Clarification

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By EMC News

A story in the Jan. 12 Canadian Gazette headlined "Soil tests find chemical vapours" requires some clarification.

It could be inferred that the consultant believed the levels of perchloroethylene (perc) found in soil pulled from boreholes nearest Lake Avenue East were worse than expected. While the Canadian Gazette would argue this was not the intent, the consultant states the readings were not only not worse but "better than previously expected because the DNAPL (chemical) area appears to be smaller than previously thought."

With regards to the fact that testing found perc at shallower depths, the consultant has argued this supports its "hypothesis that the sewer is/was the source." It notes this is not worse but better "because it supports our understanding and means that the DNAPL did not likely get here via underground migration in the soil."