227 Meth Lab BOARD OF HEALTH
MEMBERS
DONNA C.SALLOOM,CHAIR
SUZANNE SMITH,M.D.
JOANNE LEVIN,M.D.
Benjamin Wood,MPH,Director
icia Abbott,RN,Public Health Nurse
Daniel Wasiuk,Health Inspector
Edmund Smith,Health Inspector
Heather McBride,Clerk
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
(413)587-1214
FAX(413)587-1221
212 MAIN STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01060
Notice of Compliance
Date: July 26,2011
To:Whom it may concern
From: Ben Wood,MPH
Re: 227 Bridge Street
On October 11th,2010 the Northampton Health Department was notified by the Northampton Fire
Department and Federal Drug Enforcement Agency that a clandestine drug laboratory was found to be
present in the attic of 227 Bridge Street,Northampton.The Health Department bad concems about
residual contamination from the drug manufacturing process and ordered the property owner(Patricia
Gantz)to thoroughly clean the apartment prior to it being re-occupied.After further consideration,the
Northampton Health Department has made a determination that there likely was only a very small risk
of residual contamination in the attic(where the chemicals were found)and likely no risk in the
second floor living space. This determination coupled with the property owners' actions of thoroughly
cleaning the attic and second floor living space is sufficient to close this rase with no concerns for
future inhabitants of this property.This notice does not declare that the property is in full compliance
with 105 CMR 410.00(Chapter II of the State Sanitary Code),simply that the Northampton Health
Department does not believe there is ongoing risk from the clandestine drug laboratory found to be
present in October of 2010.
Ben Wood,MPH
Director,Northampton Health Department
www.dea.gov
U. S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
New England Field Division
15 New Sudbury Street, Room E-400
Boston, MA 02203
OCT 2 0 2010
Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz
Town of Northampton
29 Center Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Chief Sienkiewicz:
This letter is to advise you that on October 12,2010, a clandestine laboratory was located at 227
Bridge Street,Northampton, Massachusetts. During a search of the laboratory, hazardous chemicals
were discovered. Known hazardous chemicals and substances were seized by the Government and
have been disposed of pursuant to State and/or Federal laws.
This letter also serves as a warning that there may still be hazardous substances or waste products at
or on the property.
Sincerely'
1
Steven W. Derr
Special Agent in Charge
New England Field Division
OCT 2 2010
Boxy Gantes[roxygantes @me.coml
Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:20 PM
Ben Wood
Re: checking-in
rehabbing was done. Closer but not done.
have flooring let Ball the bedrooms and living rooms.
n new flooring
o plumbers
out Attic more
d Frig
I am currently working on:
trim around bedroom floors
bathroom
ng attic and plumbing
cep you posted.
a 8,2011, at 359 PM, Ben Wood wrote:
iow are things progressing?Are you done rehabbing the apartment? If so I'd like to do one last walk through and
fficially sign off on things.
3. Ben
Vood, MPH
tor,Northampton Health Department
lain Street, Municipal Building
hampton, MA 01060
:t Line:413-587-1213
era'Office:413-587-1214
413-587-1221
bwood northamptonme ov
�.//www northamptonma Rov/healthde t
James M. Field jjmfield @ehs.umass.edul
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:32 AM
Ben Wood
RE:waste liquid
from my vendor and they confirmed that typically they would use a commercial grade of simple green to break
jean any residual contamination. If some areas have heavy ontamitatio they might use
some
vy contamination they might use a hepa vacuum first.
some concerns about any biological contamination,
gates from ZEP. Apparently more effective than bleach with out the hazards.
Materials Control Manager
Draper Hall
of Mass.
