INTERESTING AGENDA ITEMS FOR THURSDAY'S CPAC MEETING

The Agenda for this Thursday evening's 6 pm. Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) is out and there are some really interesting items on it. Firstly there will be a presentation about the Great lakes Protection Act by Mr. John Jackson, the Program Director of Great lakes United. Chemtura will be presenting information on their excavation of 125 drums from the south-west corner of their property last summer. This should include photographs and lab analyses of both soil and as well contents found in any of the drums. It is a tad strange to me that these excavations have taken a year to get to CPAC. Chemtura are also supposed to be presenting their choice of Remediation Option for removal of Dioxins and DDT on the south-east corner of their site (GP1 & GP2). To date they have made their preferences very clear as they wish to maintain their legacy of world class talk and third world action.

Following Chemtura's presentation, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (M.O.E.) will grace us with their take on the environment including details on the upcoming Varnicolor Chemical excavations. This of course is the former site on Union St. in Elmira and we were advised last fall that 200 more tonnes of contaminated soil will be removed. Keep clearly in mind that these excavations are taking place twenty years AFTER the original remediation which included massive (shallow) excavations and installation of a pump and treat system. Oh gosh does this mean that even after source removal that hydraulic containment (pump & treat) wasn't up to the job? Sure seems so. Could this be relevant to any other contaminated sites in Elmira? Further keep in mind that these excavations we've been advised will also be shallow only. This is the big coverup involving this site. Twenty years ago yours truly was new to contaminated sites and more importantly, new to polluted politicians and bureaucrats. The Control Order on this site was sold to us with a full areal and VERTICAL investigation required. The vertical didn't happen and it didn't happen intentionally courtesy of the M.O.E.'s ongoing coverup and collusion with numerous other parties. The M.O.E. will also be advising CPAC regarding downstream testing of DDT and Dioxins. My expectation is that the M.O.E. will attempt to bolster Chemtura's inadequate cleanup by making promises about more downstream testing along with vague references to 'further" work at GP1 &2 "if required". It's typical M.O.E. operating procedure and they have proven that their word is meaningless.

CPAC will be raising the RWDI Peer Review that deals with a Site Wide Air Certificate of Approval. This item has been ongoing literally for several years and the vast bulk of it has taken place OUTSIDE public CPAC meetings. This includes the former CPAC as well as the current one. For that reason I believe that the process is grossly comprimised and strongly suggest that CPAC advise both Chemtura and the M.O.E. that they are neither a rubber stamp nor are they interested in being involved in such a peripheral way. Last but not least CPAC have again put their proposed SWAT team on the Agenda for discussion. I don't think that it's any big secret (hope not) thus I can advise that this Soil, Water, Air Technical team membership has been offerred to among others, Rich Clausi, Dr. Henry Regier and myself. Hope to see you at CPAC in Council Chambers this Thursday 6 pm..