Oakmont officials don’t want coal tar in the borough

Michael Divittorio | Monday, May 17, 2021 10:58 p.m.

Mike DiVittorio | Tribune-Review

Oakmont officials went maskless and sat in their usual seats during the May 17 council meeting. All have been vaccinated and took advantage of the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for indoor events.

Oakmont has become the most recent Allegheny County community to frown on the use of coal tar.

Citing health concerns, council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution banning the use of coal tar, a material linked to stomach and bladder cancer.

“Coal tar has a very high concentration of what are called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), which are known (to be a) very potent carcinogen,” said John Arnold, councilman and public works chairman. “Many other boroughs in Pennsylvania, and cities countrywide, even some states have banned the use of pavement sealants that contain these high levels of PAHs.

“There are alternatives available that are, from a engineer’s point of view, superior and at approximately the same price. … Even the manufacturers of these sealants don’t sell them to the public.”

Officials said it is mostly used by contractors in seal coating driveways and sport courts.

Arnold has electrical engineering degrees from Tufts University and Catholic University of America, and has 40 years of practice in that field.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies PAH and similar chemicals as cancer-causing. Other side effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.

Borough manager Scot Fodi said the resolution was in response to a presentation by Fox Chapel Councilwoman Mandy Steele, who went before Oakmont officials a few weeks ago.

Her town was the first in the state to ban the use of coal tar. Fox Chapel adopted an ordinance while Oakmont went with a resolution. Arnold said he has a draft ordinance prepared just in case.

“We want to have minimal impact on homeowners and businesses,” Arnold said. “At this point, it’s saying you shouldn’t (use coal tar). If it continues to be a big problem, at some point we’ll have to say you can’t do it. You start reasonable and see what happens.”

Hampton, Aspinwall, Millvale and Sharpsburg all recently objected to the use of coal tar.

Mt. Lebanon, Blawnox and Pine are considering the move.