MORE ON TUESDAY EVENING'S WOOLWICH COUNCIL MEETING

 

Following is a copy of my Delegation spoken to and e-mailed to Woolwich councillors afterwards:

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF MY REMARKS TO WOOLWICH COUNCIL ON SEPT. 23/25

The Montrose Chemical Co. is located in Los Angeles, California. They produced DDT which resulted in a plume of dissolved chlorobenzene, free phase chlorobenzene DNAPL and a benzene plume. DDT was also transported both by chlorobenzene DNAPL as well as by the dissolved in groundwater, chlorobenzene. Early attempts at a remediation plan of pump & treat resulted in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculating cleanup times of between 3,100 years and 5,800 years. Here in Elmira our polluter and their political supporters have found a different solution. Basically despite all evidence you simply deny, deny and further deny the presence of both off-site DNAPL by the Howard St. Water Tower as well as on-site DNAPL . Recently according to the Minutes of the September 12/24 TRAC meeting the presence of DNAPL by the water tower and pumping well W4 was admitted, literally after decades of denial. Hints are beginning to emerge regarding DNAPL from Uniroyal also gravity flowing onto the Nutrite/Yara property.

Both DDT and dioxins entrained in DNAPL and dissolved in chlorobenzene have left the former Uniroyal site and spread through Elmira. One issue is that despite decades of denials that either DDT or Dioxins will dissolve in water, the fact is that they can dissolve at a very low concentration. What is very concerning with Dioxins is that because their drinking water standard is so much lower than even NDMA it is possible to have Dioxins in groundwater exceeding the Ontario Drinking Water Standards (ODWS).

Other issues abound. For example while we know the drinking water standard for NDMA as the sole contaminant in water, what is that standard when mixed with chlorobenzene in the water? What are both the standards for these toxic chemicals when mixed with another fifty or one hundred toxic chemicals? There are no such standards despite the obvious health implications. The drinking water standard for Dioxin is 15 parts per quadrillion ( 15 ppq) in clean water. Again what is the standard when Dioxin is mixed in with Uniroyal Chemical's other chemicals?

I have some advice for Woolwich Council. If you continue doing exactly what you've been doing and that is following the advice and lead of the corporation currently responsible for the badly damaged aquifers and for the ongoing damage to the Canagagigue Creek, you will be in the same position in another 36 years. This goes for their fellow travellor the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MECP) as well. Both bodies have turned a blind eye to the long term effects of DNAPLS as well as of DDT and Dioxins in and around both ground and surface water.

Alan Marshall

CPAC & Elmira EH-Team

Recent (between 3-12 months ago) admissions by Lanxess, Woolwich Twn. and the MECP after decades of brutal and blatant lying include:

DNAPLS were/are? present at former pumping well W4 beside the Howard St. Water Tower.

Dioxins and DDT are still eroding from on-site Uniroyal/Lanxess creekbanks .

Residual DNAPL still exists by on-site (SW corner) observation well OW88-19

Six to eight other locations/companies in Elmira (near First St., Union St., Howard Ave.) handled or still handle chlorobenzene on their properties

Varnicolor Chemical did help pollute the Elmira drinking water aquifers with chlorinated solvents.

Our political authorities at all levels have accepted and permitted this gross deception of the public and coverup of the truth. Does anyone honestly believe that care and control of further cleanup should remain in their hands?