TODAY'S CPAC MEETING

I'm calling today the last Chemtura Public Advisory Committee meeting in that it's the last one under the auspices of the old Council. The following dates were advertised: Monday December 6 (this Monday) Lions Hall re: Chemtura spill of Sept. 27/10, January 24/11 next CPAC meeting and finally Jan 31/11 for an O.M.B. mediation meeting regarding the proposed Hawk Ridge Homes subdivision.
Yours truly presented a report describing a brief history of groundwater contamination in Europe in the 1800's due to in ground waste pits as well as lagooning of liquid wastes. Also described was the history of synthetic dyestuffs. This ties in neatly with Elmira's contamination due to the former presence of Borg Textiles in town.
The M.O.E. reported their results in a search for groundwater results from Lot 91, the former Varnicolor Chemical site at the east end of Oriole Parkway. The Chair of CPAC expressed her disappointment in the overall lack of results and monitoring of the wells on site. What I found incredibly disappointing was the Ministry's claim that they could not find any Control Order dealing with Lot 91. I had my copy with me and loaned it to the CPAC secretary during the break for her to photocopy for the M.O.E. staff. My disappointment is in the fact that I believe the new (to CPAC) Ministry staff when they categorically state that they made a serious search for any such document and were unsucessful. Clearly both institutional memory as well as filing systems are sadly lacking.
We also received an update from Chemtura in regards to their continuing efforts to clean up the results of their release of BLE back on September 27/10. John Scarfone of Woolwich Township indicated that the developers for Hawk Ridge Homes are hoping to get their project back on the tracks and have referred the project to the Ontario Municipal Board to do so. The Board are holding a Mediation session between Township Staff and the developers on January 31/11.

Of some concern to me is a Certificate of Approval amendment that Chemtura are proposing. Despite clearly being a "lame duck" committee, similar to the old Woolwich Council which approved the Kuntz/Jigs Hollow Pit last Tuesday, CPAC gave their blessing to this amendment which will reduce the amount of chemical monitoring in Canagagigue Creek. Their may indeed be some merit or not in this proposal but clearly it is one more concession being given to Chemtura and needs to be looked at carefully by the incoming CPAC members.

Odour complaints are on the upswing and these were again described by Shannon Purves Smith to CPAC. Apparently nights and weekends have been particularily bad this past summer and fall.