Today the US Environmental Protection Agency hosted its first ever web-based seminar on coal tar based pavement sealants. It is estimated that more 1,000 participants listened to researchers from the USGS, University of New Hampshire, the State of Minnesota, and the City of Austin give the status of stormwater-related research on this topic. This is most likely the largest “gathering” of professionals concerned about this topic to date.
Highlights from my perspective:
- The USGS covered an introduction to the topic with great clarity.
- The University of New Hampshire found that high PAH concentrations persist 4 years after the application of coal tar sealants.
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency demonstrated that the majority of PAH pollution in Minnesota area ponds are from coal tar pavement sealants. One state estimate to clean these contaminated ponds is around $1 billion.
- The City of Austin talked about their experience in both biological stream effects from coal tar pavement sealants and the enforcement of its ban since 2006. They have had 9 violators to the ban.
I suppose the real next question is: What will the role of the EPA be in regard to this issue in the future?
A copy of the webinar is currently available at this link.