OFF-SITE (ELMIRA) SOURCE REMOVAL OF DNAPLS

This is an incredibly big deal. Almost as important as this off Chemtura site source removal/remediation is the unholy trinity's (CRA/Chemtura/M.O.E.) shaping of it. Firstly they are pretending that it's all about NDMA cleanup. This is almost as believeable as their focusing on three groundwater contaminants while excluding one hundred others. This "shaping" if you will is all about the big lie. It's all about the continued government/corporate coverup here in Elmira. It's about the destruction of an incredibly valuable public resource namely groundwater, while painting a picture of a company and government Ministry which allegedly can and will restore it. It's about getting the taxpayer to pay for 50% of the cleanup caused by Uniroyal/Chemtura as well as other industries here in Elmira.

Conestoga Rovers have publicly called the permanent NDMA plume centred on well OW60 several blocks to the west of Chemtura as a "relic" plume. In my opinion that is just one more example of adjusting the science (and terminology) to your own needs. CRA and their buddies will never admit that there is another source of NDMA to the Elmira Aquifers other than Chemtura. They will also, just like the Ontario M.O.E., not back up their self serving "interpretations" with hard science or hard data. CRA have a history of failure in Elmira. They and their co-conspirators will of course never so admit. They have been bouncing around from one "cleanup" scenario to another for over twenty years. They word their Elmira experiment as dynamic relocations or dynamic pumping or whatever meaningless but scientific jargon they can get their hands on. They hide behind computer models and credentialism while assiduously avoiding real debate and discussion. The reality is that they were so far off track that the young Woolwich appointed CPAC picked up on it and have publicly called them on it. The fact that the old CPAC did little or nothing for the past decade simply reflected the sucessful (for Chemtura) political situation in Elmira for so long. Chemtura/CRA/MOE without admitting failure have responded by starting what they've been told is necessary, namely source removal. Interestingly they are starting with off-site source removal while leaving readily accessible sources on site. This is in agreement with the October 7, 1991 "sweetheart deal" between Uniroyal and the Ontario M.O.E. which idemnified Uniroyal from all liability for known contamination.

The history of the the unholy trinity in Elmira is the typical history of powerful interests in control of a crisis of their own making. It is the powerful and the winners of wars who write the history, not the honest or truthful. While their agreement to a major change in direction as demanded by CPAC and Woolwich Council is refreshing; serious concerns remain. They are refusing to acknowledge either past failures or the significance of what they are now proposing. Are they merely stalling for time waiting for a more propitious political/environmental attitude from either Council or CPAC? Are they preparing a war chest for the next municipal election and candidates more to their liking?

Chlorobenzene, mercaptobenzothiazole, petroleum hydrocarbons and so much more still lurk in the Elmira subsurface courtesy of Chemtura, Yara, Varnicolor, service stations and other industries. These chemicals are dissolved in groundwater, some adsorbed to aquitards, and some as tars, solids or non aqueous phase liquids. As my friend and colleague Rich Clausi likes to say the first step to solving a problem is admission that it exists. To date the unholy trinity still refuse to admit the existence of sub surface wastes in a variety of locations throughout Elmira. They are keeping their options open in a neverending attempt to save Chemtura money and to win the public relations battle. Truth isn't even on their list of priorities.