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| 15 July 2002 What’s Cookin’ This Summer? Learn How to Keep Your Family Safe, and Protect the Environment from Meth Labs and Dumpsites EL CAJON, CA – The cooler’s full of soda and burgers. The weather is perfect, the traffic’s not too bad, and your family and friends are out for a day of fun in the sun. But when you arrive at your favorite park or campground, it’s full of trash. What could be worse? What if that litter was poisonous? What if it killed plants, birds, and animals? What if that trash included toxic chemicals that leaked into streams, and poisoned ground water? What if you got sick, just from trying to clean it up? What if somebody dumped leftovers from an illegal drug lab in your favorite spot? “Last year, more than 40 meth labs and dumpsites were found in San Diego County,” said San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, speaking at a news conference at Flinn Springs County Park. “You could probably spend all your free time hiking or mountain-biking around the county, and never encounter a meth lab or dumpsite. But it’s important to be aware of hazards that are created when a meth cooker dumps his leftovers on public land.” “Most people have two things on their mind when they visit our parks and open spaces: They want to have fun, and stay safe,” said Methamphetamine Strike Force Co-Chair and Director of the County Health and Human Services Agency, Rodger G. Lum, Ph.D. “Anyone can learn to recognize a meth lab or dumpsite, and what to do if one is found.” “Flinn Springs County Park is exactly the kind of place that needs to be protected,” said Jacob. “Look around. There’s a natural spring and a creek. Groves of oak trees are filled with songbirds and hawks. Barbecues, picnic areas, and playgrounds make it a perfect spot for family recreation.” “You can see the smooth spots on the rocks where Native Americans ground their acorns, hundreds of years ago,” Jacob went on. “People have been visiting the area for centuries, with minimal impacts on the environment. But all that could change if someone dumped their leftovers here after cooking methamphetamine. The only kind of cooking we want to see here is burgers and hot dogs, sizzling on a grill.” “Meth labs and dumpsites are loaded with chemicals, including hydriodic acid, red phosphorous, iodine, acetone, and other solvents,” said David King, a Special Agent Supervisor with the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. “For every pound of meth that’s produced, there are about six pounds of waste material left over. Some of these chemicals can create poisonous gases. Others are explosive or flammable, and could spark a brushfire. That’s a huge concern, since San Diego County just had its driest rain season ever.” In Mendocino County, two suspected meth cookers are facing murder charges. Prosecutors say their meth lab sparked a 240-acre wildfire last August. Two pilots died when their air tankers collided during the firefighting effort. The suspected meth cookers are blamed for causing their deaths. The fire hazards and environmental impacts of meth labs and dumpsites can be minimized if those sites are identified and properly cleaned-up. “Federal, state, and local agencies all work together to clean up after meth cookers,” said Special Agent Don Thornhill of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “Once a lab or dumpsite is located, hazardous materials experts move in and remove the equipment, trash, and chemicals. But they’re equipped with protective suits and masks. Cleaning up a meth site isn’t like picking up litter, it’s not something the public should try to do.” “I didn’t really think about meth labs very much until one was found in my neighborhood,” said Tracy Gamble of Clairemont. “I saw a news story about a meth lab a couple of blocks from my house, and less than two blocks from the elementary school my son attended. I’m concerned that chemicals from a meth lab might be dumped in parks and campgrounds where families spend so much time during the summer.” The County of San Diego Methamphetamine Strike Force maintains a hotline and a website, where illegal drug activity can be reported. To report a meth lab or dumpsite, call 1-877-No2Meth (1-877-662-6384). Or log-on to www.no2meth.org, and click on “Stop Meth Crime.” |
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