NA 01003
3 545-5122
127-4897
45-2600
Bid Ca? hs ...._._ ..-
an Wood mailto'bwood' northam•tonma.•ov
anday, December 06, 2010 3:09 PM
es M. Field
:: RE: waste liquid etc.)method meth The
typical material found at a "one-pot" so I eth lab.
the place down (new floors, new appliances, new paint job, )
Jim,the text below is from a DEA officer.This is the tVP
>f the property is basically stripping go through the expense of hiring a contractor to do residual surface
r pretty comfortable with her not having to g
for meth. (which seems to be a standard in some states).An open question is whether or not the plumping
should be flushed out 0.e. have a a risk of would be gerous chnta ina ion sitting m drains from waste liquid that may
thoughts poured). Any you the question is simply about residual
Cher note just to be clear is that any container with liquid has been removed,
mination on floors,walls,drainage, etc.
pseudo-ephedrine,ammonium nitrate,lithium and ether. If disturbed after
waste aside thieve s a would be utwea would start art -re
problem if exposed
set aside there is a chance it would start re-reacting and the unreacted lithium could cause a
iter. The gas that is put off is going to be ammonia gas as well as others but the ammonia will be the most
eable."
n: James M. Field 06, 201010:09s.0 ass edu]
t: Monday, December
Ben Wood
>ject: RE: waste liquid
1, ert on these operations but we do have extensive experience with laboratory
al free to call at any time. I am not an expounds and we can help develop a simple effective decontamination plan.
contamination. Give me a list of the comp
James M.December 07c )
,2010 10 O8 AM
Tuesday,
Ben Wood
RE:waste liquid
ng with one of our vendors for a specific protocol. My take on this is that once all material has been removed a
ng with an industrial soap such as commercial simple green will remove all trace of these compounds. Flush
vith copious amounts of water to ensure that all trace is removed from the traps. Ether is slightly soluble in
seeds large amounts to ensure the traps are clear. Lithium is water reactive and in trace amounts needs more
:ce the reaction and quench the heat generated. Ammonium nitrate is soluble in water. Sodium caron or
m bicarbonate can be added to raise the pH. All can be flushed down the drain. I would expect that you are
19 about trace amounts of these compounds really as contamination and not pure product or byproduct.
.sures om my vendor all
l wi ll work em know.Remember water is the universal solvent and can work wonders. If I hear anything
s Materials Control Manager
3 Draper Hall
of Mass.
MA 01003
13 545-5122
427-4897
545-2600
field edu
3en Wood [ma lto wood@ D rt PMtonma gov]
londay,
ies M. Field
2: RE: waste liquid
lace down (new floors, new appliances, new paint job, etc.)so I am
Jim,the text below is from a DEA officer.This is the typical material found at a 'one-Pot" method meth lab. e
of the y property mo is basically her inot having vi the place
through the expense of hiring a contractor to do residual surface
ly pretty comfortable with he not having to go en question is whether or not the plumbing
for should b. (whiheseems to iS a sta a risk of some states).coAnop 9 there
n should be fluAnedhoughts you have would be helpful.Thanks again.contamination in drains from waste liquid that may
peen poured). Any question is simply about residual
5her note just to be clear is that any container with liquid has been removed,the q
rmination on floors, walls, drainage,
waste contained would be un-reacted pseudo-ephedrine,ammonium nitrate,lithium and ether. If disturbed after
g set ter. The gas
eethat is put off is going to be ammonia g seas well as others lithium
but the ammonia s will be the most
exposed the unreacted ost
A
ceable."
.m: James M. Fi em[ mdiItOU 011010 ehs.0 ass.edu]
at: Monday,
Ben Wood
bject; RE: waste liquid
Rosy Gantes
th testing(describe chemicals and how they are water soluble,why cleaning should be sufficient).
talk about flushing water
irming all surfaces cleaned with a product such as simple green of absorbent surfaces)
D HEPA vacuum attic space prior to cleansing surfaces(active drying
, MPH
Jorthampton Health Department
Street, Municipal Building
)ton, MA 01060
e:413-587-1213
)ffice:413-587-1214
587-1221
good northam tonmai ov
ww.northam tonma ov healthde t
1 is a public record except when it falls under one of the specific statutory
ions. )
Aimee Petrosky
Tuesday, October 12,2010 3:24 PM
Ben Wood
image001.jpg
Petrosky
Inspector
Northampton
:413-587-1217
L3-587-1221
Aimee Petrosky
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 3:27 PM
Ben Wood
Petrosky
Inspector
Northampton
413-587-1217
13-587-1221
rd
nts:
Charlene Shea [cshea @nohodpw.org1
Friday, October 22,2010 7:42 AM
Ben Wood
RE: Flushing sewer lines-Meth lab
cshea.vcf
Ben h
for the and inactive meth n lab poses almost no danger ltonthe about met sewer.
