PORTSMOUTH- A resident of Little Harbor Road notified police last week of four separate sites of waste that had been dumped along the road between the Little Harbor Chapel and Creek Farm.

The first dump site is on city property and the other three are on land owned by the Society for Preservation of Forestry. The waste included items such as shingles, wood scraps and unopened paint cans. Some of the materials also contained asbestos.

According to Captain Janet Champlin of the Portsmouth Police Department, the violator could face littering charges. However, because of the presence of hazardous materials, the charges could also be more severe.

"We are still determining charges at this point," said Champlin. "Because some of the materials contained asbestos we involved Jason Page in the case."

According to Page, the Portsmouth zoning officer, a business card for contractor Justin Lounsbury was found among the debris.

"The business cards were a big finding," said Page.

Page said that Lounsbury had been contacted about the incident and said that he had hired waste management to clean up his materials. Lounsbury also said that he had piled up the hazardous materials at the construction site, left them and came back to find them gone.

According to Page, several of the materials found at the Little Harbor Road site match a set of stairs that Lounsbury was working at 267 Richards Ave.

Steve Cullinane, air pollution control engineer for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, said that the debris and asbestos will require a special disposal.

Another concern is that the dumping detracts from the aesthetics of the area.

Leslie Stevens, a resident of Park Street, who regularly walks Little Harbor Road, hates to see the waste.

"I love this area. It’s so beautiful," said Stevens. "I’m so glad that someone is following up on this."

This incident is not the first dumping that has occurred on Little Harbor Road.

Almost a year ago, police investigated a similar case. Again, residents spoke out against trash being dumped along the road.

One resident complained to the police that the dumping was happening almost daily.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Public Works Department holds a household hazardous waste collection, where people can dispose of materials like oil-based paints and household cleaners.

"People are able to dispose of stuff they might find under their kitchen sink," said Steve Parkinson, director of the Public Works Department.

The police are asking residents to report any dumping they witness. The current investigation is being handled by Officer Dean Outhouse of the Portsmouth Police Department.

"We urge the public any time they see materials illegally dumped to contact us," said Champlin.