Field Test for Coal Tar Sealant Determination
Funny that this simple test has been the source of a lot of consternation, much of which will have to wait for a more thorough re-telling. Suffice it to say, that my colleague, who will want to remain anonymous, and I knew the importance of finding a repeatable field test. We found out about the […]
Industry “Study” Says No Effect in Austin From Sealant Ban
Wow, with a preconceived outcome and limited data it is little wonder what the results would be. Here are some very obvious thoughts about this industry sponsored study. To paraphrase Lyndon Johnson, environmental stewardship is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time. The Austin coal tar […]
Coal Tar Sealant Dominates PAH Pollution Across US
The USGS published their research paper about the contribution of coal tar sealants to 40 lakes across the country. Key findings were: Coal tar sealants are the dominant source of PAHs in urban lakes. On average coal tar sealants represent half of the source of PAHs in these locations. These findings are also important because of […]
USGS Researchers Speak to Springfield City Council-August, 3, 2010
In response to a request from the Mayor of Springfield, Missouri, Dr. Barbara Mahler and Dr. Peter VanMetre of the United States Geological Survey attended a special session of the Council. While the video is lengthy (90 minutes plus), it is one of the most understandable presentations on the problem with coal tar pavement sealants […]
Austin Now a Million Pounds Lighter
No it wasn’t a fit city weight loss program, but the City of Austin published the results of their ban of coal tar pavement sealants in a Stormwater Magazine editorial. Since 2006 the ban in Austin has reduced the quantity of PAHs going into Austin’s environment by a whopping 1 million pounds! Link to article
Another Coal Tar Sealant Spill
Dead Fish from Boone, NC So, it has happened again. Another documented case of runoff pollution after a coal tar sealant application. This time it is in Andover, Massachusetts during the first week of October 2010. Many of these go unreported. Some industry applicators say this is just part of doing business! Perhaps the easiest […]
Sealants Double Dose of Toxins Compared to Oil Spill
Recent headlines (September 30, 2010): Cancer-Causing Compounds Multiply in Gulf After Oil Spill; Gulf Oil Spill Leaves Behind Cancer Causing Agents Earlier this year our nation suffered the largest oil spill in our history. Every day we continued to hear the news that more oil was entering the Gulf of Mexico. No doubt this has greatly effected […]
USEPA Just Acknowledges Problem of Coal Tar Sealants!
Well this is a first! After trolling the web about this topic for 5 years, I have yet to see the USEPA acknowledge this as an issue–until now. The below reference quotes studies by Mahler (USGS) and Scoggins (City of Austin). This is a significant. Here’s a quote: Pavement sealants are routinely applied to parking […]
Now Is the Time!
After 5 years of working on the coal tar sealant problem for the City of Austin, I will no longer do this for the City. While I am disappointed by this news, it now affords me an opportunity to advocate for this work and speak freely to the public in a way that I felt […]