NOT THE BIG ONE THIS TIME, AT CHEMTURA

It's coming. It's only a matter of time and I've been predicting it for the last couple of years. Last Monday's spill was the same mixture of diphenylamine and acetone as the one in September 2010 which boosted most of the old Woolwich Council out of office and the new one in. Unfortunately this time Chemtura did not accomodate timewise but there is ample time before the next election for them to screw up again.

While small credit should go to the Woolwich Observer for covering this spill at all, nevertheless it is sad that they are willing to promote the company's bullshit the way that they do. The title of the article is "Chemtura quickly contains small chemical spill". The second paragraph states that "...a small amount made its way into the Canagagigue, but it was collected before leaving the site.". Really Steve? And how do you know that? Oh right, Chemtura told you.

Meanwhile later on we are told that the material from the spill had formed "..a sheen on the surface of the water.". Normally visible floating chemicals, are slowly dissolving into the water out of sight. This is normal LNAPL (light non aqueous phase liquid) behaviour. Once dissolved it then flows off-site in the water. So much for nothing left the site.

The fire department also spread the mantra by advising that booms were put into the creek and "Nothing got off the property.". Also "This time most of it was in a liquid form that was captured, with a small amount of aerosol that made it into the Canagagigue Creek...". News flash folks. If it got to the creek it spread and moved downstream. Nice try though.

There were two improvements over the mess in 2010. Firstly the company had operators present when the process went off the tracks this time and they notified Woolwich Township immediately rather than four hours later as they did in 2010. In hindsight with the local support this company has always had is it any wonder that they have stayed here in Elmira all these decades?