Thanks to all for their thoughts and input. I think we're on top of the situation as best we can be.
Big thanks to Heather for her diligence and care for the karst and in particular Whirlpool! Jules Sent from my iPhone On Sep 28, 2009, at 5:10 PM, Louise Power <[email protected]> wrote: Unfortunately we find these things all the time on public land in the west. Our HazMat Coordinator has recommended the following procedures when we see something either at the office or in the field (some of this information is Bureau- or location- specific, but good info nevertheless): SUSPICIOUS SUBSTANCE / BIOLOGICAL - CHEMICAL A suspicious substance might be in the form of a powder, a vial, or a container with a label indicating that a biological or chemical substance is inside. FIRST ON SCENE - Do not touch or move the object Remove yourself to a safe area Direct others away from area (secure the scene) If near the office, Building Maintenance will initiate the shutdown of the HVAC system. Notify Designated Official (DO) If you have inadvertently touched the substance: Wrap the contaminated areas in anything (coat, paper, trash bag.) Verbally direct others away from the area. Move to the shower and decontamination as quickly as possible. Notify (or have someone else contact) the following individuals: 1. Designated Official - Dispatch - 911 2. Law Enforcement 3. Hazardous Materials Coordinator 4. District Safety Manager Employees - Assist as needed or requested. May need to keep others away from scene or make the contact to law enforcement. NOTE: Based on lessons learned at other Federal Offices, employees will likely be asked to stay in place while an initial evaluation of the situation is taking place. This serves one very important purpose: to limit the spread of the potential contamination. Until it can be determined who may have come in contact with the substance and how far the potential contamination has spread, employees will need to remain in place. > Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:29:15 -0500 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > CC: [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Austin Update - Whirlpool Cave Preserve - CAVER > Attention Needed > > Just for clarification- > > They aren't actually making the meth on-site. The 7gal Aquatainers are > being used to cook meth elsewhere, then they bring the jugs to the > Whirlpool Preserve to dispose of the waste material left after they > drain the drugs out. The jugs contain a crystaline substance that is > extremely toxic if you come in contact with it. If you see these blue > jugs, DO NOT TOUCH them! Although the exterior of the container isn't > harmful, the contents inside can seriously harm you, even if all you > do is open the container and look inside, the fumes could hurt you as > well. > > I've been out there twice this month with the authorities (5 > containers found the first time, 1 the second time). I've been in > contact with a Seargent from Austin Police Department (I've got his > cell on speed dial now), and they are taking more measures > security-wise. (I'm not at liberty to say, since this isn't a secure > email). > > > > > > On 28/09/2009, Jon Cradit <[email protected]> wrote: > > Diana, > > Take Bill with you in his "cowboy fire-tights". > > That will panic any meth head in the dark. > > But seriously, please don't approach anyone you see unless you recognize > > them as cavers. > > Call a professional, let them do the approaching. > > Also, it might be a good idea if you are a caver and you are there into the > > night place your bat sticker so it can be seen. > > > > > > Jon > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Diana Tomchick [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 1:33 PM > > To: Jules Jenkins > > Cc: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Austin Update - Whirlpool Cave Preserve - CAVER > > Attention Needed > > > > > > Do the authorities really believe that it's safe for the average > > citizen to be wandering around at night on the Whirlpool Preserve > > looking for people making meth? Doesn't sound like the smart thing to > > do if you ask me. > > > > Diana > > > > On Sep 28, 2009, at 11:20 AM, Jules Jenkins wrote: > > > > > IMPORTANT Message, PLEASE READ > > > Cavers, > > > > > > If you use Whirlpool Cave Preserve in Austin. If you visit the > > > cave, if you live in the vicinity of the cave, Convict Hill/ Mopac/ > > > Wm Cannon area. Please swing by and take a walk around the > > > preserve. We are currently experiencing a problem on site with > > > portable 'meth labs'. > > > > > > Over the past couple of months several 5 gallon, blue, square, > > > containers with 2 spigots, have been found on the preserve, just > > > under the overpass of Latta Lane. > > > The authorities have been notified and the materials verified as > > > possible meth lab setups. > > > TCMA preserve manager and volunteers have been working w/Austin > > > Police Dept. to address the situation. > > > > > > The APD officers patrol, by drive-by but, we're the ones down, > > > walking around the preserve and in the cave. That's where we come in. > > > > > > The cave has NOT been endangered! > > > > > > But, if you're in the area, stop by if you can. Walk down to the > > > cave. Most of the containers have been found in the grassy area > > > just to the left of the WP sign, as you're facing the sign. The rest > > > were discovered under the overpass, which is on the trail to the cave. > > > > > > If you see anything other than the obvious cars parked under the > > > overpass for cave trips, anything suspicious if you drive by late in > > > the evening, especially. > > > PLEASE call, Jules Jenkins, 512-289-1336. > > > > > > Thanks very much, > > > > > > jules jenkins > > > tcma manager, Whirlpool Preserve > > > > > > > > > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > Diana R. Tomchick > > Associate Professor > > University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center > > Department of Biochemistry > > 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. > > Rm. ND10.214B > > Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. > > Email: [email protected] > > 214-645-6383 (phone) > > 214-645-6353 (fax) > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > > > > > > > -- > Go find out! > -Heather Tuček > UT Grotto > NSS 59660 > (512) 773-1348 > [email protected] > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] >
