RAC MEETING THIS AFTERNOON

The Remediation Advisory Committee meets this afternoon at 4 pm. in Woolwich Council Chambers. The 4 pm. time is very helpful in reducing the attendance of members of the public. After all it's during business hours. This is likely intentional. That said attendance is also diminished by the lack of media being present. In the good old days the Elmira Independent attended and reported on all UPAC (Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee) and CPAC public meetings. Kudos to the Independent (& Gail Martin) for their decades of public service. When the media doesn't report on these public meetings it sends the wrong message namely that they aren't important. When we have the most prolific polluter in Ontario (Chemtura/Lanxess) and their far too chummy regulator (MOECC) present together, along with the Grand River Conservation Authority, the Region of Waterloo, Woolwich Township etc.; it behooves local citizens to come out and learn. In fact one of the many things citizens could learn is how public consultation is not achieved. These august (in their own minds ) bodies will not accept questions from the unwashed masses. Oh no they like to pretend that only QPs need raise their voices in order to ask questions. QPs stands for Qualified Pricks I believe. Afterall if Sandy and her ilk can make up acronyms then so can I.

This afternoon's meeting will also have a couple of TAG members present plus the TAG (Technical Advisory Group) Chair, Tiffany Svensson. This is a good thing as TAG have been sending some good messages and recommendations to RAC. These include that soil testing still needs to be done in the area of the Stroh Drain as well as more in the area of the "Gap". TAG also have advised that the last couple of creek Bio-Monitoring results were inadequate due to cages of critters (leeches & clams) being washed downstream. TAG have also indicated support for a Sediment Transport Investigation being done. Finally TAG are awaiting a response from GHD/Lanxess as to why Table 2 criteria versus Table 8 (within 30 metres of a waterbody) criteria were not used. The Table 8 criteria is 7 parts per trillion (ppt) and the one sample in the Gap area was at 6.97 ppt.

Yours truly will be a Delegation to RAC and will speak in regards to the recent 2017 Canagagigue Creek Soils & Sediment Report. The public get to speak to them only (not TAG) whenever they meet which used to be four times/year but has been less recently.