"CONSULTANT REJECTS PUMP-AND-TREAT CLEANUP PROGRAM"

On May 3, 2012 the Elmira Independent published several articles and an Editorial regarding the likelihood that the 2028 deadline to restore Elmira's groundwater to drinking water standards would not be achieved. Other articles included "CPAC seeks review of Chemtura cleanup" and the Editorial was titled,"More funding needed for MOE". The Woolwich Observer also published an article on May 5, 2012 titled "Township backs CPAC call for more action on cleanup." Lastly the Observer also had an excellent cartoon with the following caption "Concerned about the pace of cleanup efforts at the Chemtura site, CPAC wants the province to speed up the process-slow and steady won't win the race."

Of course both Chemtura and the MOE took great umbrage that a committee of volunteer citizens, no matter how experienced and professional, would dare question their infallibility. CPAC had several professionals in the field on their committee including David Marks, hydrogeologist, Dr. Henry Regier, biologist, Ron Campbell owner of Acute Environmental, Graham Chevreau certified chemist and health & safety consultant plus CPAC had hired Dr. Gail Krantzberg from McMaster University to look at the pump & treat program and her report advised that much more than pump & treat technology was needed in order to achieve sucessful 2028 cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers.

Six months later Chemtura and their consultants Conestoga Rovers (CRA) brought out their own new plan which promised a tripling of the pump and treat rates as well as In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) technology application to off-site hot spots. Of course to date none of these promises have occurred. That can be laid directly at the feet of the new 2014 Woolwich Council as they politically intervened and manipulated the application process as well as publicly attacked the previous council's CPAC appointees. In September 2015 two new committees were appointed both of which (especially TAG) are trying but the momentum and honest experience was intentionally set aside by Sandy Shantz and Mark Bauman.