WAITING & DELAYING, THE POLLUTER'S LIFEBLOOD

I've recently posted about the five year wait (if we're lucky) to have the off-site pump & treat system enhanced. Theoretically it has started albeit with minimal new wells and increased pumping to date. Similarly is the east side investigations of Uniroyal contaminants that have flowed either above or below ground onto the Stroh farm on Uniroyal/Lanxess's eastern border. That's been nearly three years since the old CPAC (Chemtura Public Advisory Committee) and SWAT (Soil, Water, Air & Technical) combined with MTE Consultants, produced a report advising of the high probability of contamination on the Stroh property due to the actions of Uniroyal Chemical. We will receive an update this evening at the public RAC (Remediation Advisory Committee) meeting as to whether or not either Lanxess or the Ontario Ministry of Environment have even received permission to step on the Stroh property to take soil and groundwater samples. My guess is that they have not but I am certain that we will receive more assurances from the M.O.E. that it is coming.

The issues on the east side are huge. They should also include sampling of the sediments in the Stroh Drain as recommended by Peter Gray of MTE as well as sampling of the surface water. Also the "Gap" needs to be tested both on Uniroyal/Lanxess's property as well as on the Stroh property. This "Gap" is directly opposite and parallel to the approximate 170 metre stretch of the Stroh Drain which runs north-south beside and perhaps 20 metres away the property line with Uniroyal/Lanxess.

Other serious issues abound on the Stroh property such as the source of the pipe discharging into the extreme north end of the Stroh Drain. Is this groundwater from the Stroh property, the Uniroyal property or both? Finally the true location of GP1 needs to be proven and if as likely it is on the north-east side of the high ground (diagonal ridge) then it needs to be excavated as the false GP1 was a few years ago because the bulk of Dioxins, DDT and other toxins never made it into the now excavated GP1. They would have both settled in the ground plus flowed overland directly into the Stroh Drain. In fact that was the most likely reason for the Drain being installed in 1985. In other words to by-pass the Uniroyal property and monitoring and flow into the Canagagigue Creek further downstream. I expect this important work with Woolwich Council's assistance will take more years of delay and procrastination. This is of course helped along by denying honest public consultation with informed citizens who ask tough questions.