Meth lab dumps found in Michaux (Pennsylvania)

By JIM HOOK
Senior writer

Hikers watchful of rattlesnakes, poison ivy and ticks have something else in the forest to be wary of — dangerous litter.

At least twice in the past two years methamphetamine labs have dumped their toxic trash in Michaux State Forest.

Assistant District Forester Gary Zimmerman was the first to come upon the leavings of a meth lab. In July 2004 he and some children were cleaning graffiti off Hammond's Rock. When the arms on two of the children reddened from what appeared to be a chemical burn, Zimmerman called off the clean-up. He picked up nearby trash — about 25 bottles, Coleman fuel and acetone. He sniffed a bottle trying to figure out what was in it. He put the stuff in the back of his pickup truck.

"We didn't know anything about it two years ago," Zimmerman said. "You pick up this stuff and you could die. I was lucky that time."
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