Austin Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Nation’s First Coal Tar Sealer Ban

City Biologist Recounts Highs and Lows of Discovery, Media, and the Ban 

On November 18, 2005 the City of Austin enacted the nation’s first ban of coal tar sealers. Ten years later, Austin’s waters are cleaner and over 18 million Americans have joined them in a ban. 

The local university’s saying (the University of Texas), “What happens here changes the world,” has never been truer.

To mark that occasion, Mateo Scoggins, a senior biologist with the City’s Watershed Protection Department recalled the challenges which the City faced in developing the science, addressing a local media scare and now enforcing the ban. Above is a link to the 20 minute video of Mr. Scoggins’ presentation.