VBT to hold workshop for those who apply sealants to local drives

The Van Buren Township Planning and Economic Development Department is hosting a workshop for local businesses on the township’s new ordinance that bans the use of coal tar sealants on drives and parking lots.
The public meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 31, in the VBT board meeting room.
Department Deputy Matthew Best said the meeting will inform participants of the reasons for the coal tar sealant ban and how the township will proceed in the enacting of the ordinance.
But, the meeting may turn into more than the township telling the businesses what they are allowed to do under the new ordinance.
The coal tar industry is fighting back.
Anne LeHuray, Ph.D., executive director of the Pavement Coatings Technology Council, based in Alexandria, VA, sent a letter to Best saying that several of her group’s members sent her copies of the invitation they received.
Dr. LeHuray said PCTC is the trade association of the sealcoat manufacturers, most of which, she said, are family owned small businesses. She disputed some of the statements in Best’s letter and sent on a list of links to other publications that give different scientific information.
“Please pass the links and the list of publications along for evaluation to the scientists Van Buren Township relied on in development of its ordinance, as it appears from the content of your letter that peer-reviewed science papers that reach conclusions contrary to some of the statements in your letter may have been overlooked, leading Van Buren Township to adopt an ordinance that is a solution in search of a problem,” Dr. LeHuray said, asking to be put on the agenda.
She told the Independent she plans to be at the March 31 meeting.
She also asked for time on the agenda for one of the engineers from a PCTC-member company with knowledge of the efficacy and benefits of all types of sealcoat.
During the March 16 meeting of the VBT Environmental Commission, the coal tar ordinance was discussed. Best said his agenda for the meeting included Rebecca Esselman of the Huron River Watershed Council to talk about coal tar in general.
Then, Dr. David Wilson, a member of the commission and leader in the fight to ban coal tar, will give a resident’s point of view. Also, Best will reassure the businesses that the township’s goal is education and the township can put them in touch with companies that sell asphalt to use instead of coal tar.
Best said he did some research and found the difference in cost between asphalt and coal tar is $80.
Dr. Wilson said Dr. LeHuray is trying to create confusion, uncertainty and doubt.
“I don’t know if her on the agenda is appropriate,” Best said, adding it appears LeHuray wants a debate on whether PAH is harmful.
“We’ve already passed the ordinance,” Best said. “If she thinks it’s wrong, she should come to the Environmental Commission to discuss it, since the commission recommended its approval to the township board and could recommend changes.”
Dr. Wilson said the commission should consider who she works for and, “look at whose bread she eats.” He said she wants to pit her scientists against U.S. Geological Survey scientists.
“We have to hear both sides,” Best counseled, saying she should speak to the commission. “We can hear them and weigh them.”
“Keep in mind the source,” Dr. Wilson warned. “I have seen this so many times …”
“Let’s invite her to the commission,” said Commission Chairman Dave Brownlee.”
Best said she would have to fly from Alexandria, VA, to attend the VBT meeting. He said the interest in VBT is probably because, “We’re the first municipality in the nation to put a limit on PAH.”
“I have confidence in you to make the right decision,” Best said of what Dr. LeHuray will be requesting.
Best said Essleman and he have put the agenda together for the March 31 meeting, with a question and answer part for contractors.
“It could turn into a Lakeshore Ordinance meeting,” Best commented, referring to the recent lively meetings on that topic.
“I will contact her and invite her to the next Environmental Commission meeting [April 20].
“The workshop is an open meeting,” Best reminded the commission.