FREE SERVICES WERE OFFERRED TO ELMIRA PUMP (formerly Varnicolor site)

A year and a half ago I offerred my knowledge and data to a relative and employee of the current owner of the former Varnicolor Chemical site on Union St. in Kitchener. Then just this last spring I contacted the owner of this company namely Jim Germann. He owns and operates Elmira Pump which now has a Howard ave. address. Mr. Germann was concerned as to my interest in the site. I attempted to reassure him that my concerns dealt with possible contamination to the Municipal Aquifer caused by the former owner Varnicolor Chemical. I also advised him of my lack of confidence in the Ontario M.O.E. to appropriately deal with the situation.

I was informed that Elmira Pump had retained the services of a hydrogeologist. The name was confirmed by Amy Shaw of the M.O.E. at the last CPAC meeting. That was an excellent idea however I truly wonder as to how much information he was provided by the M.O.E.. There are multiple hydrogeological reports from Canviro, Golder Assoc. and the M.O.E. themselves. Some of these go back to 1986. Secondly there is tons of soil and groundwater data and history that never got into any hydrogeological reports. In a nutshell I suspect that Mr. Germann and his hydrogeologist may have been given the mushroom treatment by the M.O.E..

Courtesy of what I believe are inaccuracies from Jeff Merriman of Chemtura concerning a large petroleum hydrocarbon detection a few feet off the old Varnicolor site; I have been doing some more research. It turns out that numerous high concentration chemicals found in both the soil and groundwater of Varnicolor over twenty years ago; indeed are petroleum hydrocarbons. Some of the concentrations are astonishing. These chemicals are above and beyond the normal and usual BTEX compounds namely Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes.

What is also of concern is the depth of some of these findings. We have been advised recently at CPAC by the M.O.E. that the top four feet of ground was removed from the Union St. site. These readings begin at five feet and go down only as deep as they tested which was twelve feet. At the twelve foot depth the concentrations, quantity and variety of chemicals are astonishing. Jeff Merriman claimed that the petroleum hydrocarbon reading at CH70D was Chlorobenzene. Chlorobenzene is not a petroleum hydrocarbon and indeed was tested for on it's own and detected at a different concentration.

What also concerns me is where these readings and concentrations were taken. Despite the very best efforts of the M.O.E. twenty plus years ago, a buried tanker and septic tank hooked up to a floor drain were discovered. The appearance was of a very sophisticated liquid toxic waste dumping system. All parties of course denied that. Twenty plus years ago Rich Clausi, Ted Oldfield, myself and APTE had zero groundwater and toxic waste experience. Since that time yours truly has learned, kept his eyes and ears open and always known that further information would slowly come out that would clarify the Varnicolor mysteries. These recently discovered petroleum hydrocarbons at CH70D are either from Chemtura/Uniroyal which puts the lie to their recent claims that only Chlorobenzene, NDMA and Ammonia are in the off-site aquifers OR they are from the former Varnicolor and most likely were never disclosed to Elmira Pump when they purchased the site. They could also be from both sites. The old Varnicolor site needs to be cleaned properly not just given the M.O.E.'s usual rubber stamp of approval. It should not however be at the expense of Elmira Pump. They are not one of the guilty parties in this coverup.