OLD DOCUMENTS TELL THE TALE - OF COURSE THEY ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF ALL THE GUILTY PARTIES

Many I have not seen and many I will never see until or unless there is a public inquiry regarding the failures of our municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments in regards to the 1989 Elmira Water Crisis. A crisis totally forseeable and totally mishandled and mismanaged at least from a public interest standpoint. The shame of it all is that the lessons learned regarding (in)effective environmental cleanup will continue to be ignored as our authorities one refuse to admit that their "supervision" of large, corporate polluters is so superficial and two that these government regulatory bodies end up on the liability hook exactly because of their ineffective and incompetent supwevision. Hence why would any level of government ever agree to any kind of public inquiry unless it was not independent and was safely under government control. ....................................................................................................... Most of the old documents I have seen paint a picture of a heartless corporation (Uniroyal) more concerned with appearances (just in case) than with responsible waste management. At the same time, those reports authored by our regulatory bodies are careful not to condemn. In fact sometimes they go out of their way to assist the polluters with comments about "historical" waste practices and how these methods may seem crude by today's standards but they were the standard industrial practice of the time. Sure they were because our politicians and other assorted self-serving hypocrites passed environmental laws that were intentionally either full of holes or totally unenforceable. By the late 1800s in Europe (especially Germany, France, Switzerland) the effects of poor chemical waste disposal were known whether it was dumping on land causing aquifer contamination or dumping in rivers (Rhine, Rhone). The very same chemical discoveries allowing commercialization of products derived from chemicals production also allowed for waste treatment of the wastes produced if the manufacturers felt so inclined. After a few lawsuits and government rumbling European chemical producers either saw fit or they expanded to, at the time, "third world" countries like Canada and the United States with fewer (i.e. zero) waste disposal restrictions. ........................................................................................................ The old documents I am referring to discuss the "state of the art" waste disposal practiced in Elmira, Ontario at the time. Whether Uniroyal, Varnicolor, Nutrite or others it progressed from direct dumping into creeks, storm and sanitary sewers to "storing" wastes on-site in ponds, pits and lagoons. As Dr. Gail Krantzberg advised CPAC in 2012, everything dumped into holes in the ground eventually leaks out and migrates by any of several physical processes. These documents also indicate that Uniroyal Chemical's solid and liquid wastes have flowed off-site but not just west and southwards but also eastwards. This would include both the Stroh and Martin farms not to mention the Stroh Drain and back into the Canagagigue Creek. It is odd but to date, of the reports I've read, all the parties in the know, even with reports after the 1983 construction of the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB) somehow managed to avoid speaking of it. That is weird unless of course they were in on the conspiracy.

TAG/LANXESS PRIVATE DEAL JUST GOT MORE SKETCHY

I told Susan Bryant decades ago that when you lie down with dogs you get fleas. In other words making deals with truth challenged, smoke blowing obfuscators is always a bad idea that rarely ends well. Or as an accountant friend of mine likes to say "Verbal deals aren't worth the paper they aren't written on." It's been my experience that even written deals mean nothing to people who have far more money than either integrity or honour. .................................................................................................................. The TAG Chair made a private deal with Lanxess accepting that overland flow of toxic waste waters onto the Stroh property was unlikely between 1942 and 1970. This occurred of course after I had submitted a written Delegation to TAG last February which included maps and text. The maps and information was referenced and included data from Conestoga Rovers, MOE and GRCA. Part of the purpose of my Delegation was to remove the option of plausible deniability from the TAG Chair in that she or Lanxess, MOE/MECP could not at a later date state that gosh they had never had the opportunity to closely examine the agreed upon, by all parties, ground surface contour lines which show exactly where liquids gravity flowed from the east side waste pits (RPE 1-5) onto the entire east side length of the Stroh farm. Lanxess and the MOE/MECP have agreed that there was some overflow onto the north two thirds of the Stroh property only. TAg has kindly confirmed this information in their July 30, 2020 Minutes (pg. 7) of that public TAG meeting. ........................................................................................................ Now it appears that Lanxess have undermined their own and TAG's position and private deal. Somebody once said that when you tell the truth you don't have to keep checking your past words so that your current words don't conflict with them. If you've spoken honestly and honourably in the past and continue to do so you will avoid tripping yourself up by undermining your own past sketchy statements. Yesterday here in the Advocate I mentioned the latest report released on behalf of Lanxess Canada by their consultants GHD. Well lo and behold on page 3 of their report titled "2020 Canagagigue Creek Sediment and Soil Investigation Work Plan", GHD have firmly put their and Lanxess's (& TAG's) feet into their mouths. GHD have referenced the Stroh Drain by referring to it as they usually do as the "Drain at 6770 Line #86". The Stroh farm fronts onto Highway #86 on Church St. in Elmira on the immediate east side of the Lanxess (Uniroyal) property. This highway runs directly between Elmira and Guelph, Ontario. Quoting from this very recently released report "Sample points are located in locations to determine soil and sediment quality within the drain, whose drainage area comprised a portion of the east side of the Lanxess site." ...................................................................................................................... "...Whose Drainage Area Comprised A Portion Of The East Side Of The Lanxess Site." WELL! Gosh that only took six years for the company, whether Chemtura or Lanxess to admit the obvious. Back in 2014 CPAC and I (SWAT sub-committee) presented maps, photos and data to Chemtura Canada regarding the Stroh Drain. They all pretended to be surprised including the Ontario Ministry of Environment that there was a man made drain running parallel to the Chemtura property line for approximately 125-150 metres and which was barely ten metres from that property line. Again all the ground surface contour lines made it obvious where surface waters ran plus the Drain was deep enough to be intercepting and redirecting shallow groundwater as well. ............................................................................................................. Six years to admit the obvious and to do so metaphorically speaking all of five minutes after denying it. This is partly why the "cleanup" is past thirty years and counting when the companies are allowed to behave like five year old children covered in peanut butter denying that they opened the jar. They are not worthy of either respect or polite conversation from citizens and stakeholders. Shame on our governments for pretending otherwise.

