TELEVISED COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT & WOOLWICH BIO-EN MEETING TONITE

This evening's Woolwich Bio-En meeting is being held once more at the Elmira Public Library at 7 pm. and is open to the public. While it generally lacks the fireworks, high sticking and elbows sometimes on display at CPAC meetings; it actually is a pleasure to watch and listen to discussions and progress being made.

Dr. Dan Holt, Chairman of the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) spoke as a Delegate to Woolwich Council last evening. It is my studied opinion that there has never been as forthright, blunt and honest expression of the state of non cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers as Dan advised Council last evening. From hydraulic containment (pump & treat) to Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) and Dioxins and DDT; Dr. Dan told it like it is. No sugar coating and no pap as has characterized past CPAC Chairs' performances. While Rogers TV broadcast late last evening, I'm hoping they will show last night's Woolwich Council meeting again.

Regarding the two recently received DNAPL letters from Jaimie Connelly (M.O.E.) and Wilf Ruland; Dr. Dan did point out that both were received by the past CPAC Chair Pat McLean but were not properly distributed hence their "discovery" six years later. Dr.Dan also pointed out that most of their recommendations have been ignored by Chemtura and their partners in pollution, Conestoga Rovers and the M.O.E.. How hypocritical is it to be able to ignore the advice of your own senior hydrogeologist? Boy does politics and self interest ever trump facts and right.

The Dioxins and DDT downstream in the Canagagigue Creek should be a provincial and indeed national embarassment. The lack of substantive action to protect wildlife, humans and domestic animals is way beyond negligence. I hope to live long enough to be able to attend and perhaps testify at the "Uniroyal trials" some day. My only question is how far up the chain of political command will the charges go.

Dr. Dan concluded by advising that the cleanup has been going for about twenty-five years and will probably continue for another twenty-five. This is not what the guilty parties including politicians want to hear.