DELEGATION TO WOOLWICH COUNCIL - June 28, 2011

The following was presented last evening by yours truly to Woolwich Council.
Good evening Mayor Cowan, Woolwich Councillors, Staff, media and fellow citizens:

Yesterday morning I had the privelege of attending a meeting here at the Township Building with Staff in regards to a site plan for a proposed expansion of an industrial facility. Not for the first time I have been very impressed with the ability of Mr. Scarfone to clearly explain planning process and procedure to me. He and Mr. Miller took me through the proposed site plans for Safety-Kleen in Breslau. From what I was told and shown via the blueprints, I do believe that Township Staff are doing their utmost, on behalf of both Woolwich and Waterloo Region residents , to maximize the benefits of this expansion to the public. The problem is this: Councillor Bauman may recall during his last term on Council, publicly stating that he would not approve construction upon contaminated lands. I do understand from Mr. Scarfone and Mr. Miller that removal and replacement of contaminated soils SPECIFICALLY & IMMEDIATELY beneath proposed buildings etc. will occur. Ignoring for the moment other environmental concerns that this action will not address, I wish to point out to Council the issue of vapour intrusion into buildings built upon or near contaminated sites. This relatively new phenomenon is receiving substantial attention south of the border and here in Waterloo Region has caused massive health problems and deaths in the Bishop St. community in Cambridge. Therefore I am advising Woolwich Council to not approve construction on or behind the Safety-Kleen site without fully informing themselves as to the potential consequences . I also offer my services in regards to waste disposal history, hydrogeological studies, and past and present discriptions of the Safety-Kleen site, including the Ministry of the Environment’s reference to this site as being “grossly contaminated”.
.....................................................................................
My next comments are in relation to CPAC’s participation in Chemtura’s “Responsible Care” reverification this summer. While I strongly applaud CPAC’s intent by nominating Dr. Dan Holt to this team, therein lies the rub. CPAC as the alleged legitimate representatives of the public should be the ones doing the appointing, not the nominating. Instead Chemtura Canada under the process of the Chemical Industry Association are in charge of who they appoint to examine themselves. Have we ever heard the expression of the fox guarding the henhouse? Let me be very clear here. I have absolute faith in Dr. Dan Holt. I have less than zero faith in one of Chemtura’s other alleged community representatives . This other appointee is a member of the National Advisory Panel of the Chemical Industry Association. She is and has been paid for her time and expenses by the Chemical Industry and she chose not to advise the public of this apparent conflict of interest while being involved as a past member of CPAC. She has in the past promoted and endorsed Chemtura receiving the “Responsible Care” designation and I personally feel that is outrageous. Therefore I ask both Woolwich Council and CPAC to either demand that both community representatives be appointed by them or in the alternative to advise Chemtura that Woolwich Township is not interested in being involved in rubber stamping or assisting Chemtura in their public relations exercises.


Alan Marshall Elmira Environmental Hazards Team