MORE ON LAST THURSDAY NIGHT'S TAG MEETING

Pages 3 and 4 in the Minutes from the TAG June 24/21 meeting discuss the inability of the Human Health Risk Assessment to consider protection for successive generations of (unborn) offspring. Wilson Lau of TAG attempted to clarify this matter to TAG members and the public. Speaking for myself I was left with the "trust me, it's been considered in the calculations", which I did not find adequate. This is not necessarily a shot at Wilson. ................................................................................................................................. Tiffany Svensson, TAG Chair, advised us that the previously secret "confirmatory sampling" along the northern Stroh and Lanxess property line extended to a whopping 30 cm. or LESS in depth. That means one foot deep or LESS. We, the public, and all TAG members have not received that data as useless as it may be. ..................................................................................................................................... Linda Dickson of TAG discussed planning issues around the east side (Stroh & Martin etc.) rezoning and proposed development. At one point I was starting to get the impression from the map that she was also including the east side of the Lanxess property in her discussion but courtesy of corrupt municipal officials (Sandy) I or other members of the public were unable to clarify that through a simple question to Linda. The unwashed masses as well as those with much greater knowledge are refused the right to ask questions at TAG meetings. ............................................................................................................................................... Karl Belan of the Region of Waterloo discussed the communications (at least) failures of so called "pulse pumping" at well E7 in the south end of Elmira. The Target Rate remains the same yet there is no clear pumping schedule or details as to when or why the pumping goes up or down. There is also according to Linda Dickson no information on the effectiveness of this "pulse pumping". My opinion is that it is likely just one more scam by Lanxess, in line with dozens of others by their predecessors, in order to reduce their costs of pumping and treating. ..................................................................................................... Sebastian indicated that now we have empirical evidence of dioxins/furans and DDD in the Stroh Drain courtesy of the 2020 Canagagigue Creek Soil & Sediment Investigation. This is therefore a new pathway taking contaminants into the Canagagigue and needs to be addressed and investigated. Susan Bryant spoke up and asked Sebastian why all the other creeks had both their sediments (bottom of the creek) as well as creekbank soils tested but the Stroh Drain was not sampled for creekbank soils. Sebastian agreed that that was a good question but he did not know Lanxess/GHD's reasoning. Sebastian also suggested that the ridiculously high Method Detection Limits (MDL) could be either to save lab costs and or a simple lack of will upon their part to get good data. Very high MDLs mask detections of contaminants very effectively hence saving cleanup costs as well (i.e.$$$). ...................................................................................................................................... Dustin Martin (TAG) asked whether their conceptual understanding is sufficient at this point in time. He understands that Sebastian wants investigation of the Stroh Drain and area. He then asked at what point do they advance. Susan Bryant picked up on the fact that despite Lanxess promises to sample the north-west area of their site in order to determine if past cleanups of DDT and more were effective, Lanxess/GHD did not do so. This includes areas around pits RPw1 and 2. .................................................................................................................................. David Hofbauer of TAG was Missing In Action yet again. His expertise and common sense are needed at TAG. Katerina attends regularly, pays close attention and is invested in the process. I see very good TAG members as well as others who have realized that careers can be lifted or lowered due to the politics and volatility of the situation. The unfortunately now regular attendance of mayor Sandy Shantz may be intended to drive that point home to TAG members.