DICHOTOMY BETWEEN NEED FOR RESEARCH AND HOW IT IS USED
Today's K-W Record has this story: "$600,000 will fund Grand River research". There was a time when I naively believed that tax money spent on environmental or pollution issues was all to the good. This article admits that "We've got to be one of the most studied watersheds in Canada". It also states that river managers such as the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) are using research to learn "...how much more and what kinds of human interference the river can endure.". Studies which give us information as to the effects of climate change, dams and land use policies are a good idea. What I am more interested in seeing in the Grand River is more cleanups of contaminated sites along the river such as Safety-Kleen, Canadian General Tower and even Chemtura (Uniroyal) which is five miles upstream (Canagagigue Creek). In other words all the studies in the world are useless if the politicians either ignore them or block their conclusions being implemented.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
DELEGATION TO WOOLWICH COUNCIL - June 28, 2011
The following was presented last evening by yours truly to Woolwich Council.
Good evening Mayor Cowan, Woolwich Councillors, Staff, media and fellow citizens:
Yesterday morning I had the privelege of attending a meeting here at the Township Building with Staff in regards to a site plan for a proposed expansion of an industrial facility. Not for the first time I have been very impressed with the ability of Mr. Scarfone to clearly explain planning process and procedure to me. He and Mr. Miller took me through the proposed site plans for Safety-Kleen in Breslau. From what I was told and shown via the blueprints, I do believe that Township Staff are doing their utmost, on behalf of both Woolwich and Waterloo Region residents , to maximize the benefits of this expansion to the public. The problem is this: Councillor Bauman may recall during his last term on Council, publicly stating that he would not approve construction upon contaminated lands. I do understand from Mr. Scarfone and Mr. Miller that removal and replacement of contaminated soils SPECIFICALLY & IMMEDIATELY beneath proposed buildings etc. will occur. Ignoring for the moment other environmental concerns that this action will not address, I wish to point out to Council the issue of vapour intrusion into buildings built upon or near contaminated sites. This relatively new phenomenon is receiving substantial attention south of the border and here in Waterloo Region has caused massive health problems and deaths in the Bishop St. community in Cambridge. Therefore I am advising Woolwich Council to not approve construction on or behind the Safety-Kleen site without fully informing themselves as to the potential consequences . I also offer my services in regards to waste disposal history, hydrogeological studies, and past and present discriptions of the Safety-Kleen site, including the Ministry of the Environment’s reference to this site as being “grossly contaminated”.
.....................................................................................
My next comments are in relation to CPAC’s participation in Chemtura’s “Responsible Care” reverification this summer. While I strongly applaud CPAC’s intent by nominating Dr. Dan Holt to this team, therein lies the rub. CPAC as the alleged legitimate representatives of the public should be the ones doing the appointing, not the nominating. Instead Chemtura Canada under the process of the Chemical Industry Association are in charge of who they appoint to examine themselves. Have we ever heard the expression of the fox guarding the henhouse? Let me be very clear here. I have absolute faith in Dr. Dan Holt. I have less than zero faith in one of Chemtura’s other alleged community representatives . This other appointee is a member of the National Advisory Panel of the Chemical Industry Association. She is and has been paid for her time and expenses by the Chemical Industry and she chose not to advise the public of this apparent conflict of interest while being involved as a past member of CPAC. She has in the past promoted and endorsed Chemtura receiving the “Responsible Care” designation and I personally feel that is outrageous. Therefore I ask both Woolwich Council and CPAC to either demand that both community representatives be appointed by them or in the alternative to advise Chemtura that Woolwich Township is not interested in being involved in rubber stamping or assisting Chemtura in their public relations exercises.
Alan Marshall Elmira Environmental Hazards Team
The following was presented last evening by yours truly to Woolwich Council.
Good evening Mayor Cowan, Woolwich Councillors, Staff, media and fellow citizens:
Yesterday morning I had the privelege of attending a meeting here at the Township Building with Staff in regards to a site plan for a proposed expansion of an industrial facility. Not for the first time I have been very impressed with the ability of Mr. Scarfone to clearly explain planning process and procedure to me. He and Mr. Miller took me through the proposed site plans for Safety-Kleen in Breslau. From what I was told and shown via the blueprints, I do believe that Township Staff are doing their utmost, on behalf of both Woolwich and Waterloo Region residents , to maximize the benefits of this expansion to the public. The problem is this: Councillor Bauman may recall during his last term on Council, publicly stating that he would not approve construction upon contaminated lands. I do understand from Mr. Scarfone and Mr. Miller that removal and replacement of contaminated soils SPECIFICALLY & IMMEDIATELY beneath proposed buildings etc. will occur. Ignoring for the moment other environmental concerns that this action will not address, I wish to point out to Council the issue of vapour intrusion into buildings built upon or near contaminated sites. This relatively new phenomenon is receiving substantial attention south of the border and here in Waterloo Region has caused massive health problems and deaths in the Bishop St. community in Cambridge. Therefore I am advising Woolwich Council to not approve construction on or behind the Safety-Kleen site without fully informing themselves as to the potential consequences . I also offer my services in regards to waste disposal history, hydrogeological studies, and past and present discriptions of the Safety-Kleen site, including the Ministry of the Environment’s reference to this site as being “grossly contaminated”.
