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March 12, 2026 Clouds | 43°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.645 194th (Current)

An Act prohibiting the use of coal tar sealers

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 645) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to prohibit the use of coal tar sealers. Environment and Natural Resources.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Michael O. Moore
This bill would prohibit the use of coal tar-based driveway/pavement sealants due to their harmful health and environmental impacts. A number of studies have found that living adjacent to a coal tar sealed pavement is associated with significant increases in estimated excess lifetime cancer risk, and that much of the increased risk occurs during early childhood and additional studies have found that runoff from coal tar harms marine ecosystems. Washington, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, Maine, and Virginia have banned coal tar sealcoating used on driveways and parking lots.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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