Day 010 - 11 Jul 94 - Page 50


     
     1        landfill actually is, and that the only reason that that
              well has picked up that particular contamination in its
     2        casing is due to the fact that it happens to be in the
              direction the ground water is flowing from the point of
     3        where this material is leaking into the ground water.
 
     4   Q.   Does the monitoring done by federal, presumably, statutory
              authorities, whatever, does that lead to a great amount of
     5        action against landfill done?  Is it an effective
              monitoring and action programme by statutory authorities?
     6        A.  Well, I think that sort of is a matter of dispute, and
              I would say that, in my opinion, it is not a particularly
     7        effective approach to wait until the contaminant has
              reached the ground water and then act on the contamination
     8        once it has reached the ground water.
 
     9   Q.   So it should be stopped at source really rather than at
              that stage?
    10        A.  That is the essence of it, yes.
 
    11   Q.   What comments do you have to make about the viewpoint that
              has been expressed, that polystyrene foam packaging in
    12        landfills helps to aerate the landfill and help with the
              degradeability?
    13        A.  Well, I am aware of those comments.  I believe
              I mentioned them in my statement.
    14
         Q.   Was that Lorna Ersam?
    15        A.  Again, yes.
 
    16   Q.   Who was representing McDonald's Corporation?
              A.  As I recall, she represented the media accounts as a
    17        public affairs specialist.  Her comments ------
 
    18   Q.   So she was authorised to speak on behalf of the
              corporation?
    19        A.  Well, that would be the import of these materials,
              these articles that were published, and also since I also
    20        talked to her and also ---
 
    21   Q.   You spoke to her?
              A.  -- I also had other people talk to her, to find out
    22        what she was saying.
 
    23   Q.   Sorry?
              A.  I also asked some people that I knew to call her up
    24        and we published the phone number that Lorna Ersam managed
              in our journal.
    25
         Q.   For information? 
    26        A.  That is right. 
  
    27   Q.   What was the information when you spoke to her that she
              was giving out about?
    28        A.  Well, the central statement again was that it was good
              to put styrofoam in landfills.
    29
         Q.   You have said it is not good in general, but does it in
    30        that aspect help to aerate?  Is that a reasonable
              scientific approach?

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