6.4. SR 08-13-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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S a 14'b u n e t; eWF Er More Minnesota 6"fies ban drivewev sehaler cited as pollutant � V� Articleby: LAUR�t BLAKP Star Tribune Oottober 18, 201 Olt - 8: 18 PM 141 the 18 mon'Uhs since Nilte Bear Lake became It-he first Minnesota city to forl)id a common type of driveway semant, about, a dozen olt-hershave f6lowed, as evidence mounts that chemicals from she sealants are creating a hazardous and expensive problem in storm-water ponds. sealants riveways and contractors who app � li y The bans on coal-tar sealants apple to homeowners who sea' their own o commerciai, A/. Soth are now expected to choose safer, ash -based sealers. A'Wthough he sealant industry disputes the findings, research by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency shows a connection between coal-tar sealant's put on diriveways and parking lots and the IF-WHes poly aromatic hydrocarbons ) that are showing upin city storm-water ponds, said Don Berger, state orogram administrator of storm-water policy in One MP CA's municipal division. The PAHes are believed to be harmful -to humans, fish and other actuatic ire. "Data we have collected over the last, year indicate that there is a good percentage of these po utants tied to coal-tar sealants," Berger said. "The NIIPCA will continue to support municipalities who choose to phase out the use of coal-tar-6ased sealants to reduce a known source Of contamination to storm-water collection systems," he said. With an estimated 20,000 storm ponds in the metro area, cities are discovering that many ponds contain PAHes. Because the MPCA requires cities to keep storm pon0s clean and in good working order, and to dispose of contaminated pond sediment in specific ways, some cifies face astronomical storm-water costs. tine iesealants have done so to become eligibie for MPGA cleanup grants. �ndeed, . e cities that have outlawed til f - Circle Pines put.. a �n in place and received $45,000 from the state to help pay $100.,000 in pond sediment disposal costs, said City Administrator Jim Keinath. Inver Grove Heights, the latest city to forbid use of the sealants, also is counting on a grant after its ban takes efflect, City Engineer Tom KaIdunski of city council members. After just of f testing . he city's 578 storm-water bonds, he has found three ponds with contaminated sediments -- two with 12 such high feves of PAHIes that they must be disposed of in a sanitary 'Ondfill at a cost ranging from $1120,000 to $1$0,000. 112very city. is in the same situation -- it's a huge problem," said Mite Bear Lake Public works director Mark Burch. Before the end of the year, an W, PA work group is expected to release new research and recommendations to give cities Further options for disposing o� pond sediments. industry disputes WCA claim Ttie MP CA is talking with the Pavement- Coatings Technology Council -- which represents the sealant industry -- in hopes of encouraging the group to voluntarily phase out the, material. Anne Lel'uray, executive director of the group, said the council will look over the MPGA's latest research, but "it, remains 4 if our vi ew -- and I think we have the science to back it up -- that the original claim! i made by MPCA is incorrect,