WOW ARE LANXESS EVER TRYING TO SELL THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL B/S

I received a copy today of the "2020 Canagagigue Creek Sediment and Soil Investigation Work Plan" produced by GHD, consultants to Lanxess Canada. It is best described as a crock of crap backed by a whole bunch of consolidated conveyers of coordinated crap. Now do not misunderstand here. While the final product would quite capably float to the top of the concrete pools in a sewage treatment plant, that does not necessarily mean that all the conveyers/purveyers of this crap are necessarily corrupt, dishonest or intentionally misleading the public. Just some of them. Large scale polluters, Varnicolor Chemical in Elmira for example, knew the importance of having credentialed, qualified staff in order to sell their bullsh.. . They had Masters students (chemistry) as well as a PHd. on staff. Now of course the PHd. (Dr. Bert Nalliah) was an honest man and he eventually had enough and went public with his concerns. The owner of Varnicolor, with my assistance as well, spent some quality time in jail. Some say not nearly enough considering the environmental damage that he caused in and around Elmira, Ontario. .............................................................................................. Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura/Lanxess have caused more damage than Varnicolor Chemical yet none of them have as yet seen the insdide of a jail cell. That is unfortunate in that it sends a signal that multi national, multi billion dollar companies are essentially exempt from the environmental rules that govern the rest of us. Money talks and unfortunately our politicians all have big ears. .......................................................................................................... I will of course read the entire report especially as the actual report is so tiny compared to the alleged 42 pages that were sent. Approximately 12 to 14 pages covers the text and two Figures presented. The rest appears to be all the Curriculum Vitae (resumes) of various staff who have assisted on the Work Plan. I wonder how many of them have actually read the finished product. I also can advise that most of them have not attended any UPAC, CPAC, RAC or TAG meetings over the decades. Hence they are advising/commenting only on what is set immediately before them by the guilty parties, not on the reality of the entire situation nor with any direct knowledge or experience of concerns expressed by the public. ...................................................................................................................... Seriously, two thirds of the report are "experts" Curriculum Vitae. Talk about marketing stinky horse manure as roses.

MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE K-W RECORD CALLED FOR ACTION WE ARE STILL WAITING

The Waterloo Region Record published their own Editorial on May 8, 2012 titled "Make Elmira's water safe again". They indicated that two respected scientists and an engineer have indicated that the 2028 mandated cleanup deadline will not happen. These include bot CPAC members as well as Dr. Gail Krantzberg of McMaster University. The Record Editorial also states that Woolwich Township have lost faith in the 1991 (sweetheart) deal between Uniroyal Chemical and the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) and the Township have broken ranks with both the company and the MOE. In hindsight the Township council were led by the disgraced former mayor Todd Cowan however time has proven their environmental stance to be accurate. .............................................................................................................. Now in 2020 it is admitted by all parties including the guilty ones that a complete cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers by 2028 to below drinking water standards will not occur. Currently Lanxess and the MOE are doing what they do best which is to blow smoke, misdirect and stretch the truth. They are opening a discussion to determine if other alternatives to a proper and complete remediation of the Elmira Aquifers would be acceptable. Keep in mind this is after three decades of resisting more aggressive, costly and effective remediation methods suggested by informed citizen stakeholders. Yes these include Source Removal both on and off the Uniroyal/Lanxess property. They are still being resisted and refused to this day and instead more than thirty years after destroying our local water supply the company (Lanxess) are offerring us excuses while trying to determine how flexible ( & uninformed) younger generations in Elmira will be to their blandishments. ................................................................................................. Funny how when public anger was at its peak in 1990 to 1995, neither Uniroyal Chemical nor their ostensible and alleged regulator (MOE/MECP) were saying anything other than a complete cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers as well as the Canagagigue Creek would be unacceptable to them. They lied then and they are lying now.

MORE TIDBITS ON LAST THURSDAY'S TAG MEETING

Another new member has graced the TAG committee likely as a direct result of the resignation of Joe Kelly. To date three TAG members have resigned including Bill Barr, Pat McLean and Joe. .............................................................................................. Susan Bryant yet again introduced herself as a "founding" member of APTE. Bullshit alert! The three founding members were Susan Rupert, Sandra Bray and Esther Thur. ................................................................................................. Tiffany (TAG Chair) suggested that the recent Documentary "Toxic Time Bomb" was not a reflection of how things are right now. I beg to differ. That is exactly what it is and exactly why all the speakers said what they said. ................................................................................................. Susan stated that once contaminants get into the ground and groundwater they are the devil to get out. That is accurate although I would suggest that a more aggressive and expensive attack would have led to significantly better and faster results than hydraulic containment (pump & treat) on its own. ........................................................................................................................ The Ministry of Environment (MOE/MECP) appropriately still have concerns about the "shovel" method of sampling used in the Canagagigue Creek to sample sediments. Well bloddy good for the MECP. That sampling took place three years ago. Get off your butts and order new sampling YESTERDAY! ...................................................................................................................... Also sediment depositional zones were not fully sampled in the 2017 creek sampling. Well of course they weren't. I've been writing here for many years about the "locational bias" of sampling in the creek. Chemtura/Lanxess and the MOE/MECP found some nice handy, accessible to roads and equipment areas that were convenient to sample and they stuck with them. Depositional areas however can be off the beaten path. It might cost more to have to hike in and out carrying equipment and Chemtura/Lanxess want none of that. ................................................................................................. There was "capping" of soils in the North-West part of the on-site creek however geotextile covering (or any other covering) lessens soil erosion but does nothing to stop contaminated groundwater flow into the creek. ............................................................................................... Well now I've heard two stories. The one is that sediments will be sampled in the bottom of the Styroh Drain (SDDB) and the other is that water from the Stroh Drain (SDDB) will be tested where it discharges into the Canagagigue Creek. Either or both are grossly inadequate and simply going through the motions rather than determining if there is a "sink" of dioxins/furans, DDT and more present on the Stroh property in and around the SDDB. ............................................................................................................. Further potential "hotspots" allegedly will be looked for along the creek. Sure they will. The locational bias as described earlier also succeeds in greatly reducing the extent and cost of remediation. That's the whole idea. Why would Lanxess ever honestly look for more cleanup to do? ................................................................................................................ Dustin Martin continues to impress. He has concerns regarding some chemicals that have not been retained to date as being Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPC). Dustin is looking for a better rationale for removing chemicals than just a case of "trust them". New member Wilson also wants greater criteria for removing COPC from the active list. ........................................................................................... Susaqn Bryant asked for clarification regarding suspended sediments. She indicated that Dr. Richard Jackson was greatly concerned with suspended sediments and the failures to measure them and consider them.Tiffany attempted to explain when and why suspended sediments were removed from certain samples but I did not find her explanation particularly helpful. ............................................................................................... There has been a suggestion to end DNAPL monitoring. The DNAPL scam first flowered in the early 90s and with APT's help suceeded in taking the necessity of DNAPL remediation off the table for many years. The coverup has continued generally with APT's assistance although there have been rough spots when facts and scientific evidence disturbed the status quo. ................................................................................................ Raw sewage leaked on July 30 and 31 into Shirt Factory Creek causing odours and dead fish. The leak could also be seen around Misa 0800 and its discharge into the creek on the Lanxess site.

