ACTION NEEDED:
Please file a witness slip as a
PROPONENT of
HB2958 before
3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14.
HB2958 EPA-Coal Tar Ban has been assigned to the Illinois House Consumer Protection Committee. The committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 14th at 3:30 p.m.
This legislation, sponsored by State Representative Laura Fine, prevents the sale and use of pavement sealants containing high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), allows for enforcement, and creates financial penalties for violations.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT:
Certain pavement seal-coatings contain high levels of PAHs. PAHs are known carcinogens, cause birth defects and are toxic to aquatic life. Direct (skin) contact, inhalation of fumes from, and ingestion of the dust of these sealants endanger public health and the environment.
Over time, the sealant flakes off as dust which enters nearby homes, schools, and community facilities, increasing children's exposure to PAHs. Children with elevated levels of PAHs face increased risk of health problems, including a much higher risk of cancer throughout their lives. Those who experience fetal exposure (i.e., born to women with elevated levels of PAHs while pregnant) are more likely to be diagnosed with learning problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The sealant dust is also washed into nearby waters including Lake Michigan by stormwater runoff and collects in the sediment of streams and lakes. PAHs are toxic to aquatic organisms at the bottom of the food chain, disrupting the entire ecosystems.
Pavement seal-coatings that contain much lower levels of PAHs are readily available, at comparable or even reduced cost.