THE "CLEANUP" MARCHES INEXORABLY ALONG TO THE BEAT OF THE POLLUTER

Here we are still discussing CSMs and COPCs (Conceptual Site Model, Contaminants of Potential Concern) along with additional minor sampling in the Canagagigue Creek and on the Stroh property in September 2020. Our authorities have known that the "Gig" was grossly contaminated since the 1950s and while the ongoing onslaught of solvents has long ago ended, the less dissolvable (hydrophobic) compounds remain. These include PCBs, DDT, other pesticides and dioxins/furans plus more. .................................................................................................... The problem is that we are working on a foundation of nonsense, psuedo science and horse manure. By allowing the polluter to control the investigation, sampling, timing, and overall agenda we the public and the environment have been manipulated beyond belief. This has all been done with the quiet (sometimes) acquiesence of our authorities, municipal, regional, provincial and even federal. ............................................................................................................ Back on October 30, 2019 I sent an e-mail document to the TAG Chair and members. It advised that multiple issues and concerns had been raised by TAG, myself and others that had yet to be fully and properly addressed. Despite that the Site Specific Risk Assessment (SSRA) process was marching inexorably along. I mentioned issues in my e-mail including inappropriately high Method Detection Limits for chemicals which was diminishing the number of formal exceedances found in creek sediments as well as the "shovel" sampling method used versus proper core sampling that had initially been raised by TAG member, Joe Kelly. Other issues included so called Background" concentrations in the creek which actually included Uniroyal Chemical compounds dumped upstream in landfills such as the Bolender Park Landfill as well as the First St. Landfill. Let's also add in here Varnicolor Chemical upstream dumping in the infamous Lot 91 which also abuts Landfill Creek in Elmira. Of course with or without mention there is the issue of other industrial contaminant sources in Elmira which has been fully ignored by the guilty parties. Most of these industrial sources all eventually end up in the creek and they have NEVER been even lightly examined or investigated. Potential, likely or known sources include Borg, Thur, Varnicolor, Sanyo, Walco, Elmira Coverall, and multiple gas stations. .................................................................................................................... Following are four posts I did in April 2018 in regards to the 2017 Canagagigue Creek Sediment and Floodplain Soil Investigation. They are dated April 12, 14, 17 and 18. The titles of the posts in order are "Are you kidding me? This is disgraceful even by their standards", "2017 Canagagigue Creek Report is even more Precious", "Deeper analysis of Canagaigue Creek Toxic Results", and "Deeper yet Analysis of Toxic Results in Canagagigue Creek". These posts specifically state exactly what is so bad, amateurish, and biased in this foundational document being used by Lanxess Canada in their SSRA of the Canagagigue Creek. These four posts are all available in the Archives section (right side) of this Blog. None of these issues have been properly addressed much less fixed. The company, their consultants and the Ontario Ministry of Environment simply stagger on ignoring serious concerns while mumbling about future fixes and corrections that do not happen. The Canagagigue and downstream users (human & wildlife) will continue to suffer at the hands of polluters and their alleged regulators while the politicians involved will continue to look the other way.