t app
rtment and plumbing has been used since the meth lab operation was active,
am reading the newspaper articles correctly, and most of the danger is from solvents
would have dissipated almost immediately with ventilation.
g the plumbing is
Tided. If there is a garbagge that it should be removed and
1 or thrown out (m Y
as I can tell, it is perfectly safe to flush the lines with plenty of cold water.
stewater plant is not able to treat any pharmaceuticals here and we probably get them
e time.
ne Shea
atment Coordinator
a•xw.dea.gov
Mr. Benjamin Wood
Director of Public Health
Town of Northampton
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
U. S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
New England Field Division
15 New Sudbury Street, Room E-400
Boston, MA 02203
OCT 20 2010
Dear Mr. Wood:
This letter is to advise you that on October 12,2010, a clandestine laboratory was located at 227
gs During of chemicals
Bridge
e edicovered. Known hazardous chem calsand ubstancewereseied by the Government and
have been disposed of pursuant to State and/or Federal laws.
This letter also serves as a warning that there may still be hazardous substances or waste products at
or on the property.
Steven W. Derr
Special Agent in Charge
New England Field Division
rod
Roxy Gantes[roxygantes @me.com]
Tuesday, October 19,2010 1:56 PM
Ben Wood
Aimee Petrosky
Re: caustic substance in attic
you again for all your efforts. I did retum the caustic substance toll-Mass about an hour ago.
15, 2010, at 4:17 PM, Ben Wood wrote:
ae and Roxy,
ntainer for the substance will be ready sometime after 12:00 on Monday.Aimee please call Jim Field at 545-5122
-427-4897 (cell)after to get the details on where to pick u will the het container.container. If you could then call Roxy's
Sarah Cunningham,
ime on Tuesday I can be over there to witness the bottle being put into the container and then Sarah or Roxy can
it to UMass.
s. Ben
Jood, MPH
tor, Northampton Health Department
/lain Street, Municipal Building
iampton, MA 01060
t Line: 413-587-1213
mat Office:413-587-1214
413-587-1221
1: h WO odC thamgtonma.eov_
//www northarnotonma ov)healthdept
mail is a public record except when it fails under one of the specific statutory
mptions. )
Krk
ra,SDI A8(a) Mal
Fed Company
April 20,20W
Get4nnto Keough.
487 Lowell Street
Andover,MA.01810
RECEIVED
APR 21 2009
BOARD OF H
RE:Air Quality Sampling- 487 Lowell Su=(MCE-682)
Dear Ms.Keough,
Or April 7,2009 Mill City Eavironmaval Corporation(MCE)prettied air quality sampling at 487 Lowell
Street,Andover,MA The purpose of the=Tinting was to dete®ine if any chemical residual remained after
the seizure of the Clandestine Drug lab in thdbasement.
A Mini Rae Photo Ionization Detector(PIS)was used to determine the presence of any volatile organic
con:OUnds(VOCs)in the house. The sampling was done primarily in the basement where
ere drains wore
had been set up. Sampling was also cond*icted in the kitchen area additionally,
checked for VOCs,as often disposal down dithns results in contaminants in The drain system.
All P11)leading in the basement,kitchen,ballroom's,and drains were 0.0 ppm. No VOCs were detected in
the house.
The basement area is well ventilated, as a11;the windows were broken during the seizure. Poly sheeting
amualy coven the windows,but is ripped in several places.
During the sampling,1 did note several chemical containers left in the basement area These materials were
spray bottles,road flares, silver pow and Multiple small aerosol bottles. Many of these items are know
ingredients in the drug manufacturing pmcO$
decontaminated.recommends that the chemical disposal area o c �Q be done accordance with all ablreg l The CEwol dbe hap 4M
to
applieableregulatl�. Mf-EreOtldbeh�p#t°provide acost estimate for these services
If youhave any questions,or require further MfoimatWn please feel free to contact me.
Regards,ril)a.
Julie T. Davies
CompbanceManager
cm Tom Carbone,Andover Board ofkeelth
116 John Street,Lowell,MA 01$52•Work(97S)654-6741 Fax(978)452-0688
vnaHraillcityenv.com