CHEMTURA SPRINTING FROM THE KITCHEN - THEY CAN'T STAND THE HEAT

Yesterday the boys of Chemtura advised CPAC that they can't attend Monday evening's scheduled CPAC meeting. Please keep in mind that all CPAC meeting dates are set by concensus so as to maximize the input from all parties including Chemtura and the Ministry of the Environment who pulled a similar stunt two months back. Apparently when sensitive noses are out of joint, non attendance without even the facade of an excuse, is standard operating procedure for polluters and their alleged regulators.

I have been posting here for many months that both Chemtura and the M.O.E. have fallen upon hard times. They are dealing with a CPAC that have open minds and question all the golden nuggets of information that fall from their lips. This is very difficult to accept for them. This Monday was Chemtura's opportunity, after a month to get prepared, to criticize, minimize or somehow undermine Peter Gray's MTE Report. I reread that Report yesterday and was looking forward to Chemtura's attempts. It was even possible that the M.O.E. might take a shot at it although I am doubtful. They at least know when they haven't a leg to stand on. I interpret Chemtura's fleeing as a sign of panic and surrender.

Back to the line, scar, trench. I recently presented to CPAC and SWAT a 1987 Groundwater Monitoring Report (1987 GWMR) that details Interceptor or Collector Trenches. The date is significant in that it is about seven years prior to the possible construction of such a Trench on Chemtura's east side. There has been machinery available, invented in Europe, to excavate, lay a collection pipe and then backfill gravel, all in one pass of the machine. With that technology an Interceptor Trench could be installed on the Chemtura site probably within a day or at most two. The estimated construction costs of such a Trench are approximately 30% lower than installing pumping wells for a pump and treat system. While these Trenches can be simply a preferential pathway of highly permeable gravel to stop the progress of contaminated groundwater they can also have pipes on the bottom of them to further collect and divert this contaminated groundwater. What I find fascinating is the possibilty of such a trench on the Chemtura site not even requiring sumps and pumps to move the groundwater. With the apparent start of the Trench at the extreme north end of the site and the apparent end of the trench much further south and east, gravity flow is quite possible. What a fabulous system to stop highly contaminated groundwater from the east pits , discharging into the Canagagigue Creek on site. The possible diversion off-site (east) and into the Stroh Drain for discharge much further downstream is an added bonus. The monthly on-site monitoring of Canagagigue Creek surface water would not pick up any of this discharge precisely because it is discharged so much further downstream. Oh be still my heart. Could they have done this?