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According to the US Department of Forestry:
"Meth labs are found in remote areas of some of our national forests. As an environmental hazard, the byproducts of meth labs contaminate their surroundings with harmful fumes and highly explosive chemical compounds..."
Historic Methamphetamine Bust for DEA Los Angeles Division October 2022: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division, Southwest Border Initiative (SWB) Group 2, along with the Fontana Police Department, seized approximately 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine in Norco, California. This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine for the DEA Los Angeles Division.
How to recognize a Methamphetamine lab?
- Unusual, strong odors like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals.
- Coffee filters containing a white pasty substance, a dark red paste, or small amounts of shiny white crystals.
- Glass cookware or stove pans containing a powdery residue.
- Shacks or cabins with windows blacked out.
- Open windows vented with fans during the winter.
- Excessive trash including large amounts of items such as antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, engine starting fluid cans, HEET cans, lithium batteries and empty battery packages, wrappers, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.
- Unusual amounts of clear glass containers.
Getting rid of a meth lab is dangerous and expensive. Meth cookers dump battery acid, solvents and other toxic materials into rivers or the ground. Much of the waste is highly flammable and explosive.
- One pound of meth produces six pounds of toxic waste.
- Even months after meth labs have been closed, chemical residue still remains.
- The chemicals used in the manufacturing process can be corrosive, explosive, flammable, toxic, and possibly radioactive.
- Solvent chemicals may be dumped into the ground, sewers, or septic systems. This contaminates the surface water, ground water, and wells.
- Traces of chemicals can pervade the walls, drapes, carpets, and furniture of a laboratory site.
A question was raised in 2019 about the contribution by cannabis farms to the toxicity of the air in communities. Questions Raised Over Whether The Cannabis Industry Is Contributing To Air Pollution : NPR As of yet the question is not being raised about meth labs in communities.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) GREEN
- The Health and Safety Code section 25354.5 requires DTSC removal and disposal of hazardous substances discovered by law enforcement officials while investigating illegal/clandestine drug laboratories. Illegal Drug Lab Removal Program | Department of Toxic Substances Control
- DTSC’s Illegal Drug Lab Removal Program has funded and coordinated the removal and disposal actions at more than 19,000 illegal drug labs and drug lab waste abandonments since July 1, 1995.
- DTSC, in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), developed a health-based cleanup number of 1.5 ug/100 square centimeters for homes identified as locations of a former methamphetamine labs.
- This cleanup number was promulgated in statute by the passage of Assembly Bill 1489 in 2009.
- 100 square centimeters (Cm^2) is about one-and-nine-tenths times as big as a Post-it® Note (3M) The size of a Post-it® Note (3M) is about 54 square centimeters. Source: The Measure of Things
Remediation of Manufactured Methamphetamine in Clandestine Laboratories. A Literature Review - PMC
Documents from DTSC
- DTSC Guidance for Removal of Hazardous Materials from Illegal Drug Labs
- Clan Lab Removal Incident Report
- Clan Lab Removal Work Log
- Illegal Drug Lab Removal Program Fact Sheet
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