Is Coal Tar On Its Way Out?

February 29, 2016

Is Coal Tar On Its Way Out?

With spring around the corner, the annual calls to ban coal tar sealer are right on cue. State Rep. Laura Fine has reintroduced House Bill HB5588, calling for a ban on the use and sale of coal tar sealer in Illinois. In a hearing in October with the Sierra Club and the USGS, Rep. Fine indicated that she was going to push for a ban on coal tar this year. If successful, the ban would start in 2017. The bill is currently in the House Rules Committee and will likely be assigned to a formal committee in the next few weeks.
 

Talk of coal tar bans has urged some sealcoaters to switch to a more environmentally friendly product. Our sales of eco friendly sealer jumped last year from 4% in 2014 to 13% of our total sealer sales. The addition of Black Diamond (GemSeal's High Performance Alternative to Asphalt Emulsion and Coal Tar Sealers), has made the switch less painful. Black Diamond is eco friendly, has similar durability as coal tar and can be used early and late in the season, unlike asphalt emulsion. 
 

Although we believe the calls to ban coal tar are baseless, we're excited to have an alternative that will please everyone. 
 

For more information on Black Diamond sealer, visit nacsupply.com or call 877-767-4622.


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