PRETEND PUBLIC CONSULTATION - VARNICOLOR CHEMICAL REMEDIATION ONGOING

Three years ago the Ministry of Environment advised us at CPAC that 200 tonnes more of contaminated soil would be removed from the old Varnicolor Chemical site (Union St.) in Elmira. Almost five years ago they advised that deep monitoring wells had been ordered for the site - again. Two years ago they advised us that it would be only 5 tonnes removed plus they would be extending the groundwater collection system in order to collect more contaminated groundwater for treatment. This site had the top 4-6 feet excavated twenty plus years ago and a shallow groundwater collection and treatment system installed. It was suppoesd to require a decade of pumping and treating.

Well shocking as it isn't the M.O.E. have lied to us again. It probably was 200 tonnes and yes they have extended the groundwater collection system - offsite! Over the past several years surrepticious excavations of contaminated soil have occurred at neighbouring private properties to the former Varnicolor Chemical site. They include Motivair and the Elmira Theatre Company plus one more at least. Also included has been the earlier indicated extension of the groundwater collection system to off-site properties. "Surrepticious" is simply by the fact that the M.O.E. have intentionally kept those cleanups secret from myself and from CPAC even when formally asked for updates on the site.

Twenty-five years ago I blew the whistle on Varnicolor's intentional dumping of toxic liquid wastes on that site. Literally Rich Clausi, Susan Rupert (Gow), Ted Oldfield and I had to fight the M.O.E. tooth and nail to get them to do anything. First they denied pollution then they minimized it. They claimed nothing had left the Varnicolor site and that it had not gone into the deeper aquifers. They also ordered both shallow and deep monitoring wells for the site in a Control Order. The deep wells never happened as Control Orders apparently are more for public show than for pollution cleanup.

The M.O.E. continue to coverup pollution in Elmira. They initiated public consultation at Chemtura regarding the 2028 deadline to clean Elmira's Aquifers. The former Varnicolor site sits directly on top of those very same aquifers yet the M.O.E. refuses to cooperate with CPAC by providing data.

What promises did the M.O.E. make the purchaser of the Varnicolor site back in 1999? Did they mislead and manipulate a competent person into assuming ownership and maintenance of the pump and treat system with promises that after a decade they would issue him a Record of Site Condition and he could sell or subdivide his site? Did they blatantly lie concerning the organized system of mass toxic liquid dumping the former owner devised and used? The new owner has his own hydrogeologist advising him and over two years ago I phoned and told him that I would at no charge tell him what exactly had occurred on that site. It's time for him to look at legal options against the M.O.E..