Prominent Industry Group Changes Position on Bans
According to the publication, Inside EPA, the National Pavement Contractors’ Association (NPCA) will no longer oppose coal tar sealant bans. The NPCA manages a discussion forum that is probably the most robust discussion of pavement topics on the internet. The most prolific section of discussion is on sealcoating. To say that the group historically is pro-coal tar is an understatement. […]
I Guess Sealants are Sexy After All!
About the time that Austin, TX was considering the nation’s first ban of coal tar pavement sealants, a local reporter pointed out a problem with the whole discussion: the topic, though important and serious, just isn’t sexy enough to get people’s attention. [See “Sexing Up Sealants”] Now with a little help from a popular […]
A Source of Toxic PAH-llution
Article from the Fall 2011 Estuary News of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Ever cringe while watching a video from the ’50s of children being sprayed with DDT at a neighborhood pool? Maybe you were one of them! Or do you ever wonder, what were they thinking as doctors smoked in patients’ rooms in […]
UConn PAH Seminar: Human Cancer Risks Federally “Unacceptable;” More New Challenges for Coal Tar Sealants
For the first time, a toxicologist has publicly presented the probable risks to children exposed to soil and dust tracked into homes from coal tar pavement sealants. An excess risk of 1 in 10,000 was estimated. Federal law deems this risk “unacceptable” and is “sufficient basis” for action. While the professor from Baylor University, Dr. Spencer Williams, […]
Edina Becomes Minnesota’s 13th Community to Ban Coal Tar Sealants
Last night Edina, Minnesota, in spite of pressure from industry, passed a ban of coal tar pavement sealants. With a population over 47,000 and the reputation of being one of the most affluent suburbs of Minneapolis, Edina’s ban will go into effect next week. I’m getting behind on my tally of communites, which is a […]
Sealant Removal Video Now Available from Washington, D.C.
As reported recently on this blog, this video shows last month’s remediation of a coal tar sealant ban violation in Washington, D.C.. This action was done under the authority of the District of Columbia’s Department of the Environment. The large hose attached to the machine is to filter dust out of the air and […]
12th Minnesota Town Says “NO” to Coal Tar Sealants
Tonight the City of Inver Grove Heights passed a ban of coal tar pavement sealants. With over 578 stormwater ponds that collect this toxic sediment, the City is now eligible to receive state grants to assist in the costs of disposal of the dredged pond material. This is a huge problem throughout the […]
DC Ban Violator Successfully Removes Toxic Sealant!
The District of Columbia’s Department of the Environment has completed their first remediation of a violation of their coal tar sealant ban. The technique, shot blasting, has been described on this site (see What If CTS is on My Driveway?!) as a means to remove the material without causing additional pollution problems. I hope to […]
Austin Ban Illustrates Prudent Pollution Prevention According to National Research Council
I came across this report I read several years ago that is just as pertinent today as it was in 2008 and thought I would share it with the readers of this site. The National Research Council of the National Academies, with nearly 150 years of Congressional authorization on science, medicine and engineering, authored a […]
“Don’t Use Coal Tar on Asphalt Pavement,” Respected Asphalt Institute Recommends
The respected Asphalt Institute, which provides research and technical assistance to pavement managers and designer engineers primarily in the US, recommends against using coal tar sealants over asphalt. This isn’t the first technical paving source to recommend against the use of coal tar sealants for non-environmental reasons. A European study showed that coal tar sealants […]