APOLOGIES TO TAG MEMBERS - I'M DOING THIS OUT OF ORDER

Normally if I reproduce a letter or Delegation to TAG it is after the fact. In other words I've respectfully sent it to TAG members first which is appropriate in the vast majority of situations. Today I'm posting it here first, however that is not meant as a gesture of disrespect to most of the honest, sincere TAG members. I think my readers know me well enough to know that if I decide to disrespect somebody (eg. Lanxess, GHD, MECP) then I will do it bluntly and straight up. .......................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... ..................................................................................Sept. 24/21 .................................................................................................................. I certainly expect that all TAG members have seen last Monday's article in the Waterloo Region Record titled "Chemicals found in drain to Elmira's creek" written by Leah Gerber. Yes that is the same Leah Gerber who virtually attends the public TAG meetings. For any who haven't read it on your own or received a copy via Woolwich Township or Lisa Schaefer then I hope you are asking yourself the question "Why haven't I?". ............................................................................................................... Leah's article is revealing for some of the excuses Lanxess and fellow travellors are and will be making as to why sediments found in the bottom of the Stroh Drain at 24.4 ppt. TEQ (dioxin) and at .027 ppm. DDD, both much higher than the criteria, are somehow not significant. The dioxin/furan highest result of three exceedances out of four detections actually exceeds 92% of the TEQ sediment detections in the 2020 Canagagigue Creek Sediment & Soil Investigation and exceeds a whopping 94% of the TEQ sediment detections in the 2017 Canagagigue Creek Sediment & Soil Investigations. .............................................................................................................. Those results are a smoking gun unto themselves. Combine them with soil exceedances of both dioxins and DDT compounds along the Stroh/Lanxess property line (but on the Stroh property) and the extent of encroachment of Uniroyal Chemical toxic compounds upon the Stroh farm becomes clearer. Then add in NDMA found in groundwater cross-gradient 240 metres to the east and suddenly major gravity flowing, leaking toxic waste pits and ponds becomes more like a flood. While NDMA was found cross-gradient by groundwater flow direction it was detected downgradient by surface water, gravity flow. Then realize that by 1969-70 these discharges ended and hence what you are looking at are dangerous concentrations still existing more than half a century later. ..................................................................................................................... The evidence of neglect at the minimum and negligence not being the maximum (there is worse) leads rational and honest people to question the intent, integrity, competence and credibility of the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE/MECP). ................................................................................................................... Lastly there seems to be a rumour going around that actually soil samples have been taken in and around the Stroh Drain albeit not by the appropriate authorities who should have done it between seven and thirty years ago. To date only two out of fiteen soil samples have been analyzed specifically for dioxin/furans and both samples detected them. I know about this rumour because I started it in my Elmira Advocate blog. ........................................................................................................................ To date the MOE/MECP have not requested the lab report from me. Perhaps they are embarassed regarding their behaviour in assisting Chemtura and Woolwich Township in scrapping CPAC in 2015. Perhaps they continue to not want to know the obvious. Just imagine the red faces, embarassment, shame and loss of credibility they will suffer if and when the true extent of toxic contamination on the Stroh property is found and confirmed. It would be almost as bad as when the long promised, allegedly fully protected Elmira wellfields were discovered contaminated by Uniroyal Chemical in November 1989. ............................................................................................................. Alan Marshall CPAC & EH-Team member