Coal Tar Free America

22/04/2024

On Earth Day Eve, I learn of the tragic story unfolding from an elementary school in PA ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-LondonElementarySchool/523619707775673 ) that is planning to spread toxic coal tar sealers on play areas at the same time the PA legislature is considering a statewide ban.

Parents please call your school and ask them to only use non-toxic products!

https://www.cciu.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=6513&dataid=9626&FileName=2425%20Asphalt%20Bid%20Specs.pdf

Mandy Steele

Lowest grade taught: Kindergarten - Highest grade taught: 2nd Grade

22/04/2024

On Earth Day Eve, I learn of the tragic story unfolding from an elementary school in PA ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-LondonElementarySchool/523619707775673 ) that is planning to spread toxic coal tar sealers on play areas at the same time the PA legislature is considering a statewide ban. Parents please call your school and ask them to only use non-toxic products!

https://www.cciu.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=6513&dataid=9626&FileName=2425%20Asphalt%20Bid%20Specs.pdf

Mandy Steele

15/03/2024

Sealcoat Ban in Cook County to Benefit Millions

March 14, 2024

(Chicago)—Earlier today the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to ban coal tar-containing and high PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) sealers above 10,000 ppm (1%). Cook County includes the City of Chicago and more than 800 local government units and nearly 130 municipalities are wholly are partially in it. More than 5 million residents will be affected.

09/03/2024

Today, there are over a 100 bans toxic pavement sealers in the US, but where did it all start?

What led a solitary city in Texas to figure this out?

Check out this video for a conversation with three witnesses who were there from the beginning.

The Origin Story of Coal Tar Sealer Bans: A Retrospective https://youtu.be/q-QpqnYNVao?feature=shared via
YouTube

The following video is a retrospective look at a time when City of Austin staff were presented with a career-challenging task to address media claims of toxi...

10/02/2024

Virginia Coal Tar Sealant Ban Bill is Progressing! https://youtu.be/JcMEIgsZjnY?feature=sCO9 shared via

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Good news on the environment front out of Virginia, a bill banning harmful pavement sealants is heading to the Senate for final approval.

25/01/2024

Anyone else see the conflict here? All smiles for spreading a known human carcinogen across a county on roads, but on the same site hand-wringing about cancer prevention. WBIW. State Senator David Niezgodski unsuccessfully attempted to eliminate these products in Indiana. Lawrence County, Indiana Administration

29/12/2023

Want some great news to end 2023?

Canada, the entire nation (!!!), recently announced their intent to ban the import, manufacturing, sale and use of toxic coal tar and high PAH products in 2025.

BOOM!

https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-11-18/html/reg3-eng.html

09/10/2023

"I think it's time...."
: Looks like
Lowe's Home Improvement (Canada) and RONA
have completed their phase-out of toxic coal tar based sealers!

"Oh yeah! much better! "

27/04/2023

I've been tinkering with AI generated images. This one is "Toxic Sealer Man." Notice that even his face is melted. What do you think?

20/03/2023

It's good to see contractors be part solution like Alpha Paving Industries, LLC ! Here they educate their customers about PAHs, coal tar and bans. Much appreciated!

14/02/2023

Get your , 20 page guide to from the experts of the Asphalt Sealcoat Manufacturers' Association
!

19/07/2022

Did you see that Luxemburg banned coal tar sealers? Luxemburg, Wisconsin that is!!

State Representative Joel Kitchens Luxemburg , Wisconsin Clean Wisconsin Mix-Tek Pavement Solutions

27/05/2022

Good News!

Maryland's Safer Sealant Act has Officially Passed! Great work over the years w/awesome partners in 4 counties
(Howard County Government, Montgomery County Government, Prince Georges County Government e-Community, Anne Arundel County and the The City Of Annapolis.

Starting with Montgomery Councilmember Craig Rice and ending with Delegate Vaughn Stewart and Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan! Great work for kids' sake!

23/05/2022

Wondering if the Bolingbrook Park District is aware that The Village of Bolingbrook along with many others pledged NOT to use toxic coal tar sealers which are now specified to be placed in a park next to the DuPage River!

The Conservation Foundation

https://bolingbrookparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Indian-Boundary-Park-Parking-Lot-Expansion-BID-DOCUMENT.pdf

09/05/2022

https://coaltarfreeusa.com/2022/05/breaking-down-new-safety-study-by-feds/

Federal study finds unsafe exposure for applicators of coal tar sealers.

