Hot Mix: Pavement News from PCTC, U.S. Pavement Services, Elgin Sweeper, ATSSA and More

PCTC Questions Oregon Study of Pavement Sealer

Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) have completed a study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in pavement sealer and have concluded that some PAHs in pavement sealer can be toxic – but the Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC) disagrees with OSU’s focus on individual PAHs.

“The toxicity of pavement sealers hasn’t changed, what’s changed is the way the PAHs were measured and the method used to make those calculations,” says Anne LeHuray, PCTC executive director. “Study after study has tried to find contamination downstream from pavement runoff and they just can’t find any. What the OSU people did is measure individual PAHs in a laboratory environment and then combine the estimates of individual toxicity , which enables them to reach the claim they make.”

The OSU program studying methods of laboratory analysis of PAHs is one of the most advanced in the world and can identify and analyze more than 150 types of PAH compounds. Researchers said they examined a greater number of PAHs in pavement sealer than has been done in previous research and two of 11 “high molecular weight” PAH derivative compounds previously unidentified in sealant are estimated by other researchers to have high levels of toxicity. While the OSU paper highlighted sealer made from coal tar emulsions it noted that sealer produced with asphalt emulsions also is toxic, though less so.

But PCTC says comparing levels of PAHs to toxicity of sealer is an unwarranted comparison and PCTC has hired a scientist “with the expertise to review the paper” to draft a report to PCTC.

“In the meantime, we find it interesting that OSU seemed to focus on individual PAHs rather than on the complete product,” said Anne LeHuray, PCTC executive director. “We respect the OSU group and believe them to be very aware that the toxicity of PAH-containing products is not the same as and cannot be estimated by adding up theoretical toxicities of PAHs that occur as individual compounds only in laboratory settings.

“Based on its use over the decades, there is a mountain of empirical evidence that refined coal tar-based sealcoat has little environmental impact. Scientists have looked for such impacts on real world aquatic communities in various parts of the country without much success.”

Bergkamp Inc. forms New Company

Bergkamp Inc., Salinas, KS, has formed Bergkamp Bituminous Solutions, the company’s “next step toward achieving our vision to make roads better globally, by allowing owners of roadways to be more efficient in the construction, maintenance and preservation of their road infrastructure,” says Scott Bergkamp, president and CEO of Bergkamp Inc. and general manager of Bergkamp Bituminous Solutions. The new company will operate alongside Bergkamp Pavement Preservation Solutions.

To accomplish this Bergkamp Inc. has formed a strategic alliance with DenimoTech, a Denmark-based company, to market, sell and support a full range of emulsion mills and plants, polymer-modified asphalt blending mills and plants, crumb rubber blending plants, laboratory plants, storage tanks and mixers.

GuardTop opens Atlanta Distribution Center

GuardTop, producer of asphalt emulsion sealer and a division of Western Emulsions Inc., Monarch Beach, CA, recently opened a new distribution center outside Atlanta.

According to Jeff Luzar, division manager, the distribution facility, called GuardTop Express, will complement GuardTop’s Southeast manufacturing facility.

GuardTop Express is located at 2400 Weaver Way, Suite J, Doraville, GA 30341; phone 877-948-2738.

U.S. Pavement Services Expands into Carolinas

U.S. Pavement Services Inc., Woburn, MA, has expanded its paving and pavement maintenance operations to the Carolinas. Original 800-PAVEMENT Network member Rick Adkison and his long-time staff and crews will now operate as U.S. Pavement Services based in Charlotte, NC. Adkison will serve as general manager of the newly created division, overseeing all operations in the region.

Surface Coatings Co. Celebrates 40 Years 

Surface Coatings Co., a GemSeal company based in Auburn Hills, MI, this year celebrates its 40^th anniversary as a manufacturer of asphalt maintenance products for commercial, industrial, and residential applications.

Founded in 1976 by Russ Goddard as a subsidiary of Goddard-Dennis, Surface Coatings Co. was the smallest of eight manufacturers serving Detroit and greater Michigan. In four decades, the company has grown its infrastructure and expanded its market area to include all of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario and has become the number-one supplier for Michigan and Ontario, according to Lee Lowis, regional general manager. 

