 Coal Tar Pavement Sealants are Now Prohibited in Montgomery County
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Potential fines of up to $1000 for using coal tar.
Before using a paving sealant, check to make sure it does not contain: coal tar, coal tar pitch or RT-12.
As a property manager or representative of a community in Montgomery County, Maryland, the Department of Environmental Protection is contacting you to ensure you are aware of the County’s recently adopted ban on coal tar-based driveway or parking lot sealants.
This ban, effective December 18, 2012, prohibits the sale or use of any sealant containing coal tar, refined coal tar, coal tar pitch, or RT-12. Use of a coal tar-based sealant can subject the applicator and the property owner to a fine of up to $1,000. Sealants derived from asphalt or other materials without coal tar may still be sold and used in the County.
Learn more at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/coaltarban.
Montgomery County is requesting your assistance in sharing information about the coal tar ban with your neighbors or residents of your community.
Why are Coal Tar Pavement Sealants Banned?
Coal tar, a byproduct of coal processing, contains high levels of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- Some PAHs are known human carcinogens.
- Studies have shown that when coal tar-based sealants are applied on parking lots and driveways, PAHs can be released into nearby surface waters. They can accumulate to levels in sediments potentially harmful to aquatic wildlife.
- The presence of PAHs in sediments can potentially increase costs to the County government, businesses, and homeowner’s associations charged with maintaining stormwater management facilities.
The law that banned coal tar-based sealants also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to publish a list of alternative products that can still be sold and used in the County. We have solicited information from contractors and suppliers of pavement sealants as a resource to residents and businesses seeking a pavement services contractor. This information, as well as general information on the County’s ban, can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/coaltarban
Thank you for your assistance in complying with this law. If you have any questions about the coal tar ban, please contact Stan Edwards, Chief, Division of Environmental Policy & Compliance at 240-777-7748 or stan.edwards@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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 Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
The mission of the Department of Environmental Protection is to:
- Protect and enhance the quality of life in our community through the conservation, preservation, and restoration of our environment, guided by the principles of science, resource management, sustainability, and stewardship.
- Provide solid waste management services, including recycling, in an environmentally progressive and economically sound manner.
Visit us at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep.
Learn more about DEP by following us on Facebook or Twitter.
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