CHEMTURA & THE HORIZONTAL NIAGARA FALLS - last Thursday's CPAC meeting

The horizontal Niagara Falls is a metaphor for Chemtura's ridiculous claims of long distance overland surface flow with self-serving pinpoint accuracy into GP1 & 2.

Numerous CPAC & SWAT members advised the Ministry of the Environment of their overall frustration with them for being more willing to monitor, test and study and less willing to order the company to clean up.

Susanna presented three graphs each with multiple wells showing chlorobenzene and NDMA concentrations in them over the last twenty years. These off-site wells are all located downgradient of Chemtura and are in the heart of the plumes. The basic information gained is that the wells are all above drinking water standards and most have absolutely no concentration trend either up or down.

George of the M.O.E. suggested that they were still working on the specifics of the cleanup criteria for the Elmira Aquifers in 2028. This issue was originally raised by Graham Chevreau and Thursday night at the public CPAC meeting Ron Campbell advised George that his answer without a timeline was unacceptable.

In reference to Jeff Merriman's (Chemtura) claims that the DNAPL Investigation was settled and that all parties were "satisfied"; I asked him if therefore there were yet more hidden letters from Wilf and Jaimie (M.O.E.).; this time recanting their May 2008 DNAPL positions. CPAC determined that attempting to bring Wilf & Jaimie to the next CPAC meeting was a good idea.

Sebastian who has taken the lead on questions regarding GP1 & 2 asked Chemtura for details regarding the ponding primarily on GP2. Jeff advised that they were contoured intentionally to pond water for infiltration to the underlying aquifer.

CPAC were not amused to be told that Dioxin results from this summer's downstream testing would take one to two years to be completed. While yours truly did not comment nevertheless this is the kind of nonsense that based on hard experience I've expected all along. In other words lots of talk but even more DELAY,DELAY,DELAY.

George K. of the M.O.E. would not early on in the meeting remotely commit to more soil testing for Dioxins & DDT especially off the Chemtura site. He needed specific areas with a strong rationale. At the end of the meeting he and Graham were in animated conversation when I unfolded the topographical map I had shown CPAC at the last Working Session. George was duly impressed/convinced and I believe he made a commitment to testing in that off-site area.

Councillor Mark Bauman hasn't been mentioned because he had a timing conflict and could not attend. Fortunately he has advised us that he is a regular reader of the Advocate and thus I hope these last two postings assist him.