New City Ordinance Bans Coal Tar-Based Driveway Sealant

Oakdale has joined 24 other metro cities in Minnesota that have decided to ban the use of coal tar-based sealant on driveways and parking lots.

After months of study, the city council passed an ordinance recommended by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) on Sept. 24. 

The city amended Ordinance No. 769, which now bans the use of coal tar-based sealer products. Both residents and businesses cannot use the sealant on driveways, parking lots or other surfaces in the city. 

Coal tar-based sealants contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which is a group of chemicals that are harmful to humans, fish and aquatic life. Coal tar-based sealants have up to 30 percent PAHs. 

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, many manufacturers have used coal tar for a sealcoat since it is resistant to petroleum products (like gasoline and oil). Over time, the sealcoat wears out and sealcoat flakes are washed away by rain or carried off by the wind into stormwater ponds, streams and lakes. 

The MPCA also reports that ridding cities of sediment with PAHs is expensive since it must be disposed of differently. 

EMC Chair Keith Miller brought the issue up for study this summer after seeing several driveways getting repaired and resurfaced. Miller, who is a chemical engineer, said he was somewhat familiar with the dangers of coal tar-based sealants.

Miller said that several driveways in his neighborhood have rain runoff go into stormwater ponds, which would potentially contaminate the ponds and the aquatic life.

"I read that the sediments in these ponds can get contaminated and when you clean them they need special treatment," Miller said. "And that can increase the city's costs as well as hurt the collagen in the ponds."

Companies are not banned from selling coal tar-based sealant, but businesses, residents and contractors cannot use it within the city. Miller said that most companies — including Menards and Fleet Farm — do not sell coal tar-based sealant. 

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