DRY CLEANERS & ENVIRONMENT CANADA
I have absolutely no idea why the Federal government through Environment Canada is chasing dry cleaners rather than their provincial counterpart namely the Quebec Environment Ministry. Regardless dry cleaners have long been known as a heavy user of tetrachloroethylene also known as perchloroethylene or perc. This story in today's K-W Record "Dry cleaners top target for Environment Canada" really focuses on the industry's record with the following quote "The rate of non compliance is particularily high because of the high turnover rate of owners of those facilities". Clearly a major part of the problem isn't just air releases but also releases to the ground which contaminate the groundwater.
Monday, February 14, 2011
PROVINCE BLINKS ON WIND FARMS
Saturday's K-W Record carrys the following story "Offshore wind farms on hold". The Ontario Minister of the Environment, Brad Duguid, claims that the science regarding health issues is lacking on off shore wind farms whereas it is clear for on shore wind farms. According to him there is 30 or 40 years of science stating that there is no on shore health issues with wind farms. Fortunately a growing number of Ontario residents understand both that there is science and there is science and also that sometimes politicians have been known to lie. Personally it seems to me that onshore wind farms are more likely to be responsible for human health issues whereas I'd be more concerned about migratory birds being affected by off shore farms.
Saturday's K-W Record carrys the following story "Offshore wind farms on hold". The Ontario Minister of the Environment, Brad Duguid, claims that the science regarding health issues is lacking on off shore wind farms whereas it is clear for on shore wind farms. According to him there is 30 or 40 years of science stating that there is no on shore health issues with wind farms. Fortunately a growing number of Ontario residents understand both that there is science and there is science and also that sometimes politicians have been known to lie. Personally it seems to me that onshore wind farms are more likely to be responsible for human health issues whereas I'd be more concerned about migratory birds being affected by off shore farms.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
KITCHENER ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT
There was a notice of this report's availability in the K-W Record late this week. It is available either at Kitchener Utilities, 83 Elmsdale Dr. or online at www.kitchenerutilities.ca . I went the internet route and was not disappointed. I expected a crap report and that's exactly what it is. The Regional Annual Water Quality Reports are bad enough with the amounts of information and misinformation, but this City report was really bad, essentially over a page of chemical parameters including solvents, pesticides, P.C.B.'s etc. are just blank. No explanation, just blank. At the same time there were two surprises for me. The readings for lead had seven exceedances. My understanding is that the maximum level for lead is supposed to be 10 ug/l or 10 parts per billion (ppb). These exceedances went up to 231 ppb. That is very bad . Secondly I was astounded to see ""Table 1- Adverse Water Quality Incident Summary-January 1 to December 31, 2010". This table is 1 1/3 pages long and the Adverse Type is referred to as Low Chlorine. The sample dates start in January 2010 and the only month without an Adverse listing is December. What the hell is going on here? If this "Low Chlorine" refers to chlorine residuals then this is serious. Low chlorine residuals were the basic cause of the Walkerton disaster. Yes bacteria got into the system but it was the incompetence and ignorance of all involved in not maintaining proper chlorine residual levels in the distribution system which resulted in the bacterial outbreak and infection. In a nutshell this Report is typical of both Municipal and Regional reports in that it is evasive, non comprehensive and exceedingly unclear. In particular a detailed explanation should be given for exactly what "Low Chlorine" means and if it is what I suspect than Kitchener are flirting with an E-coli or other bacterial outbreak.
There was a notice of this report's availability in the K-W Record late this week. It is available either at Kitchener Utilities, 83 Elmsdale Dr. or online at www.kitchenerutilities.ca . I went the internet route and was not disappointed. I expected a crap report and that's exactly what it is. The Regional Annual Water Quality Reports are bad enough with the amounts of information and misinformation, but this City report was really bad, essentially over a page of chemical parameters including solvents, pesticides, P.C.B.'s etc. are just blank. No explanation, just blank. At the same time there were two surprises for me. The readings for lead had seven exceedances. My understanding is that the maximum level for lead is supposed to be 10 ug/l or 10 parts per billion (ppb). These exceedances went up to 231 ppb. That is very bad . Secondly I was astounded to see ""Table 1- Adverse Water Quality Incident Summary-January 1 to December 31, 2010". This table is 1 1/3 pages long and the Adverse Type is referred to as Low Chlorine. The sample dates start in January 2010 and the only month without an Adverse listing is December. What the hell is going on here? If this "Low Chlorine" refers to chlorine residuals then this is serious. Low chlorine residuals were the basic cause of the Walkerton disaster. Yes bacteria got into the system but it was the incompetence and ignorance of all involved in not maintaining proper chlorine residual levels in the distribution system which resulted in the bacterial outbreak and infection. In a nutshell this Report is typical of both Municipal and Regional reports in that it is evasive, non comprehensive and exceedingly unclear. In particular a detailed explanation should be given for exactly what "Low Chlorine" means and if it is what I suspect than Kitchener are flirting with an E-coli or other bacterial outbreak.
