DECEMBER 2000 UNIROYAL/CROMPTON APPROPRIATELY GETTING BATTERED OVER THEIR BEHAVIOUR

Looking back over the newspaper clippings I can see why I was such a strong supporter of Susan Bryant and other UPAC and CPAC members. Even Syvia knew to say the right things at the right time in those days. In the Elmira Independent of December 1, 2000 Julie Sawyer wrote about Sylvia Berg and I expressing concerns with allegedly cleaning the creek before cleaning up the site. Hindsight may be again proving us right about that. In the December 22nd edition of the Independent David Ash was again on the defensive over odours under the attacks of Henry Regier, Shannon Purves-Smith and Sylvia.

The Woolwich Observer in those days covered Uniroyal/Crompton issues unlike today. Richard Vivian wrote about the proposed Site Specific Risk Assessment (SSRA). Dr. Henry Regier who had decades of professional experience with Risk Assessments was not supportive of it.

In the December 15/2000 Independent Dwighte Este discussed (via CPAC) Crompton's Worst Case Scenario. Essentially a major spill of Anhydrous Ammonia would result in a human kill zone of approximately 700 metres whereas from 700 to 1300 metres would only result in serious health effects. This still is relevant today not only for long time residents but for all the new ones still planned for the Hawk Ridge Subdivision on Union St. across the road from Sulco and Chemtura/Lanxess. Gail Martin was the author of this article in the Independent.

In the December 23/2000 edition of the Woolwich Observer Henry Regier took aim at the practice of Elmira volunteers taking air samples on behalf of the M.O.E. and Uniroyal/Crompton. Henry felt that the volunteers should be paid for "...going out at all hours of the day and night, usually bad weather to do this.". I added to that opinion by suggesting that " at $100 a pop, I'll come in from West Montrose and take samples. For free in the middle of the night, I'm not interested.". Apparently Shannon and Sylvia were still willing to do it for free.

Both local papers (Independent & Observer) published the fact that Uniroyal had agreed to pay the Region of Waterloo $90,000 towards their costs caused by Uniroyal's "pink spill" the previous spring. This massive spill of toluene had killed the bacteria in the Elmira Sewage Treatment Plant and caused a release into the Canagagigue Creek of partially treated sewage. Nearby homes had also had sewage back up into them. Part of the deal included quarterly inspections of Uniroyal's site by the Region of Waterloo. The K-W record also reported on this agreement.

On January 19, 2001 the Independent reported on a presentation to Council by the Regional health department. It was in regards to air emissions and links to them with adverse health effects. The presentation also included factors such as a loss of enjoyment of one's property due to air and odour emissions from local polluters.

The beat goes on to this day regarding the adverse effects suffered by local residents from Uniroyal Chemical and all its' corporate successors.