WOOLWICH BIO-EN CITIZENS LIASON COMMITTEE

As usual the above meeting took place at the Elmira Library at 7 pm. Chuck Martin gave a Bio-En update as the Chair Earl Brubacher could not attend. Doug chaired in his place. Chuck advised there was a firecall last week by a neighbour which turned out to be a false alarm. The flare for burning excess gas had been running at the time and the neighbour also incorrectly thought they had seen smoke. Woolwich Bio-En's Application for Amendment is still before the Ministry of the Environment. This concerns adding different forms of feedstocks to their approval such as papers and mushroom wastes. The Amendment is also to clarify the meaning around 80 trucks per day versus 80 truck movements per day. Also Chuck seemed quite disappointed that Bio-En's plans to provide energy to a neighbouring farm have fallen through due to the M.O.E.'s strict requirements. These requirements would have included two full REA's (renewable energy approvals) one for the farm and one for Bio-En. These approvals would have required studies including an archeological one. Chuck advised that for August and September Bio-En were at about 2/3 capacity.

A motion was passed that these meetings would continue every second month and after six months would be reviewed again. There was also a brief discussion around which documents and reports should be made available to committee members. Chuck suggested Annual Reports to the M.O.E. were appropriate but perhaps committee members would like to see more. This will be an Agenda item for the next meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2014, 7 pm. in the library.

There was an amusing story after the meeting as to how metamucil in bulk quantity does not flow well through the pump system at Bio-En.

PAST SOURCE REMOVAL & "CLEANUPS" BY UNIROYAL/CHEMTURA

Jeff Merriman of Chemtura has often verbally responded that he has been physically present for various source removals at pits and ponds on the property over the decades. Furthermore he has solemnly advised us that he and others visually inspected the bottom of the excavations and ensured that digging continued until there was visually clean soil. This criteria ie. visual inspection has no scientific standing or relevance whatsoever. In fact current CPAC members with decades of experience in site remediations have suggested that Jeff must have "calibrated eye-balls" and secondly that these were actually "non clean-ups". Allegedly there are no vapour readings, soil analyses or any other valid scientific proof that indeed all wastes or contamination was fully and properly removed as promised. This therefore brings into question and disrepute each and every past excavation they have done and claimed success. This also explains why several pits have been done multiple times as they clearly were more interested in appearances than in complete removal of toxins.

DO WE ALSO HAVE PCB'S IN THE CANAGAGIGUE CREEK?

Most recently CPAC & SWAT have received a report from the Ontario M.O.E. indicating a chronology of studies done in the creek by the EMRB or Environmental and Reporting Branch of the M.O.E.. The title of the report is "Canagagigue Creek Proposed Study Design for 2014 dated May 29,2014". They indicate that sampling for P.C.B.'s in the creek has occurred in 1987, 1994, 1995 & 1996.

My copy of the original report by Rein Jaagumagi and Donna Bedard in 1997 shows positive detections of PCB's in the sediments of the creek on the Uniroyal/Chemtura property. These detections are in ng/g which equals parts per billion which are substantial detections. In 1995 there are both trace detections as well as one detection of 120 ng/g. There are several other detections including 200, 320 and 880 ng/g which then have p54. I believe that that indicates which type of PCB was detected such as Aroclor 1254. Other results for 1996 in the floodplain soils downstream indicate results such as 40p40 up to 140p40. Again while I'm not overly impressed with the minimal user friendly approach to their Tables I believe that this indicates detections of 40 and 140 ng/g of Aroclor 1240.

The focus clearly was not on PCB's at the time nor to my knowledge have the M.O.E. released any further test results for PCB's since 1997. This is unfortunate but not surprising.

A TALE OF TWO CAPS (Citizen Advisory Panels) - Removing CPAC FROM MUNICIPAL CONTROL

Part of the above title comes from the on-line posted Minutes of the National Advisory Panel for the Chemical Industry Association of Canada held May 2, 2013 in Toronto. Item #4 on the Agenda is Chemtura, Elmira: A Tale of Two Caps. I particularily enjoy the title because indeed it is a tale. I also enjoy watching former CPAC members align themselves with Chemtura (Dwight Este) on environmental issues. Afterall we all know how honest, forthright and proactive Chemtura/Uniroyal have been for a very long time in Elmira, Ontario. Or for that matter throughout the United States. Go on-line and see who are currently suing Chemtura U.S. for which assorted contaminated sites.

