FURTHER DISCUSSION & COMMENTS FROM LAST WEDNESDAY'S TAG MEETING

Dr. Jackson repeated his comments that the fifty years of contaminants leaching into the aquifers and aquitards (1948-1998) will be equalled by fifty years of trying to pump them back out namely from 1998 until 2048. The thirty year remediation time span was simply a guess, an estimation or my belief just wishful thinking.

The Supplemental On-Site (East Side) Investigation Report was completed July 29 and distributed to a few folks on August 10/16. Long involved members of the public such as myself received an electronic copy yesterday September 9/16. In the scheme of suppressed reports, private meetings, delays and lying by Chemtura and the M.O.E. this barely rates a C for poor public consultation.

Further comments that I interpret as frustration and possibly even disgust by Dr. Jackson towards the Ontario Ministry of the Environment include his mentioning that the M.O.E. advised in March that they would be requesting Chemtura to do an off-site east side study but they didn't write and send the letter until the end of July, four months later. Dr. Jackson also commented about Chemtura's request for all data from the M.O.E. by initialling saying it was "the same damn data I've been trying to get from the M.O.E. since February." He then apologized for the use of the word "damn". Is it possible that one or two of our incompetent, ill educated Councillors & Mayor took it upon themselves to upbraid Dr. Jackson privately regarding their personal preferences for behaviour? That would be polluters, regulaters and consultants lying like dogs but never swearing or raising their voices. If so that would be one way short of firing to get rid of him. Why would a man of the international stature of Dr. Jackson, whose knowledge base even leaves other professionals in the dust, be willing to work for an extraordinarily modest honourarium for a Council/Mayor who are either too stupid or dishonest to appreciate him?

Susan Bryant also had a couple of nice quotes. She asked why a Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) again "after a failure to act on the last one.". She also referred to sampling on the former on-site landfill M2 "where they've done nothing". Nice. Finally again in reference to the proposed HHRA she said " the creek should be the top priority not doing an HHRA for a small population.".

Dr. Jackson mentioned again that Jackfish Bay on Lake Superior is one of the formal Areas of Concern yet their concentrations of Dioxins are less than those in Canagagigue Creek. He also pointed out that Terri Buhlman (M.O.E.) had indicated that she couldn't recall the M.O.E. ever acting upon any HHRA reports that had ever been done for them. Dr. Jackson mentioned that the M.O.E. couldn't even manage to get their modelling expert to show up at the recent Technical Experts meeting. The next one is in late September or early October. It is disgraceful and reprehensible that the by far most knowledgable and technically competent long time Woolwich citizen, myself, is excluded from these technical meetings. This clearly shows that our local Councillors are all about appearances and not about actually accomplishing anything at these meetings.

Both Dick Jackson and Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach took turns castigating the M.O.E. and Chemtura especially during the discussion to censure Chemtura. Sebastian used words such as lassitude and disingenuousness for the M.O.E. as well as hubris and arrogance regarding Chemtura and Conestoga Rovers. Dick referred to the lethargic pace and lack of urgency by both parties. Pat, Susan and disappointingly Joe Kelly refused to support a censure. Give it time and I hope that Joe will see the big picture more clearly. The other two are bought and paid for one way or the other whether by the Region, GRCA, CRA, Woolwich or the CIAC (Chemical Industry Assoc. of Canada).

Dr. Jackson's resignation is a bodyblow to the efforts, even the pretend efforts of Woolwich, to accomplish anything further. I believe Pat McLean may have suggested that there were still good people left on TAG after Dr. Jackson's December 31 resignation. Yes there are Pat although you're not one of them. Most of the "good" people have little or no pertinent knowledge. Sebastian is a proven real deal; David, Linda, Bill and Joe overall look very promising with David being the most competent technically. Given time and honest leadership we might have seen continued progress from TAG. Unlikely now.