MORE CHEMTURA DECEIT AND DISHONESTY?

Several years back, Chemtura Elmira linked their *Responsible care verification fortunes with those of Chemtura West Hill (Scarborough). We were given some vague reason as to why this was appropriate but as CPAC had no control (or say) in the matter it wasn't debated. Nevertheless yours truly figured out the real reason was simply one of dilution. First of all Chemtura Elmira would have verification team members from both West Hill and Elmira. Although we would have an idea of the legitimacy and honesty (or not) of Elmira members none of us would know anything about the West Hill members. In other words were they legitmate, local residents who were actively involved or simply folks chosen either at random and offerred an expenses paid trip here and there or even chosen specifically as ringers that the company could count on?

Years later and Chemtura has both sucessfully completed their verifcation as well as on some occasions failing to do so as they must reverify every three years. I have read some of the verification reports and always come away with forebodings. When Chemtura have failed (ie. incomplete), the "reasons" have focused on community outreach. This I found both odd and very vague. Nowhere did I see the most obvious reasons for their failure and that would be a lack of honest communications with their local stakeholders. At the moment the lines are very clearly drawn for the first time in decades. On one side are Chemtura, their consultants CRA and the Ontario M.O.E.. On the other are CPAC and Woolwich Council. The Region seem to be in a state of flux watching how this is going to shake out.

We have been advised in the past that Chemtura West Hill was a model corporate citizen. Never has CPAC at public CPAC meetings been advised of problems with the community of West Hill. Yours truly has been on Google of late and I have to say that I seriously doubt any of the folks who have posted on-line their complaints of odours and health issues and a lack of communication, have ever been invited to sit on Chemtura's verifcation team. Neither has CPAC been advised of a release of sulphuric acid mist back in 2010 within the West Hill community. Nor were we advised that it occurred immediately before the noon hour and children at a local school were outside. Finally we weren't advised that the warning siren didn't go off until an hour after the release. Last but not least we weren't advised that almost two months ago Chemtura West hill were fined $187,500 for this illegal discharge.

We were not advised by Chemtura. We were not advised by the Ontario M.O.E. who attend CPAC meetings. We were kept in the dark and given the mushroom treatment, as usual. Today is yet another *Responsible Care verification team meeting in Elmira. Chemtura and the CIAC (Chemistry Industry Assoc'n of Canada) want to give Chemtura Elmira verification along with West Hill. Neither remotely deserve it. If you google either "good neighbours campaign" or "Chemtura West Hill" and do some looking you will find the details of the information I've presented in the preceding paragraph. CPAC (Citizens/Chemtura Public Advisory Committee) oppose this verifcation from a position of knowledge. This knowledge has come from many sources including I would like to think from yours truly.