REINVENTING THE WHEEL, OVER AND OVER AGAIN

For most of last night's TAG meeting it was looking very bad. Agenda Item "3.1.1 Alan Marshall - Aug 8 and Aug 11" at the start of the meeting consisted of perhaps 30 to 40 seconds of The TAG Chair, Tiffany, suggesting that my input was listened to and given consideration. Whoopdedo combined with horsefeathers. She made absolutely no attempt to defend her and TAG's, month's ago, private decision to totally reject my written Delegation showing exactly where the "sink" of DDT, dioxins/furans etc. is located on the Stroh property. She did not apologize for this private decision regarding my Delegation being made without so advising me afterwards in a timely manner. She did not apologize for the utter lack of reason, logic, or evidence being given for that decision. She did not apologize for the complete process failure in making the decision first privately with Lanxess (Ramin Ansari) and secondly privately with TAG. There was absolutely zero public discusiion or debate of my formal written Delegation. ........................................................................................................... THAT IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING & CONTEMPTIBLE PUBLIC PROCESS done in order to appease Lanxess Canada and their partners in pollution, the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MECP). It was also done in order to hide improper and possibly illegal private dealings between a citizens' committee and the polluter they are supposedly monitoring and advising. .......................................................................................... Speaking somewhat on Tiffany's behalf I will add that alleged mayor Sandy Shantz was present at the virtual meeting and keeping a close eye on me, Sebastian and Tiffany. She likely has been advised of the "crisis" or "revolt" unfolding on TAG and was there to keep controllable individuals in line. ........................................................................................................................ As last night's virtual meeting was public (sort of-citizens had to pre-register to "attend"), the cat was let out of the bag at the very end of the meeting. Sebastian stepped up and politely (as always) asked when his "appeal" to his TAG colleagues would be discussed. Keep in mind he had been earlier advised that it might be slipped in during discussions around the Conceptual Site Model (CSM) or Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPC), Agenda Items 4.1 and 4.2. It didn't happen so he spoke up at the very end of the meeting with his request. ........................................................................................................... It is at this point that I have to reconsider my semi harsh comments in yesterday's post that TAG members "...are in a crisis of their own making". Technically my comment is correct but practically the real issue is expressed in the title above. Older experienced members have been nastily and dishonestly thrown out by Sandy Shantz. Some have voluntarily fallen by the way. Todd Cowan dumped some appropriately (Susan & Pat) but also got rid of some good ones like Gerry Heideburt, Ken Driedger and possibly Ron Ormson. Since TAG started five years ago, even half of their membership has resigned namely Bill Barr, Joe Kelly and (thank God) Pat McLean. It is a never ending case of trying to educate new citizen members as to what went before, what facts are accepted by all and which are in dispute. This is all to the supreme liking of Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura and Lanxess. Also it is to the liking of the MOE/MECP. They took an incredible shellacking at the hands of Dr. Richard Jackson who had little patience with professional game players. ................................................................................................................... Sebastian has twice in writing advised his TAG colleagues that he will not agree to by-passing of SOIL and water sampling of the rest of the Stroh property (i.e. southern third) which includes the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB) as well as the soils and sediments all around it. Dustin Martin, a newer TAG member, stepped up and advised that he would like to read any reports dealing with the east side, presumably the east side of Lanxess as well as the Stroh property. Hence he could make a more informed decision on the matter. Kudos to Dustin. Hopefully other TAG members will also step up and do the same. That said look at it from my standpoint. It was six years ago that I had Ron Campbell and Graham Chevreau in my home showing them all the reports and data about the east side overflowing onto the Stroh property. They took that back to CPAC who followed up appropriately. Where are Ron and Graham today? They are still working hard to improve environmental matters while never forgetting the stupid, biased, self-serving, pro Chemtura decision made by Woolwich Council to disband the best CPAC there had ever been. Thank you Sandy and Mark. ................................................................................................ What sense of urgency did Tiffany and TAG put on Sebastian's "appeal"? They won't be discussing it at the October 22nd TAG meeting. No, the December 10th meeting will do nicely. Another three months away. Remember that my Delegation went to TAG last February. Remember that this entire Stroh property contamination came up in 2014 and is the primary reason that Chemtura and the MOE/MECP conspired with Sandy and Mark to dump that CPAC. This folks is a microcosm of why thirty-one years after our wells went down that to date the Uniroyal/Lanxess site remains disgustingly contaminated, our wells are still polluted and the Canagagigue Creek remains unremediated of Persistent Organic Pollutants (PCBs, mercury, DDT, dioxins/furans).

