Moving to safer alternatives to coal tar sealcoats
Effective January 1, 2014, the sales and use of coal tar-based sealcoats are banned in Minnesota. See the most up-to-date version (the 5th engrossment) of the recently-enacted legislation, lines 44.15 to 45.7. Through the rest of 2013, the MPCA will be working with partners to develop an implementation plan.
Although there is one more season to legally apply coal tar outside the boundaries of the 28 Minnesota cities which have already banned it (see list below), the MPCA urges you to use only safer alternatives this summer and fall of 2013. This will minimize the unnecessary release of harmful and persistent chemicals into your and your neighbors’ environment.
Find contractors near you who have pledged not to use coal tar sealcoats:
Guidance on pavement preservation choices and, if sealcoat is the best option, its successful use can be found through the “Choosing alternatives to coal tar-based pavement sealcoats” link to the left.
Some of the chemicals in coal tar-based sealcoat, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are known to cause cancer in people and fish, and to harm the aquatic food chain. Studies around the U.S.have shown that PAHs are released from coal tar-based sealcoats into the air and homes, workplaces, and shopping centers, and also into ponds, lakes and streams. In addition to the potential health risk of PAHs, there can be substantial costs for cities and private property owners to manage sediment in stormwater ponds that is contaminated with PAHs from coal tar-based sealants. See more background at:
Removing contaminated sediments from a stormwater pond (photo courtesy of the city of White Bear Lake).
The MPCA recognizes there are other sources of PAHs in the environment, and works on them where feasible (residential wood-burning, for instance).
The cost to taxpayers is a major reason why numerous cities in Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities metro area, have banned the use of coal tar-based sealcoat within their boundaries. These include: Buffalo, Cannon Falls, Centerville, Circle Pines, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Falcon Heights, Golden Valley, Hutchinson, Inver Grove Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood, Medina, Minneapolis, Newport, New Hope, Oakdale, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Roseville, Shoreview, Shorewood, Vadnais Heights, Waconia, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake and Woodland.
Pouring seal coating on a driveway.
To aid in the transition to safer alternatives which require proper expertise to apply, the MPCA asked sealcoating contractors to consider pledging that they will not apply sealcoats containing coal tar in Minnesota. The MPCA encourages property owners and managers to contact them for services: See map and lists.
Contractors interested in making the commitment to not use coal tar-based sealcoats and in being added to the list can print the form in the link below, fill it, sign it and send it to the fax number or address below:
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Voluntary environmental commitment form (wq-strm4-17)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Pollution Prevention Program
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
Fax: 651-215-0246, attention Al Innes
Or if you have questions, please contact Al Innes, MPCA at 651-757-2457, or by email at alister.innes@state.mn.us.
The project is also gathering the best independent information available to support the transition to safer alternatives which will preserve pavement at reasonable cost. See Guidance on choosing alternatives for more information.
