Shorewood, MN’s Coal-Tar-Free Gift to Lake Christmas Delayed
Last night, Shorewood, Minnesota delayed making a final vote on a coal tar sealant ban in order to tighten up the language of the ordinance. Shorewood, Minnesota includes much of Christmas Lake, interestingly named after one of the original surveyors of Minneapolis. The community, with a population over 7,000, is well known for its year-round […]
“Nasty Surprise” Awaits Communities with Coal Tar Sealant Pollution
Expensive cleanup costs of stormwater ponds throughout Minnesota constitute a “nasty surprise” according to one Minnesota League of Cities’ official. A recent Minneapolis Star-Tribune article exposed more details about the billion dollar cleanup expected if just 10% of the region’s stormwater ponds are contaminated with coal tar sealants. The State of Minnesota found that 9 […]
Michigan Moves to Ban Coal Tar Sealants…Again
For the second time in the last 3 years, the State of Michigan has begun the process to ban coal tar sealers from use in the entire state. This would be the second state to pass such a ban. The State of Washington passed the nation’s first statewide ban in 2011. The ban in Michigan […]
New Study: Cancer Risks Shown “Significant” For Children Near Coal Tar Sealant Dust/Dirt
In a just released study with the USGS, a Baylor toxicologist has shown that cancer risks to children (ages 0 to 6) with exposures to dust and soil contaminated with coal tar sealants are significant. As stated below, soil is the “primary driver of risk,” a medium that has been ignored by many to date. […]
Show-Me State Study: Coal Tar Sealants Pervasive Stream Problem
A just-released study of coal tar sealants by Missouri State University agrees with other scientific findings across the US and Canada that coal tar sealants lead to elevated levels of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and stream degradation. The study also found that PAH levels in urban stream sediments exceeded the recommended standard in nearly 46% […]
Texas Aquifer District Stomps Out Coal Tar in Sensitive Zones
Earlier today the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) voted to ban coal-tar sealcoat from two of its most sensitive areas. Originally the District contemplated a ban in all recharge and contributing zones, but a recommendation from Aquifer Management and Planning (AMP) Committee was to study the item further and include it in with a Habitat Conservation […]
US EPA Releases New Info on Coal Tar Sealant Pollution
The USEPA just released a new publication on their website with the above title. It is intended to assist communities in “Good Housekeeping” efforts within their local stormwater permits. This is the fourth public acknowledgement of this issue in the last few years. They are: A web page by the CADDIS section of the USEPA […]
Canadians Find Overlooked Chemical in Coal Tar Sealants “May Constitute a Danger.. to Human Life or Health”
The Canadian government recently called for closer scrutiny of a chemical called “quinoline” entering the environment. To my knowledge there is no similar requirement in the US. What is it and why are they monitoring it? Is it a problem with coal tar sealants? As you will recall, PAHs are a family of chemicals with […]
Texas Doctors Support Coal Tar Sealant Restrictions
In a landmark move, a Texas-based group of doctors and health care providers has adopted language in support of banning coal tar pavement sealants. The Austin Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is part of a national organization with about 40,000 members. It is the first organization of health care providers that has taken such […]
Election 2012: A View from the Parking Lot
As the dust settles over the most expensive presidential election in our nation’s history, one may ask, “how did candidates fare that have taken a political stand on the issue of coal tar sealant pollution?” During this election cycle, I am not so naive to think that this was a deciding factor, but it may […]