Meth lab dump sites 'fairly common' on Indiana County's rural roads

Indiana County’s rural roads have become appealing places for methamphetamine manufacturers to get rid of their illegally used materials, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

It’s become a “fairly common occurrence” for state troopers to find dump sites in remote areas or off dirt roads, said Trooper Cliff Greenfield. The most recent find came Monday along Malloy Hollow Road in Pine Township — where 22 one-pot vessels, 26 acid generators and other empty chemical bottles and packages were discovered.

There was no evidence to help police find a suspect. The road is in a wooded area near Yellow Creek State Park.

“Clearly, those who are depositing the used materials are seeking out rural locations where they are unlikely to be encountered by a passing motorist or pedestrian,” Greenfield said.

Troopers are being more observant when traveling on rural, remote roads. That, along with increased training and information sharing, has helped them locate more dump sites, he said.

State police already had found two rural meth dump sites in Indiana County this year — one in January not far from the Westmoreland County border and the second in February in the eastern part of the county.

Last year, troopers there made several arrests related to meth manufacturing.

The dump sites are a concern for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities as well as crews and volunteers who do roadside cleanups, Greenfield said. The chemicals can contaminate ground water and kill vegetation.

Methamphetamine can be manufactured in clandestine laboratories with common household items, but much of the meth in the country comes from Mexico, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2019 threat assessment. Pennsylvania in 2018 was one of the top states for seizures of meth labs, dumps sites and chemicals/equipment, the report stated.

About 5 to 7 pounds of hazardous chemical waste is left behind by each pound of meth that is manufactured, according to state police. Materials commonly discarded can include plastic bottles and tubing, stripped lithium batteries and cookware with a powdery residue, police said.

Anyone with information related to suspicious or drug activity can anonymously contact 877-PA-NODRUGS, a state police drug trafficking tip line.