HISTORY LOST AND INTENTIONALLY SO

Last night's RAC meeting was somewhat philosophical. It was also somewhat pathetic. Tiffany Svensson, TAG Chair, spoke about questions that TAG would like answered. Questions such as what is the new date that Lanxess believe the Elmira Aquifers will be restored by. Philosophical questions as to what is considered "clean" for the Elmira Aquifers. Questions such as can some of the treated water from the aquifers be used industrially, commercially or even as potable water rather than dumping it into the Canagagigue Creek. Eric Hodgins of the Region of Waterloo may have been the individual who asked about a "stigma" in regards to ever drinking Elmira water.

The term pathetic is in regards to the failure to remind all present last evening that CPAC from 2012 to 2014 were asking both the Ministry and Chemtura the same questions regarding the definition of what is clean. What is also pathetic is Ramin Ansari of Lanxess boldly advising that both he and the company know and accept that the Elmira Aquifers will not be remediated by 2028. That is a huge turnaround even from as recently as a year or two ago. Recall that for the last few years Chemtura/Lanxess have been bragging about their expanded and enhanced off-site containment and treatment system. New wells, new locations, higher pumping rates and potentially even some In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) of the "hot spots" around Elmira.

Ramin advised Tiffany that Lanxess would not commit to a particular new cleaanup date. They will simply commit to continuing to clean the aquifers until all are satisfied. Ramin suggested that he would accept the risk of drinking treated Elmira water now but stopped short of saying that he would give it to his children to drink. That was a wise decision because I doubt that I could have controlled my response from the gallery if he was dumb enough to have suggested that the water currently was safe for children. One bit of good news is that Linda Dickson from TAG spelled it out clearly as to the pumping failures throughout 2019. Far too many wells simply didn't do their intended jobs not just W9. Here is the irony however. Even if they did meet their Target Rates those pumping rates were still dozens of litres per second lower than what CPAC and the public were told was necessary by Jeff Merriman and Chemtura in November 2012 in order to achieve cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers by 2028.

Clearly what has occurred is Chemtura/Lanxess and CRA/GHD have privately decided to renege on their promises and commitments to Elmira citizens. They are unwilling to spend the money and expend the time and commitment to do the job that both they and the Ontario Ministry of Environment committed to do. Ramin almost sounded last evening as if denying the possibility of cleanup by 2028 was some kind of a virtue. Jason Rice of the MOE/MECP announced that there is a new Control Order coming down the pipe. My guess is that it will among other concessions, relax the 2028 deadline. Councillor Scott McMillan to his credit suggested real public input, unscripted, at public meetings regarding the new Control Order. Ramin, the MOE, and Linda suggested otherwise. They want to present done deals to the public not give them options or ideas that the cleanup has not been a resounding success.

Ramin's comments have me worried. He was not challenged sufficiently by anyone last evening. He feels that "hot spots" may not need to be addressed individually. He feels that a date for cleanup is not appropriate until after he knows what the goals are. Presumably these will finally be spelled out in the new Control Order. Good God these goals should have been made very clear decades ago. This is why CPAC were pushing for a specific definition of cleanup seven to eight years ago when there was still time to make improvements and enhancements.

As always the new Control Order will be negotiated privately between Lanxess and the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE/MECP) with token input from RAC & TAG. The public may or may not be given an opportunity to comment at a public meeting but regardless input from the "unwashed masses" will be ignored. That has been the history for the last thirty years and the dissembling and historical revisionism will continue unabated.