the meth
lab was discovered, the ministry could not conduct a comprehensive
set of tests until spring.

Of the water tests, Steele says "The ministry is confident that the
adjacent surface water body has not been impacted by the activities
at the meth lab."

MOE staff also took samples of the soil near the meth lab in early
May to confirm that no residual contamination exists. The samples
are currently being analyzed at the MOE lab.

"Sample results should be received in six to eight weeks," said
Steele. "Once the sample results are received, our tech support
folks will analyze them and we'll take appropriate action if necessary."

That action may include additional clean up of the subsurface soils
surrounding the cottage.

In regards to the rental cottage where the meth lab was found, the
ministry did not take any samples of the buildings structure. The
local health unit will determine whether the building can once again
be occupied.