Pat Mclean and Ron Ormson, two former CPAC members, are members of the National Advisory Panel. Ron is both technically competent and informed and would have no difficulty comprehending any and all issues raised in that forum. Pat however is technically incompetent in all fields environmental and scientific. Both of them in conjunction with Dwight Este misrepresented the differences between the old CPAC and the current one. Once again I must point out that Ron Ormson has not attended a single CPAC meeting since the current CPAC was formed (4 years). Nor have any other former CPAC members with the occasional exception of Pat McLean and Susan Bryant. Pat was embarassed into it by way of the verification team in Elmira in 2012. She was appropriately asked as to whether she was up to date with the current goings at CPAC. She weakly replied that she had a colleague occasionally attending ie. Susan Bryant

This lack of participation and attendance by past CPAC members parallels a decades long lack of participation and attendance by Assuring Protection for Tomorrow's Environment (APTE) members. This is precisely how one or two people can gain inappropriate influence over a group. If the one or two members are unduly enamoured by influence, status or ego and they are more willing than their peers to put in the time; then they can return unchallenged and give their version of reality to the group.

The lies promulgated by Pat, possibly Ron as he was present although the Minutes fail to specify which former CPAC member is speaking, and Dwight Este are blatant fabrications. Dwight's are the most obviously self serving and he admits his discontent with the requirement that CPAC meetings be public. The old CPAC and Pat are very keen on private, by invitation only meetings.

One notable comment by either Ron or Pat is "We want the ministry (M.O.E.) involved as they are the only body with authority. We don't want the municipality involved." Pat you are a world class hypocrite. The municipality (Woolwich) gave you the CPAC Chair's position in 1999 and as well after you lost the 2006 election and were off Council. Your buddy former Mayor Bill Strauss was the operator of at least two contaminated sites in Woolwich Township (Strauss Fuels & Heidelberg Garage). His influence was a major factor which kept you on as CPAC Chair from 2006 to 2010. Then when the Mayor and most of Council were turfed, then and only then you criticize the new Woolwich Council. Even more hypocritical is the fact that YOU are the one responsible for making CPAC a formal committee of Woolwich Council in 2000/2001. Dwight Este confirms the timing in these on-line Minutes and I was present arguing against you in 2000 on this issue.

THE SECOND ELMIRA WATER CRISIS LOOMING: PCB's, DIOXINS & DDT

Yesterday's Elmira Independent carrys the following story "Ministry censured by CPAC". This is a writeup of the CPAC meeting last week. It not only includes information about the censure (for non attendance) but also about the M.O.E.'s latest sediment sampling this past June in the downstream Canagagiue Creek. Finally it describes in some detail the presentation made by Graham Chevreau at last week's public CPAC meeting.

I believe that we are at a critical point in our understanding of the negligent or worse behaviour of our local chemical company in regards to their using the natural environment for their toxic waste disposal . Furthermore the major reason it's taken this long to get to where we are is due to Chemtura's ongoing client driven consultants' misinformation and misinterpretations of data. This of course has been aided and abetted by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Both the Director and Assistant Director of the West Central Region of the M.O.E. have left recently. This is no loss to the public nor to the environment in my opinion. Bill Bardswick retired in June and George Karlos has just left under pressure from CPAC and under strange circumstances including false statements issued by the M.O.E.. These statements stated he was on temporary assignment followed up a couple of days later by his statement that he had a new position outside the M.O.E.. George has made at least two incredibly bad moves for the M.O.E.. He actively lobbied to have a citizen removed from a sub-committee of CPAC (SWAT) namely myself and he promoted a study of the downstream Canagagigue Creek in 2012 in order "to reassure" the public. What a bone headed move that was at least regarding reassuring the public. The newer data is anything but reassuring as it clearly shows over the last two summers (2012 & 2013) ongoing sources of Dioxins and DDT in the Canagagigue. DDT is at especially dangerous levels.

This will be the second Elmira crisis. DDT and Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They adversely affect life in and around the creek as well as any human contact such as in the Martin swimming pond. Furthermore PCB's were also found in the creek in 1987, 1994, 1995 and 1996. P.C.B.'s are also POP's and not surprisingly appear not to have been tested for during 2012, 2013 and the latest round this past summer. George has opened a can of worms and CPAC have done their duty and discovered major contaminant pathways off the Chemtura property's east side. The evidence is becoming overwhelming and Chemtura and the M.O.E. are reeling. Do they continue their coverup and lying or do they downplay the seriousness? George and Bill Bardswick are now on the record in a recent self published book with their fatuous and stupid statements regarding both myself and more importantly the current Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC).

It's time for the new Environment Minister to show his chops. Step up and meet with CPAC and SWAT and do your duty to the public and the environment.

