ACTION ALERT: IL HB2958 Amended From Coal Tar Ban to Ban Choice
from the Illinois Sierra Club: Amendment 2 will allow local control to non-home rule municipalities and counties to regulate the use of carcinogenic coal tar pavement sealants. [The only home rule county in Illinois is Cook, and home rule municipalities in Illinois include only those with populations over 25,000.] HB2958 Amendment 2 will allow Illinois […]
Tar Ghouls: a Ghastly Reminder
Across this site you can read about the effects of toxic coal tar sealers on people, the environment and economy. But rarely do we have a visual of this impact. So check out this image I came across in Pinterest. It originates from a website that is sort of a how-to for Halloween yard decorating. […]
“Trifecta of Doom” from Coal Tar Sealers = Industrial-grade Child Exposure
The State of Maine is taking another run at a coal tar sealer ban (LD1235). The first was in 2013 and then in 2015. There have been several stories on this site covering those efforts (here’s a link to several). To be honest there’s an odd bit of nostalgia for me like remembering when you’ve battled […]
“No Conceivable Rationale” for Coal Tar Use, Former Insider Says
This was just too good to leave on Twitter alone. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-danger-of-putting-corporations-before-the-epa/2017/04/20/17129590-252f-11e7-928e-3624539060e8_story.html?utm_term=.f66df34a3bb2#comments
Calling BS on Laughable, Dirty Coal Tar Industry…and the Washington Post
Yesterday the Washington Post published an article reviewing the details of US manufacturers’ complaints to the Trump Administration about regulatory burdens which hamper business. Over 150 responded. Amazingly the reporter highlighted a letter from the Pavement Coatings Technology Council and said it was among the “notable.” What was the criterion that reporter used to determine […]
2017 Coal Tar vs. Asphalt Sealer Price Comparison: Coal Tar Unappealing; Asphalt Prices Flat
It’s time for our annual survey of the retail prices for coal tar and asphalt based sealers. Here’s the heart of what we know: 1. The average of 14 different retail asphalt sealers is unchanged since last year2. The overall use of coal tar sealers is in decline so much so that some believe that it […]
Chicagoland Scientist Says Coal Tar Sealer Ban is an Uncomplicated Taxpayer Issue
The following is the testimony that Deanna Doohaluk, MPH of the Conservation Foundation gave in support of the ban of coal tar sealers in Illinois. When it comes to summarizing the watershed/taxpayer nexus with clarity, she threw nothing but strikes! It is included here with the permission of the Conservation Foundation.At time of publishing, this […]
An Open Letter In Search of Some Political Courage
I recently wrote this letter to an elected official who had shown some interest in the sealer issue. Often our politics are so polarizing that politicians are unwilling to go outside of the herd of familiar slogans and mantras. Usually that means Republicans, but sometimes Democrats do the very same thing. Please don’t take this note the wrong […]
Why Coal Tar Sealers Fail to Meet Consumer Protection Standards
Illinois Coal Tar Ban to be Heard by House Consumer Protection Committee ***ALERT*********************** If you want to support this legislation (HB2958) then do the following before Tuesday 3/14/2017: Please help protect our health and environment and pass the bill this time by filling out a witness slip and signing on as a proponent of the […]
“Lesson in Good Government” Leads Suburban Chicago Community to Ban Coal Tar Sealers
Village of Wilmette listens & rejects industry arguments While it appears that over 25 million Americans watched the President’s address to Congress last night, there was also good TV to be seen in the livestream of the Village of Wilmette Council meeting. Several high school students were on hand to witness portions of what the […]