THE FUTURE OF CPAC (CEPAC)

The following is a letter from Richard Clausi which has been sent to a few dedicated persons within Woolwich Township for the purpose of taking control and actually cleaning up our local environment. These "dedicated persons" include some locally, recently elected public officials in whom we have great confidence.

Gentlemen: I am re-sending my thoughts on the future of CPAC... I agree that the mandate should be expanded to include all contaminated groundwater as the problem is not solved unless it IS completely solved. You may distribute this. I suspect this is our last chance to get it right for future generations. Rich

Confidential Memo

Regarding: the future of CPAC

October 30/2010 reTX:December 5/2010

To: Interested Parties

From: Richard Clausi



I have quickly written a few thoughts regarding CPAC and its ultimate fate.



It is futile forming a committee if it merely marks time and does not accomplish a tangible purpose in a defined timeline.



My experience with the Varnicolour Committee (as co-chair), the early UniRoyal advisory committee (that negotiated with Hardy Wong over Sue Bryant’s dining room table) and the current SULCO CAP (I am an original member) gives me a unique perspective. The Varnicolour CAP was an activist committee focused on solving a problem—indeed, the citizens helped to author the control order that led to a major cleanup and the conviction of the owner. The SULCO CAP is a collegial committee focused on ensuring that the company operates safely and profitably. The manager, Ron Koniuch both welcomes and facilitates discussion and participation. Information is transparent.



I need to contrast this with the current CPAC—it is not a problem-solving organization but rather a “sitting” that marks time. The odd time of the day at which it meets is a departure from the times that the other ,more exemplary, CAPS meet—the time is designed to limit participation. The expulsion of the only fellow who reads, understands and queries the lop-sided reports (that is, Al Marshall) is a shame that symbolizes the dysfunctionality of the group. This committee has ceased to be effective or relevant.

In reviewing the shortcomings of the committee, it seems obvious that a clear mandate and set of goals need to be created to get this committee back “on-track”. The goals must be measurable and attainable.



I suggest the following terms of reference for CPAC. Every decision and action must be made with these goals in mind. Council must judge the committee and its members relative to how they move forward toward these goals.



1. The community must be safe! CPAC must ensure that the company operates safely AND, in the event of an accident, uses the mechanisms set up to protect citizens both immediately and effectively. Our call-out system and Siren system are designed to protect citizens; however, recently we had a first-hand demonstration of how a good plan can fail if someone forgets to report the actual event. In the time lag in reporting the emission, the company exposed many people to their emissions. For example, the EDSS football team was on the football field experiencing emission smell and taste at 3:25 pm yet the incident was not reported for hours. This speaks to both the lethargic response to a crisis and the irrelevance of the CPAC in this event. Clearly, CPAC must be an active part of CAER and the members of CPAC need to be on an immediate-notify list in the event of an accident. Indeed, the SULCO members are notified of shutdowns and emission problems. CHEMTURA and CPAC must aspire to these standards.



2. WATER Quality must be restored in the time line stated by the M of E. A target has been set that,to this date, is unreachable. We need a defined set of steps that will reach the target, and the time-lines must be defined; for example, the following timetable would be reasonable…



1. Within 5 years, that is by December 2015, the following table lists maximum concentrations with the means to achieve them….



2. within 10 years, that is by December 2020, the following table lists maximum concentrations…..



3. within 15 years, that is by December 2025….etc.



All decisions by CPAC would be judged by this “yardstick”: how does this action or decision support the timetables given? Membership in CPAC needs to be adjusted accordingly to account for failings in reaching targets.



3. Air Quality must be reliable. Control of emissions must be monitored and reports must be accurate and transparent and public. In order for reports to be accessible to the general public, an executive summary that defines the contaminants in the air in a straight-forward manner is mandatory. A schedule of contaminants and violations may be necessary. Polluted air is not to be tolerated in Elmira .

Clearly, this standard must also apply to all industries in the area.



4. Ground contamination: caused over many decades must be remediated and ,if possible, removed. “Simple” treatment of groundwater is not enough. A waste building (“the mausoleum”) is on site and ready for the next phase of excavation and clean-up. There are precedents in both the work done earlier by Uniroyal as well as the cleanup at Varnicolours’ main site (
Union Street
) and storage site ( lot 91). Those past profits that included money that should have gone to safe production and disposal must now be re-invested in repairing the negligence of the past. A clear timetable needs to be established.



In all matters, the gathered data and the actions of the committee need to be transparent, with no secret meetings or reports or side-deals. This means that all meetings must be documented with minutes and decisions easily available to anyone who wishes to see them. In a similar fashion, council must treat this committee as a regular township standing committee. This committee is not an in-camera exercise because the well-being and health of citizens must be a public policy discussion conducted in the public forum. Members of the committee should operate out of the town hall facilities, be accessible to the public and be accountable for their actions to council.



It is all a worthless exercise unless within a defined time period we are able to solve our water, ground, air and, indeed, the committee itself, problems.

Job One is to set the parameters, then follow the plan.




"MADE IN CANADA, EH"

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