Friday, February 11, 2011
"THE VIEW FROM HERE" - CARTOON
I may have mentioned before how much I enjoy the cartoons by Scott Arnold, published in the Woolwich Observer. Tomorrow's is as it should be, both funny and thought provoking. It shows protesters carrying signs complaining about wind turbines, nuclear power, coal and electric transmission lines. The one local item of interest the protesters have missed, is of course, Bio-Fuel. Nevertheless the text points out that the province is at odds with many citizens in regards to their energy policys, except with our very local Old Order Mennonite community. Perhaps the rest of us, sooner than we want, may have to seriously consider what energy we truly need versus how much we simply would like.
I may have mentioned before how much I enjoy the cartoons by Scott Arnold, published in the Woolwich Observer. Tomorrow's is as it should be, both funny and thought provoking. It shows protesters carrying signs complaining about wind turbines, nuclear power, coal and electric transmission lines. The one local item of interest the protesters have missed, is of course, Bio-Fuel. Nevertheless the text points out that the province is at odds with many citizens in regards to their energy policys, except with our very local Old Order Mennonite community. Perhaps the rest of us, sooner than we want, may have to seriously consider what energy we truly need versus how much we simply would like.
CAR-SHARE GROUP APPROACHES WOOLWICH COUNCIL
Oh boy, maybe this could be a tough decision. It's not that the dollars involved are large so much as does Council want to set a precedent. Tomorrow's Woolwich Observer (out today) has the following story "Car-share group seeks support for Elmira service". I can't state how fabulous I think the whole idea is. I truly believe that there is a demand and that it is growing for part time car "ownership". Many people who don't have a daily commute still badly need reliable transportation perhaps only two or three times a week for shopping and errands that they can't do on foot. From an environmental standpoint, having a car available by appointment will certainly help people lump their errands together and reduce impulse and last minute driving.
The decision for Council of course will be whether to fork over the upfront $30,000 to this worthy cause. This organization is a non profit cooperative and the municipality's loan would assist with both costs and ability to attain the required membership . Currently Grand River CarShare (GRCS) has 400 members sharing 16 vehicles.
Oh boy, maybe this could be a tough decision. It's not that the dollars involved are large so much as does Council want to set a precedent. Tomorrow's Woolwich Observer (out today) has the following story "Car-share group seeks support for Elmira service". I can't state how fabulous I think the whole idea is. I truly believe that there is a demand and that it is growing for part time car "ownership". Many people who don't have a daily commute still badly need reliable transportation perhaps only two or three times a week for shopping and errands that they can't do on foot. From an environmental standpoint, having a car available by appointment will certainly help people lump their errands together and reduce impulse and last minute driving.
The decision for Council of course will be whether to fork over the upfront $30,000 to this worthy cause. This organization is a non profit cooperative and the municipality's loan would assist with both costs and ability to attain the required membership . Currently Grand River CarShare (GRCS) has 400 members sharing 16 vehicles.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
CHEMICALS IN COMMON (ELMIRA)
The following list of chemicals found in the shallow groundwater at Uniroyal/Chemtura have also been found in the shallow groundwater at Varnicolor Chemical. Keep in mind the shallow groundwater at Chemtura flows to the Canagagigue Creek not towards Varnicolor. The list is cellosolve, Benzothiazole, MBT, carboxin, aniline, chlorophenols, acetone and NDMA. Similarily the following chemicals which were in Varnicolor's shallow groundwater all have uses in the textile industry namely dimethylurea, aniline (phenylamine), tetrachlorethylene, 1,4 butanediol and dimethyl formamide. Dimethylamine which is a precurser to NDMA is also a precurser to dimethyl formamide and dimethylurea.
It is possible (probable) that Uniroyal and Borg were legitimate customers of Varnicolor who afterall were a licensed hazardous waste disposal site. The other interpretation is that SOME of Varnicolor's contamination came from Borg. During the 80's there was a major issue with liquid contaminants in the Howard St. storm drain which runs between Borg and Varnicolor, down Howard Ave. towards the creek. All the following chemicals which at one time or another have been found in the south wellfield (E7/E9) have also been found in Varnicolor's groundwater: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, phenolics, NDMA and cyclohexylamine.
The following list of chemicals found in the shallow groundwater at Uniroyal/Chemtura have also been found in the shallow groundwater at Varnicolor Chemical. Keep in mind the shallow groundwater at Chemtura flows to the Canagagigue Creek not towards Varnicolor. The list is cellosolve, Benzothiazole, MBT, carboxin, aniline, chlorophenols, acetone and NDMA. Similarily the following chemicals which were in Varnicolor's shallow groundwater all have uses in the textile industry namely dimethylurea, aniline (phenylamine), tetrachlorethylene, 1,4 butanediol and dimethyl formamide. Dimethylamine which is a precurser to NDMA is also a precurser to dimethyl formamide and dimethylurea.
