THIRTY YEARS OF DENIAL AND STALLING

"Close examination of Figure 3 of the report (see
Appendix C) labelled "Groundwater Flow - Lined Pit Area"
reveals that shallow groundwater flow from the pits is
toward the east in addition to south and west. The
easterly component of flow, given the fact that the pits
leak, likely causes, or will cause contamination beyond
the Uniroyal property limits in the shallow aquifer."


This above quote is taken from the April 1990 Ministry of Environment Survey of Uniroyal Chemical written by hydrogeologist Bob Hillier. It is in reference to the two east pits namely RPE-4 and RPE-5. Despite this knowledge physical remediation of the Stroh farm on Uniroyal's east side only began this past December 2018 with surficial soil removal (5.9 inches deep) and steep resistance by Lanxess and GHD to seriously examine and investigate the Stroh Drain area sediments, soils and waters.

In November 2012 Chemtura and Conestoga Rovers confirmed that much greater effort was needed to achieve drinking water standards in the Elmira Aquifers by 2028. These efforts included a tripling of the volume of groundwater pumped and treated as well as the application of In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) in selected locations around Elmira. Those promises were later reduced to a doubling of the pump and treat along with the application of ISCO. To date the pump & treat system has been increased by approximately 17%.

Embarrassing details such as these are part of the reason that our local politicians (Sandy & Mark) cleaned house of the last CPAC who were the citizens who insisted that Chemtura/Lanxess remediate the Stroh property and who instigated the public understanding that the 2028 promise of restored local drinking water was merely wind and puffery.