HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT TOO

The October 1991 "sweetheart deal" gave Uniroyal Chemical what they wanted namely a cap on how much they had to clean up despite wording suggesting that liability for "new" (i.e. currently unknown) contamination could still be assigned to them. In exchange for the since proven nonsensical position that Uniroyal and Uniroyal alone had contaminated the Elmira Aquifers, the M.O.E. gave them a "cleanup" that they could live with. Also the M.O.E. were let off the culpability hook with this agreement as the ending of the Environmental Appeal Board hearings stopped Uniroyal's upcoming testimony against them in its tracks. Since then both Nutrite and Varnicolor Chemical have been proven to have contributed toxic chemicals to the municipal aquifers. Nutrite contributed ammonia while Varnicolor at the minimum contributed an even half dozen different solvents as indicated in the Risk Assessment presented publicly in Woolwich Council Chambers in May 2016. Most likely Varnicolor contributed NDMA as well although M.O.E. corruption and collusion has kept the evidence of that very quiet.There were and are of course even more contributors who operated negligently all under the umbrella of Elmira's mini chemical valley on the east side of town (Union St.). To date all efforts to cover them up have been successful although increasing numbers of citizens are beginning to ask questions.

The big problem with coverups is that they are inevitably lies and if even one person knows the truth then others will as well. The goal is to undermine and minimize the voice of those in the know so that the vast majority of citizens are kept in the dark as much as possible. Even if they can't keep the coverup intact forever, time is their friend. Guilty parties retire and guilty parties pass on. The main goal is not only self-preservation of one's credibility and reputation but also to maintain the status quo. This is why politicians and other authority figures in the know go along with these lies. They all are constantly trying to reduce public knowledge and understanding of the extent of incompetence, negligence, and corruption that pervades our allegedly democratic system. Hence hiding Ministry of Environment (M.O.E.) culpability in the Elmira Water Crisis is a priority.