It’s a ‘Fine’ Time for Illinois to Pass Coal Tar Sealant Ban Legislation

Legislative newcomer, Laura Fine, earlier this month introduced legislation to ban coal tar containing pavement products, aka “sealers,” from sale and use in the entire state beginning next year.  The legislation, HB 4599, has the backing of the Illinois Sierra Club and others and is based upon the research completed by the DuPage River/Salt Creek […]

Chicago Council Committee Hears Industry Singing Same Old Song

Last week the City of Chicago’s Finance Committee listened to comments by representatives of the coal tar sealant industry about the City’s proposed ordinance to ban the use of coal tar pavement sealants.  Many are based upon flimsy logic and myths perpetuated for years. As reported in today’s Daily Whale, the Pavement Coatings Technology Council […]

“It is Time…” for Chicago to Ban Coal Tar Sealants!

Last week Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, one of the most powerful politicians in the City, introduced legislation to ban the use of coal tar sealants.  “Coal tar sealants have been banned in enough jurisdictions across the country that I believe it is time for Chicago to consider similar action,” Alderman Burke said in a media […]

Chicago Area Watershed Group Adds Another Million Citizens Under Government Use Restrictions

**Editor’s Note: See Chicagoland: Home to the Most Toxic Creeks in the US? for an update on this story. In an unprecedented move, a consortium of Chicagoland suburban communities, representing all or part of 39 municipalities, more than 350 square miles and about 1,000,000 citizens, have agree to end the governmental use of coal tar pavement sealants.  Organized as part of […]

Chicago Suburb Steers Away From Coal Tar Sealant Use

The Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois recently opened bids for transportation projects and announced that coal tar sealants would not be used on the 2011 Crack Sealing and Seal Coating Project: As a part of ongoing environmental reviews and recent industry concerns, the Village chose to steer away from the traditional coal tar based seal coating products used in the […]