LAST TRAC MEETING WAS 2 1/2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW NEXT ONE (Mon. DEC. 9/24) HAS 108 ADDITIONAL PAGES OF READING

 

Please I was a formal UPAC & CPAC member for ten years plus I still read these packages cover to cover and guess what: I am one of the few to do so. Other members whether lay persons (citizens) or so called professionals simply do not have either the time or the will to do that much reading prior to the two and three hour meetings. The credentialed ones in particular feel that their civic duty is being fulfilled when they volunteer for a municipal committee and then show up most of the time. Believe me lots of them struggle to do even that. This is a big reason that it is so easy for Lanxess, and the MECP to snow even the professionally trained TRAC members. Think of (professional) hockey teams playing each other but only one is getting paid for their game time, their preparation time, their travel time plus expenses. Volunteers let their volunteer work slip before they let their income producing work slip.

I'm still reading the 108 pages I received three days ago. Some is easy and some is tough sledding but it all takes time. The AGENDA alone is 1 1/2 typed pages worth. The Minutes of the last meeting (Nov. 14/24) are only 9 pages and all the rest is new items i.e. "Updates". "Other Business" and "Correspondence Received" . Much of that is propaganda such as the new MECP 2028 Order to replace the old failed one. So now we get a new failed one. There will be an Update on the HHERA  which ignores the fatal sampling flaws in it from the very beginning. Screening of Enhanced Technologies for the off-site groundwater aquifers is another waste of time as if any of these worked then why weren't they embraced and used twenty or thirty years ago? Oh right because they cost more money to implement than talking about this cleanup will ever cost.. 

At the moment with little to no real discussion we are advised that the technologies being retained for further study include ISCO, ISCR, Bio-Augmentation and Bio-Stimulation.  All of these plus all of the rejected ones have some merit but once again the polluter is deciding everything including which will move forward and which won't. Look why doesn't Woolwich Township and the Region simply shut TRAC down for the good it does and declare everything clean? The wildlife in and around the downstream Creek won't complain  nor will the Old Order Mennonites who's health is affected. Certainly the MECP could divert more money say to ignoring Grassy Narrows and other environmental crises but do so in a more smooth and professional manner.