THE ISSUE WITH ALTERNATIVE #2 FOR THE ELMIRA BY-PASS

 

First of all at the moment I believe that Alternative #2 is the one that starts at the very south end of Elmira and swings east and then north running upwards towards Uniroyal/Lanxess although on the east side of the Uniroyal/Lanxess property line with the Stroh farm. .  Now of course the Region or anybody else with influence can change these Alternative numbers at will or even alter the routes at will. We the people have only token opportunities to even express our opinions much less have any power whatsoever to make real changes.

The issue for this Alternative is that part or all of the new roadway will be built on contaminated lands. They are of course contaminated by Uniroyal Chemical and like much of their contamination whether on or off site they have done their best to scope it and minimize it from day one. One example is their denial for decades that any DNAPLS (Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids) existed off their site . A little over a year ago they admitted to the DNAPL that ended up beside the Howard St. Water Tower in the Minutes of a September 2024 TRAC meeting. They also have denied that Uniroyal toxic liquids flowed onto the Stroh property for years until they did some 5.9 inches (15 cm.) excavations on the west side of the Stroh property in 2019 and removed some DDT and Dioxins. They also did a very few sediment test samples in the Stroh Drain and found Dioxins thirty times higher than the federal health standard. Nothing however was removed.

Without or until a proper and honest investigation of both the Stroh and Martin properties occurs there is no sure way of knowing exactly how serious this contamination is. The companies 36 year history of  manipulating and massaging any and all data to support their position has been disgraceful. Their failure to achieve the mandated cleanup of Elmira's groundwater also does not give one confidence that they are on top of things.  Leaving these toxins behind will simply guarantee the continued ongoing migration of them both downstream in the Canagagigue Creek and further into the Grand River. Why do we keep giving the corporate polluters and their toothless regulator (MECP) opportunity after opportunity to continue their pretend cleanup?