I'M A DELEGATE AT MONDAY'S ON-LINE WOOLWICH COUNCIL MEETING

My choice of topic is the Bolender Landfill methane issues here in Elmira known since at least 1983 and dealt with amateurishly ever since. I will also be using a small amount of data drawn from the recent (2021) R.J. Burnside report on behalf of 39A Holdings Inc. who are proposing developing a parking lot for trucks and trailers above the former landfill. Basically I will be advising Council (again) as to the apparently unresolved methane issues emanating from this site.  As mentioned earlier here there is a nexus between this issue and the current Canagagigue Creek Risk Assessment (Stantec) purporting to declare that there are no unacceptable human health risks in the Creek downstream to the Grand River.  That is such an incredible crock based upon bad data, bad sampling including locational sampling biases as well as improper sampling techniques (shovels versus proper core samplers). It also includes biases against including using allegedly non Uniroyal Chemical contaminants known to be in the Creek (PCBs, PAHs, mercury etc.). Also the Risk Assessment has not examined leachate problems from at least four maybe five landfills located along the Creek. These leachate issues include the potential for future ruptures or rusting through of barrels of solvents etc. either from Uniroyal or Varnicolor Chemical.                                ..........................................................................................                                                                            My data comes primarily from a series of reports done on behalf of Woolwich Township between 1983 and 2016. They were done by Conestoga Rovers (CRA) and the last couple by GHD who merged with CRA.  Finally the earlier mentioned 2021  R.J. Burnside report will also be included. In a nutshell the methane gas sub-surface still exceeds both the 20% LEL (lower explosive limit) criteria as well as 100% of the LEL. The monitoring over the last 39 years has been sporadic at best and has focused on the west side of the property around the former Paleshi Garage as well as the north side as methane gas there was quite close to Elmira Pet Foods. The so called Gas Collection System seems to have been a bust pretty much from the beginning which is outrageous. Various reports have suggested it be replaced as well as producing a Remedial Action Plan six years ago.  My opinion based upon their very own reports is that Woolwich Township have been negligent in protecting neighbours as well as the public from potential methane fueled fires and explosions.