2003 WAS AN IMPORTANT YEAR IN ELMIRA

The Region of Waterloo, we are advised on March 1, 2003, were not happy with Uniroyal/Crompton. The Region had made some changes in order to accomodate Uniroyal's six month temporary request for ammonia treatment at the Elmira Sewage treatment Plant. Then they asked for an extension and got it. Then they asked for yet another and the Region rightfully balked. Whether the ammonia was Uniroyal's or Nutrite's, it certainly wasn't the Region's. Build your own treatment plant was their advice to Uniroyal Chemical.

The next issue was the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's plan to remove their air monitoring station from Elmira. This plan was discussed at UPAC/CPAC and written up in the Elmira Independent on March 28, 2003. The Editor's Column on that date also covered the issue and the title was "The MOE is Failing Elmira". Neither Gail Martin, the Editor nor many of the UPAC/CPAC members were happy about this. This included Susan B., Ron Ormson, myself, Shannon, Pat and Gerry Heidbuurt.

Getting back to ammonia treatment, another option was suggested by Conestoga Rovers and that was engineered wetlands. These discussions occurred in April/May 2003 and included Golder & Associates on behalf of Conestoga Rovers. Nutrite were still claiming that they weren't the source that it could be coming from closed landfills. The two closest would be the Bolender landfill to the north and the M2 landfill on Uniroyal's south-west corner.

Trespassers were indicated as being at higher risk on the Chemtura site than the rest of the local population. At the time I was not aware that this likely meant teenagers and children smoking or hanging out underneath the Church St. bridge over the Canagagigue Creek. According to a local resident they are still doing so to the present time.

Also in the March 28, 2003 Independent was an article by Gail Martin in which she mentioned issues with aquitard penetration by Uniroyal toxic chemicals. The term diffusions was also mentioned. So in fact the knowledge was there long before Dr. Jackson pointed out that huge failing in CRA's planning and work, during his brief tenure as TAG Chair from September 2015 until the end of December 2016.

The woolwich Observer (Joanne Peach) advised readers that Wilf Ruland had advised CPAC that Optimization was unlikely to make a significant difference to the groundwater cleanup. Hence the June 21, 2000 Amended Control Order was not justified either when it was passed or after a couple more years of debate and discussion at UPAC/CPAC.

Lastly we are advised in July 2003 in both the K-W Record and the Woolwich Observer that Crompton failed their confidence vote by the Canadian Chemical Producers Association. This was a good thing and if it had been an honest process they would never have attained it nor maintained it. Gordon Crooks stated that Crompton had yet to fully embrace the true spirit of *Responsible Care. They still haven't in my opinion. Thus Uniroyal/Crompton failed in 1997, 2000, 2001 and again in 2003.