By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — As spring thaws the area, the presence of methamphetamine labs can leave a dangerous residue around the county.
The new “one-pot” labs in particular — but any kind of devices used to “cook” the drug — are often sprinkled around the county and disposed of in out-of-the-way places. One location to find such containers is along county roadsides.
State Police Officer Jason Faulstich, who works with the ISP’s meth detail, warned residents of what to stay away from at a meeting of the Plymouth Anti-Meth Committee.

“Do not pick up a cooler on the side of the road,” said Faulstich. “Even if it looks clean it’s highly likely that there may be some kind of residue inside.”
The chemicals used to make the drug are for the most part highly toxic, and in fact the reaction that creates the drug is in essence a small bomb waiting to explode.
“There are a lot of police officers who have died or are suffering from cancers that we can trace back to residue from meth,” he told those in attendance. “We’ve discovered over the years that the protective equipment at times wasn’t good enough or that the materials were much more dangerous than we ever anticipated.”
Any sort of tank that appears it has been modified from its      original purpose should be avoided at all costs.
“If it’s been modifie, there is probably anhydrous am-monia in it,” said Faulstich. “It won’t take long for that to kill you.”
Any type of container, like a two-liter soda bottle or mason jar that has liquid or other unidentifiable substances in it should also be avoided and reported to authorities.
“If it has something inside it that doesn’t look like it’s supposed to be inside it, stay away from it,” said Faulstich. “If you find an ether can that is punctured, stay away.”
He also explained some things to look for in identifying an area where there is an active meth lab.
“If you see 30-gallon drums full of old match boxes... they use the striker plates to cook meth, not the matches. Cold packs that have been slit open — there is no legitimate reason for anyone to slit open a cold pack. If you see five 50-pound bags of fertilizer sitting around a house that has a small lawn, that’s a sign.”