04/05/2022

Hey Governor Larry Hogan : Time to choose and sign the (HB133/ SB372) Act!

Why? Because it is a "commonsense solution."

Chesapeake Bay Foundation ASMA USA Reagan Library

League of Women Voters of Maryland

20/04/2022

! Congrats to the City of Warrenville Government (30 miles west of Chicago) who now has the FIRST AND ONLY ban of toxic coal tar sealers in the DuPage County!
https://t.co/sI8ouyps4v

The Conservation Foundation Forest Preserve District of DuPage County State Senator Laura Fine

21/03/2022

MD's Safer Sealer Act is sponsored by Delegate Vaugh Stewart. Recently he sent this tweet celebrating the efforts of the students from Howard County Public School System . Please consider reaching out to Governor Hogan so he'll sign this after it reaches his desk.https://governor.maryland.gov/contact-the-governor/

10/03/2022

Maryland's House and Senate passed coal tar sealer bans today! Once reconciled, it will be sent to the Governor Larry Hogan!

11/02/2022

True Confessions of a Republican, Former Coal Tar Seal User

Maryland Republican Party Maryland Capital News Service

31/01/2022

Geez even "green" schools in California continue to specify toxic coal tar sealers for parking lots and playgrounds.. What year is it?

https://kec.rialto.k12.ca.us/cms/lib/CA50000591/Centricity/Domain/40/DISTRICT%20WIDE%20-%20PAVING%20PROJECT.pdf

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20163017

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Green Ribbon Schools

30/01/2022

Visualizing PAH Values in Pavement Sealants. They're a good indicator of toxicity.

Seaboard Asphalt Products Huron River Watershed Council ASMA USA

We compare the concentration of PAH values (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) with the height of familiar structures in America. The low toxicity level refle...

19/01/2022

What were the biggest events regarding toxic coal tar sealers in 2021?

This video not only highlights those, but educates the viewer about the dangers of coal tar sealers.

https://youtu.be/5drTmlIkzbY

Mandy Steele, Fox Chapel Council U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Riverkeeper Huron River Watershed Council

What were the biggest events regarding toxic coal tar sealers in 2021?This video not only highlights those, but educates the viewer about the dangers of coal...

22/12/2021

Goodnews! The Town of Yarmouth, Maine passed what appears to be the first local government ban in that state. Yes the State has a ban that is to be phased in, but this gets the ban started in February 2022! Look at what you started Mattie Daughtry!
Town of Yarmouth Maine congrats!
https://yarmouth.me.us/coaltar

20/12/2021

Had a chance to catch up with the cancer survivor/former coal tar user/author of this post this week! Check out David Fackler at Asphalt Care Equipment https://coaltarfreeusa.com/2016/10/could-this-be-a-safer-alternative-to-coal-tar-based-sealants/

10/11/2021

2 minute summary of more than 10 years of effort to get the ban in New York.

08/11/2021

From the desk of Representative Linda B. Rosenthal:

🚨New Enviro Law🚨Coal tar sealants are bad for our health & environment. I’m thrilled my bill to ban coal tar sealants in NYS is finally law!
Thanks to some mighty advocates for their partnership: Jeremy Riverkeeper Cherson Caitlin Ferrante Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter (NY) Clean and Healthy New York Foodandwaterwatch.org/ Earthjustice NRDC Waterkeeper Alliance Coal Tar Free America & more!

28/09/2021

Governor Hochul, thank you for last week's funding for Clean Green Schools.

Unfortunately it is incomplete as long as toxic coal tar sealers remain an option at NY schools.

Please sign the coal tar ban!

If you want to encourage the Governor, email her at [email protected].

https://t.co/7XgZYwiX6o

09/09/2021

The Evolution of a National Standard for Sealcoat Testing https://t.co/SVsBJiUSr5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Trust Department of Energy & Environment

The District of Columbia is leading a national effort to develop a protocol for testing pavement sealers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This eff...

27/08/2021

If banning coal tar had rock stars or a hall of fame, Mandy Steele would definitely be in there! https://www.facebook.com/Mandy-Steele-Fox-Chapel-Council-101407274948470/