In December 2012, Surface Coatings Co. was acquired by GemSeal Pavement Products, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, with manufacturing locations throughout the United States. GemSeal merged its New Boston, MI, sealer production into the Surface Coatings plant in Auburn Hills, and the two companies merged product lines.   

Wolf Paving Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

Wolf Paving, a third-generation family-owned business, asphalt manufacturer and contractor, celebrated its 75-year anniversary in April, according to Sean Wolf, vice president.

Established in 1941 by Lawrence Wolf as Wolf Construction, the company has evolved from manufacturing sand and gravel for Waukesha and Jefferson counties, to a provider of asphalt solutions for residential, commercial and municipal projects in southeastern Wisconsin.

“Our company’s strong heritage and growth are the result of my grandfather’s acute focus on innovation and exceeding expectations within our industry,” said Sean Wolf, Vice President of Wolf Paving. “The partnerships built and achievements we have experienced over the past 75 years are a reflection of our commitment to excellence and the many contributions from our entire team.”

Today, Wolf Paving, based in Waukesha, WI, is focused on the manufacturing and utilization of sustainable asphalt materials. Wolf says that in an industry that recycles nearly 100 million tons of its own product each year, Wolf Paving has been recognized as a pioneer in the area of environmentally responsible asphalt solutions.

ATSSA Promotes Smith, Scheyder

At the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), Fredericksburg, VA, Nate Smith is now vice president of government relations. Smith’s responsibilities include advocating for roadway safety infrastructure policies and funding at the state and federal levels on behalf of ATSSA’s membership. His team works to educate elected officials about the importance of increasing funding for roadway safety infrastructure products and services.

Smith has been integral in increasing ATSSA’s visibility to state and federal legislators and representing ATSSA’s membership on Capitol Hill for the passage of the five-year, $305 billion transportation bill that was passed by Congress last December.  The passage of “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act” (FAST Act) includes significant roadway safety infrastructure investments that will substantially improve the safety of the nation’s roadways for motorists.

Also at ATSSA, Jessica Scheyder was recently promoted to director of training after serving as associate director of training and products for almost three years. Scheyder is responsible for ATSSA’s roadway safety training courses, professional certifications, and products and publications for the safety segment of the transportation industry. 

NASCAR Honors Elgin Sweeper for “Green” Efforts

As part of NASCAR’s fourth annual Race to the Green program, the racing organization named Elgin Sweeper the official sweeper of NASCAR Green, a week-long program celebrating the racing industry’s efforts to protect the environment and highlights the sustainability efforts of NASCAR partners, sponsors and stakeholders who work closely with NASCAR year-round. The recognition included a video and a feature article on Elgin Sweeper and its Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper that was posted on the NASCAR Green website (green.nascar.com) on Earth Day.

“Elgin Sweeper is proud to be part of this exciting, week-long celebration highlighting the sustainability efforts of NASCAR’s partners,” said Mike Higgins, vice president and general manager of Elgin Sweeper. “As a long-term partner of NASCAR Green, Elgin Sweeper shares NASCAR’s passion for, and commitment to, protecting the environment through sustainable practices.”

As the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green, Elgin Sweeper is present at each NASCAR race event weekend to support NASCAR's Air Titan equipment to dry rain-soaked racetracks, saving jet fuel and reduce NASCAR’s overall carbon footprint. In addition to supporting the Air Titan equipment with the Elgin Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper, Elgin Sweeper helps clean and dry the tracks during caution periods when necessary.

“The Elgin Track Sweeper saves roughly one gallon of diesel fuel per hour, which relates to about 22.4 pounds of carbon dioxide,” said James Crockett, sweeper products manager at Elgin Sweeper. “Our proprietary shared technology system diverts the formerly wasted energy from the chassis engine back to power the sweeper itself. This technology offsets about 16 metric tons of carbon dioxide being put into the environment over the course of a full NASCAR season, which is the equivalent of planting 372 new tree seedlings.”