Sebastian's opinion on the efficacy and competence of TAG was initially written in October 2023 and read to TAG via councillor Eric Schwindt. They have since been published here in this Blog (July 5/24) as well as being presented again to TAG & Woolwich Council around March 2024.
"Being on TAG and predecessor CPAC, for over 12 years now, I have experienced first-hand what transpires in terms of the citizens review process. It is deficient, in large measure because of the imbalance between the company, the MECP, and the citizen representatives. This is partly because of the capitol the company has at it's disposal and, related, the technical expertise it can command. The sad reality is for third parties (e.g. GHD) to be unduly influenced by the company's interest; "he who pays the piper calls the tune". The reports and presentations over the years have been favourable to the company. All of these are placed in a format of irrefutable and wholly "objective" science. There is rarely a critical word. Against this, a committee of laypersons- most of whom are not technically proficient in hydrogeology- are overwhelmed with detail and outmanoeuvred. Not surprisingly, they become deferential to appearance rather than really expose the substantive. And what is that? We are just five years away from when the remediation of our groundwater was to be completed. We are at least several decades away from coming even close to achieving that.
To decrease that timeline, TAG or equivalent need to have more means to challenge the company's performance. Getting more specialists who are not beholden to give truly independent reports would be a start. If that is too much, than at least allow TAG o have whatever report comes from a company-funded consulting group subject to a third party peer review. These could come from academe or they could come from genuinely autonomous environmental consultants, i.e. out of province. What should also be considered is allowing the silenced to be heard. There are individuals who have first-hand knowledge about the company's activities who have a non-disclosure covenant. They should be allowed to speak publicly. The closer the scrutiny, the more likely that some of the self-serving assumptions and hypotheses can be exposed. Only then will a degree of balance return in our relationship and some genuine progress be possible.
-Sebastian Siebel-Achenbach "
This writeup above is by a TAG member (Sebastian) of over eight years namely from September 2015-October 2023. Astoundingly after Woolwich Council "reexamined" the RAC & TAG process they changed the name (i.e. lipstick on a pig) to TRAC and reappointed the very same group of "overwhelmed" and "not technically proficient in hydrogeology" persons to TRAC. This description also applies to Sebastian who clearly does not mind going through the motions and giving credibility to junk science and client driven consultants.
Sebastian clearly does not mind going through the motions and giving credibility to junk science and client driven consultants.
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