ELMIRA INDEPENDENT'S WRITEUP OF LAST WEEK'S CPAC MEETING

Today's front page headline in the Elmira Independent is ""High potential" for offsite contamination". Gail Martin's story describes last Thursday's Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) meeting including the presentation by Peter Gray of MTE Consultants. Gail quotes Peter as saying "Based on all of this, I think there is a high potential that groundwater and soil east and south of the site could have been impacted by leakage of the east-side pits". Gail advises that this is quite significant because it could empower the Ministry of the Environment to lay a Control Order on Chemtura, ordering them to clean up the adjoining Stroh and Martin properties. While that is always a possibility most likely the M.O.E. will do what they always do which is hold private backroom meetings with Chemtura and play "Let's make a deal".

This MTE Report is part of the basis for CPAC's October 14/14 Resolution endorsed and accepted by Woolwich council. This Resolution requesting a formal, comprehensive investigation of the soil and groundwater east of Chemtura, allegedly is currently being reviewed by the M.O.E..

There was also significant discussion and questioning around the Drainage ditch on the Stroh property which runs parallel to the Chemtura property line and then discharges into the Canagagigue creek after passing the Martin swimming pond. After that further questions arose from myself in regards to the line, scar or trench on the Chemtura property which runs from north (Church St.) to south and then jogs east to the Stroh property line.

Gail also mentioned the presence at the meeting of incoming Woolwich Councillors Larry Shantz, Scott Hahn and Patrick Merlihan. Mayor-elect Sandy Shantz also attended the meeting.

This CPAC's term runs until April 30/15 due to the delays in getting started caused by Mayor Cowan and Councillor Herteis. These delays and ensuing behaviour by that pair ended up causing the departure of Lynne Hare, Julie Anne Herteis and myself. Hence Council to their credit added on six months to the end of CPAC's term to give them their full four years plus I understand that this extension will permit a more seamless overlap and continuation of future CPAC's after municipal elections as well.