Published: July 03, 2008 12:38 pm            

Propane tank alert

The message from Mark W. Findley, intelligence officer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, is clear — any blue or greenish residue around valve areas of portable propane tanks is a warning sign to not use the tank.

According to a press release from Findley, methamphetamine producers are getting propane tanks from exchanges at various stores and emptying them of propane before filling them with anhydrous ammonia (used in meth recipes). When they are finished with the tank, they are returning them to the store.

The meth makers who do this are not only producing a dangerous drug but a dangerous situation for average propane users. According to Findley, anhydrous ammonia is corrosive and weakens the structure of the tank and can be dangerous when mixed with propane and hooked up to grills, etc.

If someone feels he or she may have a contaminated tank, Findley urges individuals not to touch the tank and to notify the fire department or police.

The Effingham Fire department has not had any reports of contaminated tanks in Effingham.