.....................................................................................
My next comments are in relation to CPAC’s participation in Chemtura’s “Responsible Care” reverification this summer. While I strongly applaud CPAC’s intent by nominating Dr. Dan Holt to this team, therein lies the rub. CPAC as the alleged legitimate representatives of the public should be the ones doing the appointing, not the nominating. Instead Chemtura Canada under the process of the Chemical Industry Association are in charge of who they appoint to examine themselves. Have we ever heard the expression of the fox guarding the henhouse? Let me be very clear here. I have absolute faith in Dr. Dan Holt. I have less than zero faith in one of Chemtura’s other alleged community representatives . This other appointee is a member of the National Advisory Panel of the Chemical Industry Association. She is and has been paid for her time and expenses by the Chemical Industry and she chose not to advise the public of this apparent conflict of interest while being involved as a past member of CPAC. She has in the past promoted and endorsed Chemtura receiving the “Responsible Care” designation and I personally feel that is outrageous. Therefore I ask both Woolwich Council and CPAC to either demand that both community representatives be appointed by them or in the alternative to advise Chemtura that Woolwich Township is not interested in being involved in rubber stamping or assisting Chemtura in their public relations exercises.
Alan Marshall Elmira Environmental Hazards Team
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
THURSDAY NIGHT"S CPAC STARTS AT 6:30 pm.
Last Friday I indicated that I would confirm if possible the change in starting time from 6 to 6:30 pm. I received yesterday my Agenda and Minutes and indeed the 6:30 starting time in the Council Chambers is there and highlighted. Similar to the Agenda of three weeks ago this one is extremely light as there will be an Orientation Session put on by Chemtura. Quite frankly I doubt that it can be much more of a waste of time than the one CPAC received from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on June 8/11. Although that Orientation told us what the M.O.E. is supposed to be doing, there was a large gap between that and the reality. The next CPAC meeting is scheduled for July 28/11 and the one after that is on August 25/11. To date while not totally convinced that this new CPAC are permanently off the rails, I must still ask from what possible source is the Mayor receiving CPAC advice? He clearly wants nothing to do with the old CPAC and despite a couple of olive branches from my direction, appears to be charting his own course in stormy, dangerous and uncharted waters. I have posted here in the Advocate (June 6 & 11) various issues that should be on CPAC's agenda but to date have been ignored.
Last Friday I indicated that I would confirm if possible the change in starting time from 6 to 6:30 pm. I received yesterday my Agenda and Minutes and indeed the 6:30 starting time in the Council Chambers is there and highlighted. Similar to the Agenda of three weeks ago this one is extremely light as there will be an Orientation Session put on by Chemtura. Quite frankly I doubt that it can be much more of a waste of time than the one CPAC received from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on June 8/11. Although that Orientation told us what the M.O.E. is supposed to be doing, there was a large gap between that and the reality. The next CPAC meeting is scheduled for July 28/11 and the one after that is on August 25/11. To date while not totally convinced that this new CPAC are permanently off the rails, I must still ask from what possible source is the Mayor receiving CPAC advice? He clearly wants nothing to do with the old CPAC and despite a couple of olive branches from my direction, appears to be charting his own course in stormy, dangerous and uncharted waters. I have posted here in the Advocate (June 6 & 11) various issues that should be on CPAC's agenda but to date have been ignored.
Monday, June 27, 2011
CURRENT WOOLWICH ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS
This morning I've been invited to a discussion with the Township of Woolwich Planning Department in regards to the proposed Safety-Kleen expansion. This was part of the agreement around my settling my referral to the O.M.B. over this matter. To date I've been very pleased with the cooperation and willingness I've seen from Township Staff. These discussions concern a zoning change and site plans. My concerns are in conjunction with building upon heavily contaminated lands that should have been remediated properly decades ago.
