SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

This is the question most often asked of me in reference to Chemtura Canada in Elmira, Ontario. Obviously as per my last three postings here, as well as yesterday's front page story in the Woolwich Observer; Woolwich Council's bad judgement in denying my nomination to CPAC is the current hot button item. Personally I don't expect it to last even with next Thursday's upcoming possible Elmira Independent story on the same subject.

On Monday August 19/13 CPAC will determine their priorities and what will go on the Agenda for the Thursday August 29/13 6 pm. public CPAC meeting. The list quite frankly is endless due to the company's intransigence combined with their ongoing protection from the Ontario M.O.E.. Therefore major issues go on and on without resolution as far as the citizens are concerned. This is exactly how Chemtura & the M.O.E. like it. Examples of these unresolved issues certainly includes DNAPLS both on-site and off-site (OW57-32R behind Varnicolor) as well as the state of remediation of other sites sitting above the Elmira Aquifers. These would include Lot 91 at the east end of Oriole Parkway as well as the old Varnicolor site itself on Union St. The fact that CPAC are not automatically given the remediation reports and studies for these sites as well as the old Procast site is ridiculous. CPAC's mandate is the restoration of the Elmira Aquifers by 2028 and these sites and others (Voisin Motors, Beckers) are all relevant to the big picture cleanup. Talk about a public advisory committee being given the mushroom treatment for over twenty years by all levels of authorities.

Other newer items should include the remediation method known as self-sustaining smouldering combustion. Susanna has indicated an interest in presenting this. I am also hoping that I can convince Ron Campbell of CPAC to talk about his extremely interesting thoughts regarding the proposed cleanup of Dioxins and DDT at GP1 & 2 on the Chemtura site. There is lots more but this should keep things interesting. Here by the way is my prediction. Chemtura will only stay in town as long as they can sucessfully bamboozle the majority of the citizens. As realization dawns as to what they've gotten away with for so long here, their presence in Elmira will be less and less appreciated. At that point or at the point of having to spend some real money on a real cleanup; they will run for Bangladesh, Asia, China, Vietnam etc.. This is corporate 101 behaviour and these folks are all about the money.