GOLD & DIAMOND MINING IN ELMIRA, ONTARIO

To the best of my knowledge there is no gold or diamonds in Elmira, at least in the sub-surface that is. Our well off citizens would have their gold and diamonds above ground. I do wish however that our Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) would take to heart the methodologies used by commercial gold or mining consortiums. That said there is of course a minor problem here. In Elmira our "gold" and "diamonds" would translate into being dioxins and DDT. Some of the techniques are similar however between the two. Mining consortiums don't come to Elmira looking for gold and diamonds and remediation consultants and engineering firms do not go to the Congo, Alaska or other well known rare mineral areas looking for dioxins and DDT. That is where the similarities end.

CRA and GHD who bought them out are allegedly looking for the motherlode of dioxins and DDT. It would be nice if they were also looking for the PCBs that have shown up in the last couple of years. This motherlode is discharging year after year into the Canagagigue Creek and being transported downstream into the Grand River. Unlike mining companies however, CRA/GHD have a new technique. They use blindfolds and ear muffs as the major part of their exploration method. By refusing to either look or listen to informed, honest and sincere citizens such as CPAC, their words, and their documents, these consultants are doing what their clients want which is NOT to find the motherlode of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as DDT, dioxins/furans, PCBs, mercury etc. This will save their clients many millions of dollars in cleanup costs and they and the MECP (MOE) will continue to allow these dangerous compounds to damage the health of citizens, wildlife and the natural environment.

Ramin Ansari, four years after CPAC brought the Stroh Drain to the attention of Chemtura, the MOE, Woolwich Township and the public, has taken a couple of baby steps. Last September he spoke to myself and Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach of TAG directly, after the formal meeting was over. This was primarily about the alleged Interceptor Trenches although the Stroh Drain and its' significance was also discussed.At the last RAC meeting in December 2018 he suggested that further discussions should take place and TAG Chair, Tiffany Svensson suggested that the January 24, 2019 meeting was the appropriate time and place. We will shortly see if this is just more of the same nonsense and time wasting or the real thing. I am always hopeful. It would also be an incredible shock to actually have the MOE publicly on board with CPAC members rather than their business as usual behind closed doors with polluting companies.