PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS IN ELMIRA'S GROUNDWATER

Traces of petroleum hydrocarbons were in Elmira's south wellfield back in 1989. Massive quantities were in the soil and groundwater beneath both Varnicolor Chemical and Uniroyal back in 1989. Varnicolor of course was closer to the south wellfield than Uniroyal and did not have a creek running down the middle of their property to flush away their toxic sins. Currently we still have free phase petroleim hydrocarbons on the Chemtura site allegedly hydraulically contained. Specifically toluene has been under the surface of their property floating on the shallow water table and was first belatedly reported to UPAC (Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee) back in the mid 90's.

Last summer and fall we were treated to psuedo science extraordinaire by both Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (M.O.E.). They claimed that there weren't free phase DNAPLS behind (west of) Varnicolor 100' below ground. They also claimed that stained soil, odours and iridescent sheens brought up by the drilling rig from 100' below ground were most likely the result of a spill of oil/fuel into the mud recirculation tank sitting on the surface. Chemtura backed this groundwater terrorist/ninja theory by claiming that petroleum hydrocarbons are not in nearby wells or widespread in the Elmira aquifers. Boy that's almost as good as the M.O.E. claiming that essentially non-existent acetone in the Elmira Aquifers has acted as a co-solvent to increase the solubility and hence concentrations of chlorobenzene in the vicinity of OW57-32R which is due west (behind) of Varnicolor on Union St..

Chemtura's 2012 Annual Monitoring report Appendix C, Table C.4 has some interesting pages dealing with groundwater results produced by Peritus Environmental last year. They examined wells essentially surrounding their clients property, the former Varnicolor Chemical. These wells included CH43 to the south, CH69 to the east, CH70 to the west and OW56 to the north. CH70-D in the Municipal Lower was correctly quoted by CRA/Chemtura as having 1,150 parts per billion (ppb) of petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorobenzene at 1,480 ppb. Interestingly Chemtura/CRA went to great lengths to dispute these findings of Peritus claiming that there were not petroleum hydrocarbons, only chlorobenzene. This included reorts dated August 29/12 and September 26/12.

I am not sure why CRA/Chemtura would reproduce this allegedly inaccurate information in their Annual Monitoring Report. Also very strange is this quote from their August 29/12 report "Furthermore, the lack of TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) in groundwater samples collected from monitoring wells in the vicinity of OW57-32R suggest TPH is not widespread in groundwater.". This is very strange because Table C.4 has petroleum hydrocarbons detected in every well surrounding the old Varnicolor site and very close to OW57-32R.

There are also nine or ten other specific compounds detected by Peritus in these wells that are recognized components of gasoline or jet fuels, both handled by Varnicolor Chemical. Also interesting is that the math all adds up. The petroleum hydrocarbons are broken down into the various carbon fractions namely F1, F2, F3 and F4. Further the F1 fractions are broken down as to with or without BTEX chemicals which are benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes. These four chemicals are also detected individually and as I stated the math all adds up. These readings from Peritus are accurate and I would love to know if CRA/Chemtura ever advised Peritus Environmental that they were publicly disputing their information last fall and now reproducing it unchanged in their own report.

I have in detail here in the Advocate given my opinion as to both Chemtura's and the Ontario M.O.E.'s position regarding DNAPLS at OW57-32R as well as their opinion on petroleum hydrocarbons in the Elmira aquifers. This I've done on the following dates: Aug. 6/12, Aug. 31/12, Sept. 28/12, Sept. 29/12 and Nov. 3/12.