MOE REFUSED TO TEST THE SEDIMENTS IN THE MARTIN POND IN 2013

Gail Martin wrote an article in the Elmira Independent on May 9, 2013 titled "Creek sample shows increased DDT levels". The sampling in various locations in Canagagigue Creek took place last November 2012. There were some surprises to say the least. Neither the MOE nor CPAC members were expecting any results in the 12,000 to 13,000 ppb. concentrations. This is all rather ironic as George Karlos of the MOE had suggested a year ago or so that this sampling would put the community's fears and concerns to rest. Hardly as both soil and sediment criteria are thousands of times lower than these numbers.

Also of concern was the MOE neatly sidestepping sampling within the Martin man-made in-ground swimming pool that has been used for generations of children. The MOE claimed that there was a geotextile membrane inside the pond that sealed it. In this case I can advise from first hand observation that indeed there is some sort of geotextile membrane on the inside of the pool. The problem is this. While the membrane may reduce sediments and soils from the interior of the pond from entering it, the membrane does absolutely nothing for suspended sediments entering the pond directly from the pipe which runs via gravity flow between the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm and the interior of the pond. Dr. Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach and myself saw this pipe and saw it running when we had permission from the Martin family to sample the Stroh Drain etc. on their property along with MBN Engineering & Consulting, who were working with CPAC. Hence it is more than likely that both dioxins and DDT would or could be found in this swimming pond despite the MOE's refusal to test it. Also of interest is the fact that now in August 2019 more than six years later, while there has been more biased and unscientific testing, to date not a shovel full of contaminated sediments or creek or floodplain soils have been removed. Par for the course in Elmira, Woolwich Township, Ontario.