TAG ARE IN A CRISIS OF THEIR OWN MAKING

Of course as I've often spelled out clearly to Lisa (Support person) and Tiffany (Chair), neither of them are responsible for the behaviour of former councillor Mark Bauman or mayor Sandy Shantz. Yes Lisa was present at the contemptible, by invitation only, April 9, 2015 meeting held in the Woolwich Administration building. This was where the proven guilty parties (Chemtura, CRA, MOE) got together with their fellow travellors (GRCA, Susan B., Pat M., RMOW) to throw stones at the absent CPAC members (who were refused attendance at the meeting). CPAC were appointed by the previous Woolwich Council members yet other than Dr. Dan Holt (chair) they were denied attendance by at that time the illegal mayor. Illegal due to her failures to follow the Municipal Elections Act and her subsequent removal from office. These stones included personal false allegations relating to character and credibility. Pretty funny (not) that the filth present would so characterize their opponents. Also pretty funny (not) that Susan and Pat were in their throwing this filth as well. Lie down with fleas Susan and you'll catch them yourself. ................................................................................................... So what is the crisis? Is it simply my pointing out the obvious that TAG have made an awful decision but worse yet they have to date refused to stand by their decision. By that I mean they have refused to defend it. Surely there must be some logical, technical evidence based reason why they would deny overland flow both to the east side of the Stroh Drain (SDDB) hence further onto the Stroh property AS WELL AS they appear to be denying that the very same DDT and dioxins/furans that ended up in GP-1 and GP-2 had to have flowed across the low lying formerly swampy area west of the SDDB on Lanxess property and immediately north of GP-1 (gravel pit 1). Think carefully about that. The overflowing waste pits (RPE 1-5) are approximately 100 to 400 metres north of GP-1 and GP-2 and the former swampy area is located directly between the waste pits and the gravel pits (GP-1, GP-2). This low lying swampy area used to have standing water in it until it and the neighbouring Stroh farm were drained by the 1983 construction of the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB). ..................................................................................................... I gave my written Delegation (maps & text) to TAG in February 2020. No questions and no comments and no feedback written or verbal, until early July in the Woolwich Observer when I read a comment from Susan Bryant that TAG have decided to test the Stroh Drain only. Well that was nice. Good to see the formal response to my Delegation coming from that @#$%. Then at the TAG meeting on July 30/20 TAG Chair Tiffany Svensson made the same announcement. Well, well. Two sharp e-mails later I had made my displeasure known to the TAG membership. One brief and totally inadequate but polite response came from Tiffany. .................................................................................................................... If that was it, TAG could weather the storm. But it's not. A single TAG member has stepped up and politely but FIRMLY spelled it out for their TAG colleagues. This TAG member's position is exactly what I expect from each and every honest TAG member. No they are not all honest but the majority are. Maybe there will be discussion and debate at tonight's virtual TAG meeting (6:30 pm.). Maybe not. Regardless in the title to this post above I stated that this is a crisis of TAG's own making. Most of the members were too busy, too distracted (family, career, life) or too trusting and loyal when they followed the Chair's lead and O.K.d a self-serving "deal" proposed privately by Ramin Ansari (Lanxess) not to fully sample the southern third of the Stroh property not to mention the Martin farm also. .................................................................................................. TAG are at a crossroads. They can not in my opinion maintain their credibility when they are on the wrong side of a cleanup decision and still refuse to discuss and debate that decision publicly. If those admittedly busy volunteers can dig in and unbiasedly look at the evidence available as well as at the multiple refusals of Chemtura/Lanxess to provide more evidence through honest soil sampling, then the honest majority can win the day for themselves, the environment and the residents in Elmira and downstream of the creek. There will be pushback from Sandy (Woolwich Twp.), Lanxess, GHD, MECP and more. That is to be expected as some of them will be on the financial hook as well as the credibility hook for their resistance to honest investigation. ............................................................................................................... By the way TAG. Don't you think that your investigation of the facts should include actually talking to the single person most responsible for "discovering" the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB) back in 2014 and for doing the most research and investigation since? Otherwise.....???