IT SURE SEEMS TO ME THAT MR. MACKIN (LANXESS) IS FULL OF BULL RIGHT ALONG WITH THE ONT. MIN. OF ENVIRONMENT

 

Michael Mackin is/was a spokesperson for Lanxess Canada here in Elmira. I and a few others take umbrage with either blatant lies or even just disingenuous statements intentionally made to mislead the public. Sorry but that's the way I'm built and living here in Elmira unfortunately it happens far too often from various authorities (MECP), politicians and of course polluters and their consultants. In this case I'm referring to an article in the Woolwich Observer dated May 18, 2023 and written by Leah Gerber titled "  Chlorobenzene spike latest mystery for environmental watchdog". 

According to sources there has been recent increases in chlorobenzene concentrations found in observation well CH-75B. Now Lanxess would have us believe that there are other sources of chlorobenzene in the Elmira Aquifers which certainly is a realistic possibility based upon the number of local facilities using chlorobenzene and the sweetheart deal of Oct./Nov. 1991 between Uniroyal Chemical and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Basically at that time Uniroyal accepted 100% blame and responsibility in exchange for not proceeding at the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) to eviscerate the Ministry of Environment's credibility and integrity. Also Uniroyal received some slippery wording allowing them to escape DNAPL cleanup based upon the Ministry's biased interpretations of future reports written by Uniroyal consultants and others. Also the 1991 deals have allowed Uniroyal and successors to so far escape all downstream cleanup of the Canagagigue Creek that has been contaminated initially with solvents etc. but remains to this day as a repository of DDT, dioxins and more from Uniroyal's behaviour.

I also believe that there is likely a second source of NDMA to the Elmira Aquifers which to date has not been admitted to by any of the guilty parties. The entire "investigation" was a joke by the MOE (later MECP) and that also would have been exposed at the EAB hearing if it had been allowed to continue. Currently we have admissions that both Nutrite and Varnicolor contributed chemicals to the Elmira Aquifers with Nutrite responsible for ammonia and Varnicolor for half a dozen chlorinated solvents. 

Meanwhile both Mr. Machin, Tiffany Svensson and others are all quite willing to blame some unknown chlorobenzene contributor versus determining who the culprit is. The MECP however are sticking to their 1991 story suggesting that it's all speculation and the chlorobenzene plume is contained within the larger NDMA plume and will be remediated eventually along with the NDMA. Likely candidates for further pollution blame would include the former Borg Textiles and former Varnicolor Chemical. Sanyo has always caught my eye based upon nearby observation well CH-38 and its' results over the decades. Nobody of course mentions the small cleanup at MotiveAir (First St.) years ago that most likely was a result of their next door neighbour Varnicolor Chemical. Other nearby companies are also potential candidates.

By the way the concentration increases at CH-75B are likely due to the shutting down of pumping well W4 that was controlling the chlorobenzene  DNAPL found in observation well OW57-32R. Everyone knows this and everyone lies about it. That off-site DNAPL was an embarrassment to all the guilty parties.