CHEMTURA CONVICTED FOR POLLUTION AGAIN

I've honestly lost track of how many pollution convictions Uniroyal/Chemtura have received over the years. If I had to guess I would expect around a half dozen. What I do know is that none of their convictions have been for their most serious offenses. Nothing directly related to the destruction and shutdown of the entire water supply for Elmira . Today's Waterloo Region Record advises us of their latest conviction and fine. The title is "Chemtura fined $150,000". This was for the release of a compound known as BLE-25 back on September 27, 2010. This compound contains both Diphenylamine and Acetone both relatively low in toxicity, solvents. Chemtura are claiming that they have changed the design of "pressure vents". These pressure vents are better known as rupture discs and are intentionally designed to rupture under pressure and allow the contents of otherwise sealed tanks to vent to the atmosphere. In other words to save greater damage to their facilities and property they share the contents of an overheated and or overpressurized chemical batch with their Elmira neighbours. This is very old technology and desperately needs to be upgraded.

Regarding the photograph of Mayor Todd Cowan looking at his damaged car after the release of chemicals, I need to pardon the pun, clear the air. Todd knows this as do several others from back on September 27, 2010. I was out that next morning walking the neighbourhood and talking to and with Jeff Merriman of Chemtura. Todd was running for mayor and showed me the damage on his car and others parked on Union St. near Chemtura. I then went home and phoned a reporter I know at the K-W Record (Waterloo Region Record). After listening to my information he asked me if I knew anyone personally affected by the damage. I immediately gave him Todd Cowan's name and phone numbers. Todd was contacted by the Record and a photographer dispatched to take the picture that was published in the Record both today and over a year and a half ago. This extremely timely boost to Todd's election campaign, coming only a couple of weeks before the election, may have helped him get over the top. This was but one of the reasons I was so outraged and disgusted with his behaviour seven months after the election when he kicked me off of the new CPAC. Not only was his response to my honest criticism of CPAC delays way over the top but his lack of appreciation for my efforts to help him get elected was stunning. Since getting over my initial disgust and anger I have worked very hard to try and be objective towards our new Mayor. When he screws up environmentally I say so here and when he accomplishes good things such as the ratification of the CPAC Resolution, you will also read about that here. Furthermore recently he has been the recipient of much criticism around the hiring of an underqualified person to be an assistant to himself and Council. Those criticisms are probably legitimate but further personal attacks and attempts to magnify the issue beyond that are both dishonest and just plain underhanded. I want nothing to do with that kind of nastiness. If you have a beef with our current Mayor then at least be honest and direct to the point.