Chicago Tribune: Industry Fights Coal Tar Sealant Bans with Exaggerated Studies
The Chicago Tribune last week reported on their investigation of the coal tar industry’s role in opposing sealant restrictions across the country. They found that industry research “falls short” of demonstrating there are no problems with coal tar and that at times “overstated the findings supporting coal tar.”The Tribune reported the temporary success industry has […]
Space Junk, Volcanoes, and Coal Tar Sealers: Industry Webinar to Stop Bans has Some Surprises
Photo from NASA Yesterday the Pavement Coatings Technology Council held an online seminar entitled, “How to Fight for Your Sealcoating Business.” During the 60 minute seminar participants were informed about two major topics: the Suffolk County, New York ban of coal tar pavement sealant and a presentation by a representative of the nation’s largest producer […]
40 Brave Minnesota Sealant Applicators Take the Pledge to be Coal Tar Free
This just in from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) who is working to phase out the use of coal tar sealants both by encouraging bans of the harmful substance as well as asking applicators to voluntarily stop its use. I wanted to give credit to those applicators who have made this pledge by mentioning […]
Industry Quietly Drops Coal Tar Sealant Standard
In a move that may signal a further weakening of the coal tar sealant industry, one of their standards for residential applications recently lapsed. Interesting since one of the sealant industry’s lofty claims is that their product has an ASTM standard. If you’re not familiar with the organization, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) […]
Luggage Lessons for the Coal Tar Sealant Industry
Maybe you saw the recent news about Samsonite’s luggage line, called “Tokyo Chic.” A consumer product watchdog group found that some samples of these suitcase handles contained with the same chemical family that is problematic for coal tar pavement sealants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The concentration of PAHs found in the handles of the luggage […]
Huffman Says Uncertainty Shrouds California Coal Tar Sealer Ban Demise
Assemblymember Jared Huffman described today’s backroom termination of California’s first attempt to pass a coal tar sealant ban as “unfortunate” and “frustrating.” The bill would have more than tripled the number of Americans under a ban of this toxic material. The motivations that ended the bill were uncertain to the Assemblymember since it appeared […]
Surprising New Info on California Coal Tar Sealant Use
The La Brea Tar Pits aren’t the only place with tar in California. Accompanying the discussions of a ban of coal tar sealants in California, the next question is “how much is really used in the State?” In a previous post, I gave the following data points of what we know: In spite of studies […]
Hoping Sealant Company’s Promise Sticks
The Minneapolis StarTribune recently covered a story about a significant sealant franchising company’s promise to phase out the use of coal tar sealants. This is excellent news, especially from a company that claims to be the nation’s biggest sealcoater and has locations in Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Colorado, and Ohio. […]
“Responsible Thing to Do,” MN’s Largest Sealcoat Franchise Goes Coal Tar Free
Great news from Minnesota! MPCA: Minnesota’s Largest Sealcoater Switches to Safer Formula Contacts: Ralph Pribble (MPCA), 651-757-2657; Nick Kelso (Jet-Black), 952-212-0410St. Paul, Minn. ― Coal-tar residues that can contaminate stormwater ponds may become a thing of the past thanks to a voluntary phase-out by Eagan-based Jet-Black International, one of the nation’s larger franchisers of pavement seal-coating services.The […]
California Introduces Legislation to Ban Toxic Pavement Sealcoats
In a state where applicators still boast of the “harmless” and “environmentally-friendly” aspects of coal tar sealants and nearly 1 in 4 applicators prefer to use coal tar, legislation has now been introduced which will eliminate their use. If successful, California would become the largest and second state to pass a ban. It would more than triple […]