TROUBLE IS BREWING

Chemtura have certainly had concerns since the night of the last municipal election when the status quo as represented by either Bill Strauss or Pat Mclean got thrown out on its' ear. Both Pat and Bill had their strnegths and weaknesses but most importantly they were known quantities. Todd Cowan was not. Sure enough six months later the new CPAC was announced and yours truly was the only familiar face in the deck. A familiar face which had long ago made it very clear to Chemtura that it had no respect for game players and bullshit artists.

Nine years ago CPAC unanimously passed the July 2003 Request For Action. It was a complete turnaround from neverending DNAPL "investigations" and hydraulic containment. And then nothing. For four years I cajoled CPAC to push Chemtura hard. A comprehensive long range plan was still going around in circles just like the new DNAPL "investigations". Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment totally and completely ignored CPAC's Request For Action. Worse yet so did CPAC.

The old CPAC had come to some sort of an accomodation with Chemtura. Hindsight being 20/20 I now know that Susan Bryant and Pat Mclean knew about the "Sweetherat Deal". Susan had received a copy of the October 7, 1991 Settlement Agreement when it was signed between Uniroyal and the M.O.E.. She had not shared that information at countless UPAC/CPAC public meetings over the years. Neither of course had the company or the M.O.E..

Fast forward to today. This young CPAC are not beholden due to past secret deals or arrangements to anyone. Their purpose is to get Elmira's drinking water restored. Over the last year it has become clearer and clearer that they are neither intimidated nor in awe of the array of high priced "talent" that either the M.O.E. or Chemtura can throw at them. Both Chemtura and the M.O.E. have been found wanting. They have been unprepared to engage in meaningful debate and they have been missing in action repeatedly when asked very straightforward questions. The history and politics have also become much clearer and the young CPAC are aware of the pitfalls that the old one fell into. To date I would describe the support of the new Woolwich Council as primarily positive. Yes they have stumbled particularily early in the game. However they themselves appear to have overcome earlier mistakes and are appropriately supporting the direction of the young CPAC. Our Council unanimously endorsed the young CPAC's Resolution this spring requesting a greater emphasis on source removal and expressing dissatisfaction with the reliance on hydraulic containment to clean up the aquifers.

There will be pushback from Chemtura and it's already started. Woolwich Council must not make any CPAC/Chemtura decisions without hearing both sides. Chemtura have publicly stated that they have no further plans for on-site remediation. The old CPAC backed down. This one will not. Woolwich Council prepare yourselves for the inevitable storm. You picked this CPAC and you gave them their mandate. Now you must continue your support for CPAC and for achieving drinking water in Elmira by 2028.