MORE TIDBITS ON LAST THURSDAY'S TAG MEETING

Another new member has graced the TAG committee likely as a direct result of the resignation of Joe Kelly. To date three TAG members have resigned including Bill Barr, Pat McLean and Joe. .............................................................................................. Susan Bryant yet again introduced herself as a "founding" member of APTE. Bullshit alert! The three founding members were Susan Rupert, Sandra Bray and Esther Thur. ................................................................................................. Tiffany (TAG Chair) suggested that the recent Documentary "Toxic Time Bomb" was not a reflection of how things are right now. I beg to differ. That is exactly what it is and exactly why all the speakers said what they said. ................................................................................................. Susan stated that once contaminants get into the ground and groundwater they are the devil to get out. That is accurate although I would suggest that a more aggressive and expensive attack would have led to significantly better and faster results than hydraulic containment (pump & treat) on its own. ........................................................................................................................ The Ministry of Environment (MOE/MECP) appropriately still have concerns about the "shovel" method of sampling used in the Canagagigue Creek to sample sediments. Well bloddy good for the MECP. That sampling took place three years ago. Get off your butts and order new sampling YESTERDAY! ...................................................................................................................... Also sediment depositional zones were not fully sampled in the 2017 creek sampling. Well of course they weren't. I've been writing here for many years about the "locational bias" of sampling in the creek. Chemtura/Lanxess and the MOE/MECP found some nice handy, accessible to roads and equipment areas that were convenient to sample and they stuck with them. Depositional areas however can be off the beaten path. It might cost more to have to hike in and out carrying equipment and Chemtura/Lanxess want none of that. ................................................................................................. There was "capping" of soils in the North-West part of the on-site creek however geotextile covering (or any other covering) lessens soil erosion but does nothing to stop contaminated groundwater flow into the creek. ............................................................................................... Well now I've heard two stories. The one is that sediments will be sampled in the bottom of the Styroh Drain (SDDB) and the other is that water from the Stroh Drain (SDDB) will be tested where it discharges into the Canagagigue Creek. Either or both are grossly inadequate and simply going through the motions rather than determining if there is a "sink" of dioxins/furans, DDT and more present on the Stroh property in and around the SDDB. ............................................................................................................. Further potential "hotspots" allegedly will be looked for along the creek. Sure they will. The locational bias as described earlier also succeeds in greatly reducing the extent and cost of remediation. That's the whole idea. Why would Lanxess ever honestly look for more cleanup to do? ................................................................................................................ Dustin Martin continues to impress. He has concerns regarding some chemicals that have not been retained to date as being Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPC). Dustin is looking for a better rationale for removing chemicals than just a case of "trust them". New member Wilson also wants greater criteria for removing COPC from the active list. ........................................................................................... Susaqn Bryant asked for clarification regarding suspended sediments. She indicated that Dr. Richard Jackson was greatly concerned with suspended sediments and the failures to measure them and consider them.Tiffany attempted to explain when and why suspended sediments were removed from certain samples but I did not find her explanation particularly helpful. ............................................................................................... There has been a suggestion to end DNAPL monitoring. The DNAPL scam first flowered in the early 90s and with APT's help suceeded in taking the necessity of DNAPL remediation off the table for many years. The coverup has continued generally with APT's assistance although there have been rough spots when facts and scientific evidence disturbed the status quo. ................................................................................................ Raw sewage leaked on July 30 and 31 into Shirt Factory Creek causing odours and dead fish. The leak could also be seen around Misa 0800 and its discharge into the creek on the Lanxess site.