A creekbed running through the Chemtura property in Elmira contains as much as 2,900 times the level of banned pesticide DDT considered safe, and the potential for an “environmental crisis” looms over the community.

Those are two of the conclusions of a new report from the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC), which oversaw testing of 12 spots along the waterway, both upstream and downstream of the chemical manufacturing facility.

“The testing above the plant came back with no problems – (and) below the plant is full of chemicals,” CPAC chair Dan Holt said in an interview.

A company representative said Friday that he wasn’t surprised by the results – in fact, environmental remediation manager Jeff Merriman said, Chemtura had been aware of the presence of DDT since the 1990s.

“This is DDT from historical operations,” he said.

“This is nothing new. It’s a matter that needs to be dealt with, but it’s not a crisis.”

All spots tested were along the Canagagigue Creek, which ultimately feeds the Grand River.

The most severe DDT contamination was found just 50 metres south of Chemtura.

Merriman says the pesticide is stuck on sediment along the creekbed, and not posing a risk to the water itself.

That’s not enough assurance to satisfy Graham Chevreau, a CPAC member and environmental chemist who helped author the report.

“Where you find DDT, you find … the major constituent in Agent Orange,” he said.

“This needs to be investigated.”

Chemtura has been doing its own testing of the creek, Merriman said – and will continue to do so.

“If it confirms there’s nothing there, that’s great news. If it does detect something, we’re committed to doing whatever’s appropriate to remediate the issue,” he said.

The environmental report is the last item produced by CPAC, as the body was dissolved by Woolwich Township councillors in recent months and replaced with two other groups.

Holt and Chevreau, who don’t sit on either of the new bodies, want township officials to lobby the province to take action to clean up the creekbed.

The issue is scheduled to be discussed at a township council meeting next week.