More communities across the state including those in Door County are saying no to dangerous coal-tar sealants. Since Crossroads at Big Creek hosted a presentation against the product’s use last January, the city and the town of Sturgeon Bay have banned using the toxic product while other governmental bodies including the Door County Highway and Airport Committee have brought it up during meetings. Chemicals found in coal-tar sealants can potentially make their way into an area’s water supply and have been linked to several kinds of cancer. Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin Executive Director Dean Hoegger says they are pleased with the feedback they have received from area government officials.

Hoegger says their focus is now primarily on communities with large tracts of land dedicated to parking lots that get resurfaced and treated on a regular basis.