NEVERENDING LIES, DECEIT AND DECEPTION

The above title is referring to public consultation surrounding the Elmira 1989 "water crisis". By the way I have recently been sending documents to the former environmental reporter for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, namely Bob Burtt. Various guilty parties to the above title have been working hard to have their preferred version of history safely ensconced in the book about Elmira/Uniroyal that Bob is writing. Yours truly is giving Bob the more accurate (and unsavoury) version and I remain hopeful that he, similar to myself, can overcome decades of reliance and confidence in one of the parties. Once more I am going to praise Dr. Henry Regier for his astute character insights into Susan & Wilf years before I understood. I mention Wilf even though last evening I received for the first time a letter he wrote to CPAC six years ago. While once again apparently following the lead of Jaimie Connolly (M.O.E.) nevertheless Wilf's May 15, 2008 letter addressed to CPAC members, but only sent to Pat McLean CPAC Chair (this is important) is a barnburner.

Wilf Ruland's (hydrogeologist) letter is seven pages long. His first paragraph describes numerous reports that he is commenting on including Conestoga Rovers (CRA) 2005, 2006 & 2007 DNAPL Reports. Wilf also mentions a January 17, 2008 letter re the November 5, 2008 Investigation Meeting Action Items. It is possible that this is yet one more document intentionally kept hidden from some stakeholders. While Wilf's letter is astounding in his turnaround on on-site DNAPL remediation, he still on page six covers his butt by going to his fallback position of saying for sure there is residual DNAPL on site while possibly only minor pools of free phase DNAPL. This is contrary to what his mentor (Dr. John Cherry) told him, Susan, Pat & myself sixteen months earlier. Also on page seven Wilf reverts back to his position about not letting DNAPL remediation compete for personnel time or resources needed for other priorities, presumably off-site hydraulic containment. Wilf you are a hydrogeologist not a time study engineer or accountant. Please quit sucking up to CRA, Chemtura and the M.O.E. by trying to suck and blow simultaneously.

On page two Wilf states "...in places where there is good evidence suggesting the possible presence of pure-phase DNAPLs and or LNAPLs, active measures should be undertaken to remove or nuetralize these contaminant sources as soon as reasonably feasible.". On page three Wilf states "A feasibility study be done in 2008 by Chemtura (with a report back to CPAC by December 2008) of the possibility of using directional drilling techniques to install "horizantal purge wells" in areas of known DNAPL presence (where soil excavation is not feasible) in TPW2.'. Wilf recommends on page four "An investigation (which may include geophysics or soil gas measurements) of the potential for additional drums to be present in any other parts of Area M-2, with removal of any drums found. The investigation should be completed by June 2009.". Further at the bottom of page four Wilf suggests "That a major excavation be used in 2008 to eliminate the DNAPL hot spot downgradient of RPE-5 in the vicinity of OW42-4, with every effort being given to trace and eliminate the contamination all the way back to the source.". Holy toxic waste Batman. Are you serious Wilf? Have you had a stroke or an ephinany? This is not the Wilf that Henry and I have complained about. Wilf then goes on to state that after RPE-5 is excavated "...to likewise eliminate the DNAPL hotspot downgradient of RPE-4 in the vicinity of OW40-6.". Lastly on page five Wilf acknowledges the seriousness of the contamination around the Main Tank Farm (MTF) in the west central area of the site. Wilf refers to free phase LNAPLs being found. I'm a little skeptical as I felt that they were below the water table thus more likely being DNAPLS. Regardless Wilf recommends "That Chemtura assess the feasibility of installing a shallow groundwater cut-off trench (to the bottom of UA1) to intercept LNAPL and other contaminants on the downgradient side of the main tank farm. The assessment should be completed by June 2009." Again why put the cut-off trench to the BOTTOM of Upper Aquifer 1 (UA1) if you're after LNAPL? LNAPL floats on TOP of the water table, it doesn't sink through aquifers to the bottom of them like DNAPL does. Is this Wilf sucking up to CRA's sensibilities around free phase DNAPLS again?

Jaimie Connolly's May 2, 2008 letter was addressed to Jeff Merriman (Chemtura) and distributed to CRA, other M.O.E. personnel and the CPAC secretary (Corrinne Shuh) and the CPAC Chair (Pat McLean). I was specifically excluded a copy by the CPAC Chair despite being an active stakeholder for eighteen years and a formal CPAC member up until approximately two months earlier. Then we have Wilf's May 15, 2008 letter described herein. It was addressed to CPAC members care of the CPAC Chair Pat Mclean. Well she took care of it alright. Not only I didn't get it but when Corrinne Shuh a month or two ago went looking for it, in Woolwich Township's CPAC archives, she couldn't find it. This just gets curiouser and curiouser. So how many other major documents have honest citizen activists and stakeholders been denied over the last 2 1/2 decades? This is not public consultation so much as public deception. I blame Chemtura first and foremost as they've long dabbled and lobbied in all things UPAC/CPAC through Woolwich Council. This includes them having serious input into Council appointments and removals from CPAC. A naive, uninformed or biased Council are ripe for Chemtura lobbying, including lobbying through senior Township staff. This is the charade of public consultation when the polluter has any say or input into that process.