diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/antlib/core/Property.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/antlib/core/Property.java
index 2d459abad..facf2e55d 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/antlib/core/Property.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/antlib/core/Property.java
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ package org.apache.antlib.core;
 import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.i18n.ResourceManager;
 import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.i18n.Resources;
 import org.apache.myrmidon.api.AbstractTask;
-import org.apache.myrmidon.api.TaskContext;
 import org.apache.myrmidon.api.TaskException;
 import org.apache.myrmidon.framework.DataType;
 
@@ -31,18 +30,12 @@ public class Property
 
     private String m_name;
     private Object m_value;
-    private boolean m_localScope = true;
 
     public void setName( final String name )
     {
         m_name = name;
     }
 
-    public void setLocalScope( final boolean localScope )
-    {
-        m_localScope = localScope;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Sets the property value from a nested element.
      */
@@ -91,13 +84,6 @@ public class Property
             throw new TaskException( message );
         }
 
-        if( m_localScope )
-        {
-            getContext().setProperty( m_name, m_value );
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            getContext().setProperty( m_name, m_value, TaskContext.PARENT );
-        }
+        getContext().setProperty( m_name, m_value );
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/converter/ConverterException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/converter/ConverterException.java
index e483cfbeb..e66d57bb3 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/converter/ConverterException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/converter/ConverterException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.aut.converter;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * ConverterException thrown when a problem occurs during convertion etc.
  *
@@ -16,8 +14,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public class ConverterException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Basic constructor with a message
      *
@@ -36,7 +39,18 @@ public class ConverterException
      */
     public ConverterException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/manifest/ManifestException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/manifest/ManifestException.java
index 77d32db32..bdd515d6d 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/manifest/ManifestException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/manifest/ManifestException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.aut.manifest;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * ManifestException is thrown when there is a problem parsing, generating or
  * handling a Manifest.
@@ -17,8 +15,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public class ManifestException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Basic constructor for exception that does not specify a message
      */
@@ -45,6 +48,17 @@ public class ManifestException
      */
     public ManifestException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/nativelib/ExecException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/nativelib/ExecException.java
index 77aa7f513..c881385a9 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/nativelib/ExecException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/nativelib/ExecException.java
@@ -7,16 +7,19 @@
  */
 package org.apache.aut.nativelib;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * ExecException indicates there was an error executing native process.
  *
  * @author <a href="mailto:peter@apache.org">Peter Donald</a>
  */
 public class ExecException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Basic constructor for exception that does not specify a message
      */
@@ -43,7 +46,18 @@ public class ExecException
      */
     public ExecException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/vfs/FileSystemException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/vfs/FileSystemException.java
index 8ac918f29..63cb711ef 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/vfs/FileSystemException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/aut/vfs/FileSystemException.java
@@ -7,33 +7,49 @@
  */
 package org.apache.aut.vfs;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * Thrown for file system errors.
  *
  * @author Adam Murdoch
  */
-public class FileSystemException extends CascadingException
+public class FileSystemException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Constructs exception with the specified detail message.
      *
-     * @param   msg   the detail message.
+     * @param   message   the detail message.
      */
-    public FileSystemException( String msg )
+    public FileSystemException( final String message )
     {
-        super( msg );
+        this( message, null );
     }
 
     /**
      * Constructs exception with the specified detail message.
      *
-     * @param   msg   the detail message.
-     * @param   cause the cause.
+     * @param   message   the detail message.
+     * @param   throwable the cause.
+     */
+    public FileSystemException( final String message,
+                                final Throwable throwable )
+    {
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
      */
-    public FileSystemException( String msg, Throwable cause )
+    public final Throwable getCause()
     {
-        super( msg, cause );
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskException.java
index 87554c9eb..ae715369a 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.myrmidon.api;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * TaskException thrown when a problem with tasks etc.
  * It is cascading so that further embedded information can be contained.
@@ -18,8 +16,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public class TaskException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Basic constructor for exception that does not specify a message
      */
@@ -46,7 +49,18 @@ public class TaskException
      */
     public TaskException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/builder/DefaultProjectBuilder.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/builder/DefaultProjectBuilder.java
index ce82d3f78..1efbf35ef 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/builder/DefaultProjectBuilder.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/builder/DefaultProjectBuilder.java
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.i18n.ResourceManager;
 import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.i18n.Resources;
 import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.io.FileUtil;
 import org.apache.avalon.excalibur.util.StringUtil;
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.Version;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.Configuration;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.ConfigurationException;
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
      *
      * @param source the source
      * @return the constructed Project
-     * @exception IOException if an error occurs
      * @exception Exception if an error occurs
      */
     public Project build( final String source )
@@ -115,7 +113,7 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
      * @param file the file from which configuration was loaded
      * @param configuration the configuration loaded
      * @return the created Project
-     * @exception IOException if an error occurs
+     * @exception Exception if an error occurs
      * @exception Exception if an error occurs
      * @exception ConfigurationException if an error occurs
      */
@@ -172,7 +170,7 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
      * Throw exceptions with meaningful errors if malformed or missing.
      */
     private Version getVersion( final Configuration configuration )
-        throws CascadingException
+        throws Exception
     {
         try
         {
@@ -182,7 +180,7 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
         catch( final ConfigurationException ce )
         {
             final String message = REZ.getString( "ant.version-missing.error" );
-            throw new CascadingException( message, ce );
+            throw new ConfigurationException( message, ce );
         }
     }
 
@@ -190,7 +188,7 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
      * Utility function to extract version
      */
     private Version parseVersion( final String versionString )
-        throws CascadingException
+        throws Exception
     {
 
         try
@@ -202,7 +200,7 @@ public class DefaultProjectBuilder
             final String message =
                 REZ.getString( "ant.malformed.version", versionString );
             getLogger().warn( message );
-            throw new CascadingException( message, e );
+            throw new ConfigurationException( message, e );
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/TypeInstanceTask.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/TypeInstanceTask.java
index 5eb6ccb1e..eefe3b4fa 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/TypeInstanceTask.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/TypeInstanceTask.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.Configurable;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.Configuration;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.ConfigurationException;
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.DefaultConfiguration;
-import org.apache.myrmidon.api.TaskContext;
 import org.apache.myrmidon.api.TaskException;
 
 /**
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ public class TypeInstanceTask
 
     private String m_id;
     private Object m_value;
-    private boolean m_localScope = true;
 
     public void configure( final Configuration configuration )
         throws ConfigurationException
@@ -79,11 +77,6 @@ public class TypeInstanceTask
         m_id = id;
     }
 
-    public void setLocalScope( final boolean localScope )
-    {
-        m_localScope = localScope;
-    }
-
     public void execute()
         throws TaskException
     {
@@ -93,13 +86,6 @@ public class TypeInstanceTask
             throw new TaskException( message );
         }
 
-        if( m_localScope )
-        {
-            getContext().setProperty( m_id, m_value );
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            getContext().setProperty( m_id, m_value, TaskContext.PARENT );
-        }
+        getContext().setProperty( m_id, m_value );
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/deployer/DeploymentException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/deployer/DeploymentException.java
index 6e7199ebd..98fc7cbed 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/deployer/DeploymentException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/deployer/DeploymentException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.myrmidon.interfaces.deployer;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * Exception to indicate error deploying.
  *
@@ -16,8 +14,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public final class DeploymentException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Construct a new <code>DeploymentException</code> instance.
      *
@@ -36,6 +39,17 @@ public final class DeploymentException
      */
     public DeploymentException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/role/RoleException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/role/RoleException.java
index fde1b49ec..1cdf75f24 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/role/RoleException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/role/RoleException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.myrmidon.interfaces.role;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * An exception thrown by the RoleManager.
  *
@@ -16,15 +14,32 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public class RoleException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
-    public RoleException( String s )
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
+    public RoleException( final String message )
+    {
+        this( message, null );
+    }
+
+    public RoleException( final String message,
+                          final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( s );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
     }
 
-    public RoleException( String s, Throwable throwable )
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
     {
-        super( s, throwable );
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/service/AntServiceException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/service/AntServiceException.java
index aa2132185..cf77eba13 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/service/AntServiceException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/service/AntServiceException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.myrmidon.interfaces.service;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * ServiceException thrown when a service can not be created for
  * some reason.
@@ -17,8 +15,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public class AntServiceException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Basic constructor for exception that does not specify a message
      */
@@ -45,7 +48,18 @@ public class AntServiceException
      */
     public AntServiceException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/type/TypeException.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/type/TypeException.java
index 83a2a43d5..ce12251c9 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/type/TypeException.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/interfaces/type/TypeException.java
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.myrmidon.interfaces.type;
 
-import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
-
 /**
  * Exception to indicate problem with type instantiating.
  *
@@ -16,8 +14,13 @@ import org.apache.avalon.framework.CascadingException;
  * @version $Revision$ $Date$
  */
 public final class TypeException
-    extends CascadingException
+    extends Exception
 {
+    /**
+     * The Throwable that caused this exception to be thrown.
+     */
+    private final Throwable m_throwable;
+
     /**
      * Construct a new <code>TypeException</code> instance.
      *
@@ -36,6 +39,17 @@ public final class TypeException
      */
     public TypeException( final String message, final Throwable throwable )
     {
-        super( message, throwable );
+        super( message );
+        m_throwable = throwable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve root cause of the exception.
+     *
+     * @return the root cause
+     */
+    public final Throwable getCause()
+    {
+        return m_throwable;
     }
 }