The US Environmental Protection Agency today announced an upcoming, online seminar about coal tar sealant pollution as it relates to stormwater management.
While the EPA says that the opinions of the presenters do not necessarily reflect an endorsement by the Agency, merely hosting the webinar is one of the strongest acknowledgements of coal tar sealant pollution yet. The EPA previously published a study that stated a ban of coal tar sealants may be the most effective means of dealing with this pollution source. A review of the report is here. Perhaps the next step by the EPA is to endorse the nationwide ban legislation by Congressman Lloyd Doggett that has been introduced in Congress.
The presenters, as listed below, represent a major portion of research published concerning this topic. Some of the information is available in other locations, but this will be a unique assemblage of experts and I suspect will be helpful for all knowledge levels on this subject.
Session Description:
EPA’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Webinar Series will highlight efforts to reduce pollutants in stormwater through controlling these pollutants at their sources.
The first in EPA’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Webinar Series will cover the topic of Stormwater, Coal-Tar Sealcoat, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The webinar will present information on the prevalence of PAHs from coal-tar-based sealcoat in the environment, and on the environmental and human health impacts. The webinar will also cover actions taken to address PAHs by a state and a city.
Speakers:
- Barbara J. Mahler, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey
- Peter Van Metre, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey
- Allison W. Watts, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire
- Judy L. Crane, Ph.D., Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Mateo Scoggins, City of Austin, Texas
Sample Agenda: Download the webcast flyer (PDF) (1 pp, 534K) for more information.
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer