PUBLIC CONSULTATION: PABLUM FOR THE MASSES

I posted here yesterday about the absence of Chemtura/Lanxess as well as the Ontario M.O.E.C.C. from most Tag (Technical Advisory Group) public meetings. In one further sense the construction of TAG is but yet another act of blatant hypocrisy. It is a case of our local politicians telling us to do as they say not as they do. For years citizens on UPAC and CPAC were told that Uniroyal/Chemtura needed to sit down with technical experts. Sometimes they used the words "qualified professionals". The message was clear. Ordinary, intelligent and informed citizens just couldn't keep up with the technical stuff and would waste the experts' time. I always objected and made it clear that citizens could both keep up and were more than capable of understanding the so called technical issues. Keep in mind as I've often said "Hydrogeology is not rocket science." It is water (contaminated or otherwise) moving through the ground.

So Sandy and Mark literally go to multiple good citizens with however little technical experience and or even less historical knowledge of Uniroyal/Chemtura and appoint them to the TECHNICAL Advisory Group. Really? TAG's purpose is to make no decisions and to make no recommendations directly to either the Ministry of Environment or Chemtura/Lanxess. TAG's purpose as indicated in their name is to make Technical recommendations to RAC (Remediation Advisory Committee). RAC of course includes all the political bodies such as the Region, the Township, the Province (via M.O.E.), the Grand River Conservation Authority and finally Chemtura/Lanxess along with TAG representation. Dr. Jackson was an outstanding choice as Chair and his experience and knowledge far overshadowed all others.

RAC have several political appointees also with little historical or technical knowledge dealing with Uniroyal Chemical. The Region usually are well represented technically. The GRCA's rep is technically sound although more in hydrology (surface water) than in hydrogeology (groundwater). The Two Township reps are a joke. TAG reps are pretty good. Chemtura and the M.O.E. will continue to do exactly as they please in their private deals and negotiations with each other unless and until RAC get hardnosed and publicly make a stink. Dr. Jackson tried to get support from TAG to become more aggressive in their media strategy and he got nowhere.

Individual good voices won't cut it on either TAG or RAC. The last CPAC worked together as a group and were making serious inroads on M.O.E./Chemtura credibility and lack of honesty. That is why they were disbanded by Mark and Sandy. From the beginning both the Ministry of Environment and the Township merely wanted public consultation (UPAC) as window dressing. It was never intended to actually influence Uniroyal decisions more towards the public interest. It was and is all for show.