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| Tom Bashara, left, with Dr. Peter Van Metre of the USGS c.2008. |
Tom Bashara, who was the first to attribute increasing pollution concentrations in Austin-area streams to coal tar pavement sealers, was remembered recently in a letter from Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Austin’s Mayor Lee Leffingwell.
In the letter addressed to his widow, Christine, the officials praised his actions, which not only led to the nation’s first ban of coal tar sealers, but also have resulted in improved stream conditions. The USGS found that the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have fallen by 58% in the City’s major waterbody, Lady Bird Lake, since the ban went into effect in 2005.
I am thankful for this much-deserved acknowledgment and the desire “to carry on his work for years to come.” Let’s just hope it isn’t too many years!