It is possible (probable) that Uniroyal and Borg were legitimate customers of Varnicolor who afterall were a licensed hazardous waste disposal site. The other interpretation is that SOME of Varnicolor's contamination came from Borg. During the 80's there was a major issue with liquid contaminants in the Howard St. storm drain which runs between Borg and Varnicolor, down Howard Ave. towards the creek. All the following chemicals which at one time or another have been found in the south wellfield (E7/E9) have also been found in Varnicolor's groundwater: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, phenolics, NDMA and cyclohexylamine.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
FIVE MAN M.O.E. TEAM LOOKS FOR ELMIRA NDMA SOURCES
This occurred in early 1990. I only know two of the names of these five. Probably I would recognize the other three names and be similarily unimpressed. The two I know are Gord Robinson and Glen McDonald. Mr. McDonald examined Varnicolor's Lot 91 in the early 80's after investigative reporter Jock Ferguson, out of Toronto, printed a story about drums of Trichloroethylene leaking into a swamp, on Lot 91 in Elmira. Mr. McDonald was later fired by the M.O.E. (May 1990) and charged criminally with Breach of Trust in regards to a leaked "secret" raid on Varnicolor Chemical in Elmira. Gord Robinson's actions have been described in detail by me to both the M.O.E. and the media. In a nutshell, in the past, I have suggested that Mr. Robinson's ability to see and find pollution may be comprimised by his inability to find his own butt in a blinding snowstorm.
In the extremely shallow Surficial Aquifer at Varnicolor (62 Union St.), the highest NDMA groundwater reading was only .43 ppb. This reading although low is still way above the drinking water standard of .009 ppb (parts per billion). The only well drilled deeper into the still shallow Upper Aquifer (39 ft.), mysteriously has never been tested for NDMA. Perhaps more accurately I should say that no NDMA results have ever been made public. What was made public however was the finding of 14 ppb. NDMA in a surface sump on the Varnicolor site. Also found were soil readings 25 feet down of 3.1 and 3.3 ppb. of NDMA. Furthermore the original Control Order issued upon Varnicolor ordered deep groundweater testing beneath the site. This requirement which was negotiated and discussed with myself, Rich Clausi and Ted Oldfield was surrepticiously dropped when the Control Order was transferred over to the new owner, Phillip's Environmental.
The other point to keep in mind is the extreme mobility of NDMA in groundwater. Finding it deeper versus shallow merely indicates a time frame for the pollution. If it was the on site can coating operation which introduced Dimethylamine, a precurser to NDMA, into the subsurface then this would explain higher readings at depth. Basically the can coating operation had been finished for years by 1990. Clearly the way to clear up the mystery included deeper soil and groundwater readings at Varnicolor (and downgradient). Equally clear is the fact that this option was originally agreed to publicly by the M.O.E. and then privately and quietly, behind closed doors, abandoned.
This occurred in early 1990. I only know two of the names of these five. Probably I would recognize the other three names and be similarily unimpressed. The two I know are Gord Robinson and Glen McDonald. Mr. McDonald examined Varnicolor's Lot 91 in the early 80's after investigative reporter Jock Ferguson, out of Toronto, printed a story about drums of Trichloroethylene leaking into a swamp, on Lot 91 in Elmira. Mr. McDonald was later fired by the M.O.E. (May 1990) and charged criminally with Breach of Trust in regards to a leaked "secret" raid on Varnicolor Chemical in Elmira. Gord Robinson's actions have been described in detail by me to both the M.O.E. and the media. In a nutshell, in the past, I have suggested that Mr. Robinson's ability to see and find pollution may be comprimised by his inability to find his own butt in a blinding snowstorm.
In the extremely shallow Surficial Aquifer at Varnicolor (62 Union St.), the highest NDMA groundwater reading was only .43 ppb. This reading although low is still way above the drinking water standard of .009 ppb (parts per billion). The only well drilled deeper into the still shallow Upper Aquifer (39 ft.), mysteriously has never been tested for NDMA. Perhaps more accurately I should say that no NDMA results have ever been made public. What was made public however was the finding of 14 ppb. NDMA in a surface sump on the Varnicolor site. Also found were soil readings 25 feet down of 3.1 and 3.3 ppb. of NDMA. Furthermore the original Control Order issued upon Varnicolor ordered deep groundweater testing beneath the site. This requirement which was negotiated and discussed with myself, Rich Clausi and Ted Oldfield was surrepticiously dropped when the Control Order was transferred over to the new owner, Phillip's Environmental.
The other point to keep in mind is the extreme mobility of NDMA in groundwater. Finding it deeper versus shallow merely indicates a time frame for the pollution. If it was the on site can coating operation which introduced Dimethylamine, a precurser to NDMA, into the subsurface then this would explain higher readings at depth. Basically the can coating operation had been finished for years by 1990. Clearly the way to clear up the mystery included deeper soil and groundwater readings at Varnicolor (and downgradient). Equally clear is the fact that this option was originally agreed to publicly by the M.O.E. and then privately and quietly, behind closed doors, abandoned.
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