ANOTHER RECENT HISTORY LESSON

Every now and again I look back into my newspaper files regarding Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura/Lanxess Canada and am pleasantly pleased to see some very good articles from the Woolwich Observer on these matters. No they've never held a candle to the Elmira Independent's (Bob Verdun/Gayle Martin) efforts over literally decades (Nov. 1989-July 2015) but they still have done some good work. Two stories come to mind namely August 29/15 titled "As CPAC winds down, longstanding concerns remain" and September 5/15 titled "Bringing an experienced eye to Elmira's Water Woes". ................................................................................................................... The first article (Aug. 29/15) refers to Chemtura's somewhat limp and tentative admissions that the cleanup date of 2028 likely is unattainable. This of course had been CPAC's position since at least 2012 despite vehement opposition from both the Ontario Ministry of Environment and from Chemtura Canada. Woolwich Council under then mayor Todd Cowan also supported and formally endorsed CPAC's position. Contrast that with Woolwich Council's immediate assault and undermining of the very same volunteer citizens on CPAC, as soon as the new Council began. Yes Sandy (S.) your new council was the elephant in the room as I stated as early as January 2015. CPAC members Ron Campbell and Graham Chevreau spoke to Council from the outgoing CPAC regarding the longstanding concerns. Steve Kannon of the Woolwich Observer referred to CPAC's imminent departure thusly "...the environmental watchdog group whose term expires at the end of the month, to be replaced by a more company-friendly arrangement cooked up by Mayor Sandy Shantz." Wow does that ever spell out the lies and deceptions of both Sandy and then councillor Mark Bauman. Graham Chevreau advised a deaf, dumb, blind and biased new council that a real investigation of the Stroh property was necessary. That still has not happened to date thanks to Woolwich Council's pro-company (Uniroyal/Crompton/ChemturaLanxess) policies, biases and ignorance. ............................................................................................................................... The second article (Sept. 5/15) highlights the new Chair of TAG (Technical Advisory Group), Dr. Richard Jackson. He was the very best Chair of all the former UPACs and CPAC's despite the excellent work done by Dr. Dan Holt (2011-Aug.2015). Dr. Jackson based upon his incredible 40 years of professional work in environmental investigation and remediation was able to cut through the bullsh.t and verbal diarrhea coming from Conestoga Rovers (CRA), Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Dr. Holt's professional expertise was not in the environmental field and hence ironically he was much more careful and diplomatic of the ultra-sensitive feelings and egos of Chemtura than Dr. Jackson. I say ironically because the council idiots S. Shantz and M. Bauman, along with the professional liars from Chemtura and the Ont. MOE, alleged that CPAC members including Dr. Holt and the SWAT sub-committee were too aggressive, rude etc. What a joke! Dr. Jackson, appropriately ripped CRA, Chemtura and the MOE new ones over his fifteen month tenure. ................................................................................................................................ Absolutely disgustingly Dr. Jackson's, supported with facts and experience, criticisms of those three parties never made it into the Woolwich Observer. After the Elmira Independent closed their doors in early July 2015, it was home free for Chemtura and then Lanxess Canada. Little or no serious coverage of the "cleanup" or of public consultation occurred after that despite incredible revelations of CRA, MOE, Uniroyal/Chemtura incompetence and deception. That has allowed the public to remain in the dark about Dr. Jackson's revelations as Chair of TAG. Dr. Jackson's criticisms strike to the heart of the failures to clean up the site either by 2028 or likely until 2050 or 2060 if ever. Some of us at UPAC and CPAC told those in charge of the cleanup what was required. For self-serving reasons (money, status, ego) we weren't just ignored, we were lied to, deceived and vilified by the professional liars; aided and abetted by local politicians.