WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES

Last Friday I posted about the line, scar or trench running across the Chemtura site clearly visible by the Google earth satellite. Indeed there are three of them visible with two joining together and continuing southwards and then eastwards over to the Stroh property. Suddenly Peter Gray and the MTE Report carrys even more significance than Chemtura originally feared.

Since last Friday more evidence and facts have appeared. One, Jeff Merriman of Chemtura has claimed the obvious; namely that there is a fence across their property running north to south. He further states that the newest segment of the fence was installed in 1999 "to control access" presumably via the roadway running from the west side of their property across the creek to the east side. The second news relates to the Stroh Drain running parallel to the Chemtura property and within twenty feet of it at spots. Clarification has been received regarding agricultural drainage on the Stroh property and where it is located. Suddenly the north-south pipe discharging liquid into the top end (ie. north end) of the Drain is taking on a huge significance.

I listed the numerous possibilities that the line, scar or trench could represent in last Friday's posting including the
possibility that it represents nothing of significance. Several CPAC and SWAT members have expressed their skepticism regarding the opinions of Steve Quigley (CRA), Steve Martindale (M.O.E.) and Jeff Merriman (Chemtura). Looking at a huge map that I have of the site combined with the historical knowledge of discussions around the south-west Upper Aquifer Containment and Treatment System plus considerable further knowledge, I believe that on the balance of probabilities Chemtura have installed a form of drain to collect some of the contaminated shallow aquifer (SA or UA) and to divert it off-site on the east side. There at a minimum via dilution, natural attenuation and perhaps even wetland enhanced degradation, this contaminated flow eventually makes it way into the Canagagigue Creek, well downgradient of the Chemtura site.

If this is the case then it is no wonder Chemtura and the M.O.E. are running scared. While the environmental impact to the natural environment can and will be debated for a very long time; it is the immediate hit to three parties credibility
that terrifys them. Chemtura, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Chemtura's consultants Conestoga Rovers are up to their necks in it. In the twenty-five years since the drinking wells were shut down in Elmira there has been exactly zero mention of any manmade plumbing works or shallow groundwater control or treatment of the east side. Unless or until Chemtura and fellow travellors speak up forthrightly and completely; then my belief persists. Calling it a fence and claiming the issue is closed isn't going to cut it.