A TRULY INACCURATE AND AWFUL EDITORIAL

I've lost count of how many times over the years I've praised the presence of the Elmira Independent at public CPAC meetings. They used to be joined many years ago by the Woolwich Observer and the K-W Record. For many, many years the Independent have been going it alone, spending their reporter's time (Julie Sawyer) followed by their Editor's time (Gail Martin) at these meetings. Gail has been carrying the load for about the last two or three years I believe. There are some factual inaccuracies that need clearing up regarding Gail's Editorial today.

In the second paragraph Gail stated that Chemtura publicly criticized CPAC Chaiman Dan Holt at Woolwich Council by suggesting his breech of confidentiality was unprofessional. Chemtura did much more than that. They strongly implied that he bluntly was lying about the verification decision having been made. Secondly there was no breech of confidentiality and Chemtura knows that. As should Gail. She was present at both the Council meeting and at CPAC Monday night.

Third paragraph, no Chemtura were not within their rights to dispute Dan's account of the verification decision at the previous Council meeting, one week earlier. This is because Dan was being truthful and they knew that. They disputed Dan's comments because they had a plan in place to reverse the verification decision and Dan was unknowingly threatening it.

Approximately the seventh paragraph states that "...given the fact that the verification team is expected to reach an unanimous conclusion, Mclean's membership on the committee is unlikely to make a difference...". Good Lord that is completely wrong! Possibly half an hour of last Monday's meeting was spent discussing minority or dissenting opinions on the verification team. There will not be a unanimous decision unless it is as it was, namely no to verification. Verification team decisions absolutely do not have to be unanimous as stated by Mr. Masterson, VP. of CIAC.

Approximately the ninth paragraph suggests that yours truly has more influence with the young CPAC than is accurate. If current CPAC members don't trust former CPAC members and their relationship with Chemtura, this reflects among other things the rude behaviour of three or four former CPAC members towards the young CPAC. The old CPAC members noses are way out of joint because they were not reappointed to CPAC by the new Woolwich Council two years ago. The old CPAC members do indeed have a comfortable relationship with Chemtura. Chemtura would be ecstatic to be back dealing with the old versus the young CPAC. Read between the lines if necessary.

Pat Mclean is both a member of the current verification team and also a member of the National Advisory Panel of the Chemistry Industry Assoc'n of Canada (CIAC). She absolutely hid her membership on the NAP while she was CPAC Chair. It is of great importance that she has been appointed by Chemtura, through APT, to the verification team. Chemtura do not and have never appointed serious critics to their verification team.

I repeat that today's Elmira Independent Editorial is both disappointing and highly inaccurate.