GOVERNMENT (M.O.E.) LYING IS ADDICTIVE

Well, well, well! Do you believe in coincidences? Last Thursday George Karlos Assistant Director of the West Central Region of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment failed to show, with minimal advance notice, at a public CPAC meeting. We were advised a few days later by e-mail that he was on "temporary assignment" for the M.O.E.. The next day Bob Burtt's book was publicly released with all kinds of blatantly stupid and false comments by the recently retired Director WCR, Bill Bardswick. George kept his comments in the book mostly to the company line (ie. Chemtura's) that pump and treat (hydraulic containment) was working and that the current Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) were off base. Lo and behold late yesterday CPAC received an e-mail from George Karlos stating "I have accepted a position outside of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and would ask that you direct future requests to Sue brooks in the WCR Directors Office. George Karlos".

Not only did CPAC unanimously pass a Motion of Censure (including Mark Bauman) against the M.O.E. a week ago they also unanimously passed a Motion requesting immediate data from the M.O.E. regarding soil and groundwater analysis on both the eastern and southern borders of Chemtura next to the Stroh and Martin farm. The M.O.E. are under pressure from CPAC to do their jobs properly and apparently that is too much for them to handle.

I mentioned Mark Bauman in the above paragraph specifically. Mark has come through on a number of important votes during his time on CPAC. While I'm still struggling with his raison d'etre I did receive some interesting and significant news yesterday from a past colleague of his. To the best of my knowledge this colleague does not have an axe to grind. She claims that often Mark plays the devil's advocate on purpose. He doesn't mind being the odd man out on some Council issues. She believes that he is basically honest but simply quirky. Huh! Well maybe Mark has fooled me with his "devil's advocate" positions in the past although they have included improperly keeping me off CPAC thus playing directly into Chemtura's and the M.O.E.'s hands. Oh well as long as he keeps supporting the current CPAC I'll keep struggling with trying to understand where the heck he's coming from on other issues.

I've been predicting major pushback by Chemtura and the M.O.E. for some time now. It is underway. The new Council need to inform themselves quickly and unfortunately they will find that this is not an issue with two groups of honest people allegedly pursuing the same goals. Both Chemtura and the M.O.E. talk out of one side of their mouths while pursuing goals that are self serving and not in the public interest.

MAKING A VIRTUE OUT OF A VICE AND A VICE OUT OF A VIRTUE

If my memory serves me correctly it was a good friend and colleague who suggested to me a few years back that Pat McLean liked to make a virtue out of her complete lack of technical knowledge and understanding of groundwater, contaminant transport, chemistry and a number of other disciplines helpful to understanding the big picture in Elmira. While most citizens are in the same boat I can advise that there hasn't been a single citizen involved with the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) who hasn't vastly increased their knowledge and technical understanding of the issues with less than half the time involved as Pat. I can also advise that these same citizens while expressing an opinion when requested are not nearly so opinionated, adamant and dogmatic as Pat. I confess that in a moment of pique I once suggested, only half in jest, that Pat didn't know the difference between a DNAPL and a horse apple.

The preceding paragraph might not be relevant or necessary if those self same hypocrites weren't so aggressive in criticizing the current CPAC for 1) not having 100 years experience like the old CPAC as Bill Bardswick in writing recently and incorrectly stated and 2) weren't so aggressive in condemning the current CPAC for including me and my 25 years experience studying and researching contaminated sites throughout Waterloo Region while maintaining my position as the single most technically knowledgeable citizen specifically related to the Elmira water crisis.

1) in the preceding paragraph. The old CPAC did not remotely have 100 years of CPAC experience. Pat McLean at best had one years experience ten times. Susan Bryant had the most and lets give her 21 years (1989-2010 when she was dropped from CPAC). Ron Ormson and Gerry Heideburt both had considerable CPAC experience as well as private experience but nowhere near enough to add up to one hundred with or without including me. Funny how dropping me from CPAC in 2008 wasn't considered by Pat, Susan & Bill B. to count as a loss of experience.

2) Wilf Ruland in a moment of candour has suggested that he's never met an individual such as I with such an immediate and intuitive grasp of hydrogeological principles combined with an almost photographic memory. I appreciate that Wilf as well as I appreciate your May 15, 2008 DNAPL letter expressing your ongoing concerns that DNAPLS are not being removed at source, on the Chemtura site. Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment have been lobbying partially sucessfully for years to exclude me from CPAC expressly because a) I am intelligent and extraordinarily well informed and b) they can not intimidate me either intellectually with their experts or financially or legally. This has been attempted indirectly through third parties sympathetic to themselves.


The greatest flashing neon sign that this CPAC has done more, accomplished more and made the largest inroads against Chemtura/Uniroyal and M.O.E. obfuscation, delay and gamesmanship is the fear and loathing expressed by both groups publicly and privately against this CPAC. This loathing is despite, as documented here over the last 3 1/2 years, the professionalism and never failing courtesy and respect exhibited by CPAC members and Chair Dr. Dan Holt.