FOLLOWUP TO PUBLIC CPAC MEETING PLUS DNAPL UPDATE

As can be determined by looking at literally decades of Ministry of the Environment Progress Reports, they have clearly indicated that they have as yet not accepted a final disposition in regards to Dense Non-aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL). This important, non-approval if you will, which has been documented since the mid 90's, was confirmed Thursday evening by Steve Martindale of the M.O.E.. My deepest appreciation also goes to Ron Campbell and Graham Chevreau of CPAC for their clear and blunt public statement that they and CPAC also have not accepted that DNAPL contamination on the Chemtura site has been settled.

There were two new guests in the gallery last evening namely a representative for M.P.P. Michael Harris and a Dr. Peter Strawbridge from close to Keswick, Ontario. Dr. Strawbridge is involved with an abandoned, contaminated site and wished to inform himself further regarding dioxin contaminated soil cleanups. He posed a number of questions to Chemtura in regards to their recent scraping of one foot of dioxin/DDT contaminated soil from GP1 & 2.

Ron Campbell responded to Dwight Este's (Chemtura) presentation in particular to a reference Dwight made regarding clear expectations and criteria. These expectations are part of the *Responsible Care ethic and Ron agreed that they were important in regards to the cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers.

We were told by Jeff Merriman that the grossly contaminated soil with Dioxins /DDT from GP1 & 2 was actually disposed of in a landfill as non-hazardous waste. How incredibly asinine is that? My understanding is that a composite soil sample is taken from numerous locations and then tested for both toxicity and for its' ability to leach from the soil. A final test might even be the so called "slump test". This simply puts the soil into a cone , the cone removed and then a measurement is taken as to how much the pile of soil slumps or falls over. Dear God and we wonder why the earth is being poisoned.

Seventeen months ago CRA/Chemtura advised that they were planning a dramatic change in the off-site cleanup of groundwater. This change included ISCO or In-Situ Chemical Oxidation. Currently Chemtura are doing pilot tests and have as yet not got a date for the actual ISCO remediation to begin. They also advised that the tripling of pumping of off-site groundwater could begin by September 2015. George Karlos of the M.O.E. promised to advise CPAC as to how ISCO has worked on Trichloroethylene in Cambridge, Ontario downstream of the former Northstar Aerospace. Once again Ron Campbell put Chemtura on the spot by asking if ISCO works off site how about using it on-site as well. In between gurgling, strangling sounds from Chemtura's side of the table I believe I heard Jeff state that that was an interesting question.

Well Well Well ! Now I know why CRA, Chemtura and the Ontario M.O.E. were so absolutely chickenshit (oops did I write that out loud?) about producing Jaimie Connolly's May 2, 2008 letter. While I haven't yet figured out his rationale it does appear that Jaimie is less enthusiastic than he was about free phase DNAPL having flowed from Chemtura's M2 area onto Yara's (Nutrite) property. The aforementioned partners in pollution felt that they could deny Jaimie's original position without producing the proof despite the letter having been sent to the old CPAC Chair Pat Mclean.

The young, revitalized CPAC now have the letter and what Jaimie gave away with one hand he's more than made up for with the other. Jaimie confirms exactly what I said Thursday evening to CPAC & Chemtura about DNAPL of varying viscosities (thickness). Essentially the less thick, more fluid DNAPL has probably flown the coop and is now in a stable location whereas the thicker, more viscous DNAPL could still be slowly on the march downslope. Of even greater significnace is Jaimie's overall assessment of the cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers. Once again this hydrogeologist from the Ontario M.O.E. has stated exactly what CPAC stated in their spring 2012 Resolution namely that hydraulic containment (pump & treat) on its' own is not adequate to the job. Source removal or as Jaimie says reduction in source concentrations is necessary to sucessfully remediate the aquifers. Special thanks goes to Corinne Shuh of Woolwich Township for providing this extraordinary document yesterday. The next CPAC meeting is 6 pm. Thursday April 24, 2014.