IT'S A NO BRAINER MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Note carefully how I worded the title above. It does not say the Ministry of the Environment are no brainers despite the possibility that some regular readers of this Blog could come to that conclusion. Occasionally I have been guilty of thinking that corruption could be masked via an intentional personna of incompetence; but oh boy that really is a double edged sword. Who will then take you seriously when you are telling the truth and attempting to be straightforward?

O.K. the "no brainer". Ron Campbell, CPAC member, has formally added a question to the Outstanding Questions List regarding testing and sampling east of GP1 and hence east of the Chemtura property line. My understanding was that Ron and others, including myself, were somewhat taken aback by various new and different maps showing GP1 actually extending right to the property line between Chemtura and the neighbouring farm. My recollection is that Ron expressed his concern about soil sampling stopping at an artificial line as if there was some invisible, impermeable barrier on the east side of the site preventing migration of Dioxins, DDT and more.

Well over a year ago Susan Bryant raised a concern that the next farm south (Martin) had a pond within the Canagagigue floodplain that possibly could be impacted by Dioxins or DDT. We (CPAC & SWAT) took her concerns as being honest and legitimate and asked the M.O.E. to investigate. They assurred us later on that there was no overland route possible to permit flow from GP1 or GP2 carrying Dioxins/DDT to approach this pond. They also advised that there were no sediments in the pond and it was also bermed with soil all the way around again preventing overland flow and deposition.

Five and a half weeks ago, myself with support from two CPAC members made a discovery that to say the least clouded the M.O.E.'s assurances. We found that there is and has been for a considerable length of time a man made excavated drain running parallel to the Chemtura eastern property line heading primarily southwards for discharge into the Canagagigue Creek. This drain is only twenty feet off the Chemtura property line and starts just south of their numerous retention ponds and pits which run from just below or south of their Envirodome, several hundred metres southwards. The drain takes both water and whatever else over the decades has drained from Chemtura's higher elevation property onto the adjoining farm.

It is this "whatever else" which requires clarification and that is a no brainer. This drain goes agonizingly close to the Martin pond. Councillor Bauman has advised that he has given the family a heads up as to possible serious contamination. When Mike Spencer (M.O.E.) was asked recently by me for more details and specifics about his examination of the pond, quite frankly I was not reassurred. It is of great likelihood that this entire area south and east of Chemtura's property is a Dioxin/DDT "sink" which if not remediated will forever be discharging via heavy rains and spring flooding downstream in the Canagagigue Creek. The first step is extensive and proper soil sampling to delineate the extent of off-site contamination. The M.O.E. originally suggested adding two more sites along the creekbank of the "Gig". When this was deemed inadequate two more sites on Chemtura's eastern property boundary were suggested. These also are grossly inadequate and will tell us little or nothing. I have suggested that an independent firm be retained to report directly to CPAC on this matter. The M.O.E. have always assisted Uniroyal/Chemtura in minimizing all issues and contamination and no longer have the moral authority or credibility necessary to investigate this. Their proposed inappropriate four locations only for a probable DDT/Dioxin "sink" in the floodplain of a creek discharging into the Grand River are pathetic and oh so typical. Long past time for them to step aside.