A proposed ordinance to ban the sale and application of refined tar sealant (RTS) products in Wilmette is based on flawed science. If enacted, the resulting ban could cost residents and business owners thousands of dollars in additional maintenance costs each year.
The Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC), an industry trade association comprised of manufacturers of pavement maintenance products, has previously exposed numerous false claims about RTS products, including those outlined in the proposed Wilmette ordinance.
“The basis of this argument stems from a Health Risk Assessment conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which manipulated calculations to support unwarranted conclusions about risk,” said Anne LeHuray, executive director of PCTC. “Proponents of the Wilmette ban are focused on a theoretical health risk of RTS that is not supported by actual evidence. In fact, Wilmette has never tested any of its water sources to determine if elevated levels of coal tar or PAHs even exist.”
LeHuray argues supporters of the ban are refusing to look deeper into the science or the potential economic impact for local property owners who use these products as part of their pavement maintenance program. The proposed ordinance therefore could have a detrimental effect on Wilmette business owners, pavement sealant manufacturers and local tax revenue.
An average-size commercial property parking lot costs about $17,000 to seal with RTS every fourth year, for an average yearly cost of $4,250. Sealing the same property using a product with a shorter expected lifespan of two years would cost an average of $34,000 over four years or $8,500 per year. The total direct cost to 30 such properties is $250,000 per year, if the RTS ban were enacted. Business tenants will also lose revenue because their properties must be closed off twice as many times for paving with other products. This lost revenue could cost each tenant an extra $2,000. With 20 retail tenants, the direct revenue loss is $40,000.
“When RTS products are properly applied, they pose no health or environmental risk to the community, regardless of “alternative facts” introduced at recent board meetings,” LeHuray said. “Our hope is that the board members look at evidence rather than unsupported claims before coming to a consensus.”
The final vote on the sealcoating ban is set for the next meeting of the Wilmette Village Board of Trustees on Feb. 28.
Submitted by the Pavement Coatings Technology Council, is a trade association comprised of manufacturers and suppliers of pavement maintenance products. PCTC’s members are dedicated to extending the life of asphalt through maintaining the highest quality manufacturing and application standards. For more information on the organization or its mission, please visit, http://www.pavementcouncil.org/
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