Tomorrow night I am a registered delegate at the Woolwich Council meeting (7 pm.). I will be addressing Council on at least one issue possibly two, namely CPAC's involvement with Chemtura's reverification under the "Responsible Care" program of the Chemical Industry Association. This program while promoting a more responsible attitude by chemical companies at the same time has become a rubber stamp here in Elmira for Chemtura. This company's behaviour including the air release of BLE-25 last fall and their ongoing refusals to to do source removal of dioxins etc. is a clear indication of their lack of responsibility locally. Should either CPAC or Woolwich Township, in any manner whatsoever, reward bad behaviour by allowing this "Responsible Care" designation without a fight or at the least a public declaration that they do not approve it?
This morning I've been invited to a discussion with the Township of Woolwich Planning Department in regards to the proposed Safety-Kleen expansion. This was part of the agreement around my settling my referral to the O.M.B. over this matter. To date I've been very pleased with the cooperation and willingness I've seen from Township Staff. These discussions concern a zoning change and site plans. My concerns are in conjunction with building upon heavily contaminated lands that should have been remediated properly decades ago.
Tomorrow night I am a registered delegate at the Woolwich Council meeting (7 pm.). I will be addressing Council on at least one issue possibly two, namely CPAC's involvement with Chemtura's reverification under the "Responsible Care" program of the Chemical Industry Association. This program while promoting a more responsible attitude by chemical companies at the same time has become a rubber stamp here in Elmira for Chemtura. This company's behaviour including the air release of BLE-25 last fall and their ongoing refusals to to do source removal of dioxins etc. is a clear indication of their lack of responsibility locally. Should either CPAC or Woolwich Township, in any manner whatsoever, reward bad behaviour by allowing this "Responsible Care" designation without a fight or at the least a public declaration that they do not approve it?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
FOOD SECURITY VS GRAVEL PITS
Today's Woolwich Observer raises the possibility of future lack of food due to ever increasing removal of farmland for gravel extraction in their Editorial on page 10 titled "Food security adds new layer to gravel pit debate". The bottom line is "Food security is a growing issue, extending well beyond Woolwich, and must be given more weight as the province adopts the review called for this week.".
Today's Woolwich Observer raises the possibility of future lack of food due to ever increasing removal of farmland for gravel extraction in their Editorial on page 10 titled "Food security adds new layer to gravel pit debate". The bottom line is "Food security is a growing issue, extending well beyond Woolwich, and must be given more weight as the province adopts the review called for this week.".
CULTURAL HERITAGE LANDSCAPE DESIGNATION
There was another public meeting around this CHL designation for the West Montrose area last Tuesday evening in Council Chambers. This will directly affect both the Capitol Paving and the Murray Group applications for gravel pits nearby. Dr. Kim Cuddington and Tony Dowling spoke in favour of the CHL designation with a Murray Group expressing his concerns about it. The Woolwich Observer in today's issue has the following story on page 7 "Moving closer to CHL designation".
There was another public meeting around this CHL designation for the West Montrose area last Tuesday evening in Council Chambers. This will directly affect both the Capitol Paving and the Murray Group applications for gravel pits nearby. Dr. Kim Cuddington and Tony Dowling spoke in favour of the CHL designation with a Murray Group expressing his concerns about it. The Woolwich Observer in today's issue has the following story on page 7 "Moving closer to CHL designation".
Friday, June 24, 2011
CPAC NEWS
As of Tuesday evenings Committee of the Whole meeting, the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee now stands at five members with the addition of Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach, an Elmira resident and professor at the University of Waterloo. While painfully slow nevertheless each new good addition strengthens the whole. Best of luck Sebastian!
NOTICE OF PUBLIC CPAC MEETING
This Thursday evening, June 30/11 in the Council Chambers is the second public CPAC meeting of this term of Council. According to tomorrow's Woolwich Observer (out today) it starts at 6:30 pm. rather than the originally announced 6 pm. I will try to confirm this different start time before next Thursday.
As of Tuesday evenings Committee of the Whole meeting, the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee now stands at five members with the addition of Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach, an Elmira resident and professor at the University of Waterloo. While painfully slow nevertheless each new good addition strengthens the whole. Best of luck Sebastian!
NOTICE OF PUBLIC CPAC MEETING
This Thursday evening, June 30/11 in the Council Chambers is the second public CPAC meeting of this term of Council. According to tomorrow's Woolwich Observer (out today) it starts at 6:30 pm. rather than the originally announced 6 pm. I will try to confirm this different start time before next Thursday.
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