Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Barker, I'd like to come back to the study conducted by your graduate students. It is mentioned on page 7 of the brief you presented. They analyzed three sectors where water contaminated by processes infiltrated groundwater.
In response to Mr. Woodworth, you confirmed what you had written in your report, and I quote:
The other two plumes created groundwater contamination on operator leases, which does not threaten surface water bodies.
That is basically what you told Mr. Woodworth. However, you added the following:
Unfortunately, the major toxicants, naphtenic acids, do not show significant biodegradation in these plumes. Attenuation appears to be by slow dilution with natural groundwater.
First, what then is the level of toxicity observed?
Second, when you talk about slow dilution, what do you mean by that?
Third, what are we then to conclude for the future, particularly with regard to that plume?