DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer AICP CNU-A
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Coal-Tar Sealants
SUMMARY:
Briefing and possible action on a request from District 8, Councilmember Ron Nirenberg to consider a prohibition on coal-tar based sealants.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On November 18, 2014, Councilman Nirenberg submitted a Council Consideration Request to consider a prohibition on coal-tar based sealants. Coal-tar-based sealant is the black liquid that is sprayed or painted on parking lots, driveways, and playgrounds. Based on a study by the US Geological Survey in San Antonio, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a cancer causing chemical which is found within coal-tar-based sealants, was detected most frequently in samples from the Leon Creek and San Antonio watersheds. The November 2015 "San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch Water Policy Analysis" provided a sample of positive and negative references concerning a coal tar sealant ban.
ISSUE:
This item is in response to a Council Consideration Request submitted by Councilman Nirenberg to consider a prohibition on coal-tar based sealants.
City staff from the Office of Sustainability, Health, Transportation & Capital Improvements, and Development Services, in coordination with the San Antonio Water System, Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the San Antonio River Authority conducted preliminary research of scientific data and best practices available on the use of coal-tar sealants.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Committee can recommend to postpone the policy examination of coal-tar sealants or recommend to not implement any policy review.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If City Council approves City staff to proceed with implementation of code amendments banning coal-tar sealants, fiscal resources will be required to fund policy enforcement and public outreach.
RECOMMENDATION:
Before procee...
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