BILL NUMBER: S657

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to creating a road
salt applicator training program

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would create a voluntary training program for salt
applicators to help minimize the negative impacts of chloride pollution
on human health and the environment.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends the transportation law by adding a new
section 24 to:

1. Require the commissioner of the department of transportation in
consultation with the commissioner of the department of environmental
              

conservation to create a road salt applicator training program that
shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Training materials regarding environmental and human health impacts
of salt;

(b) Best practices for the application of sodium chloride to roads,
parking lots, and sidewalks;

(c) Use of state of the art equipment for snow and ice removal;

(d) Use of technology for annual reporting of road salt use by location;

(e) An action plan for reducing or eliminating sodium chloride pollution
in environmentally sensitive areas;

(f) Verification process to assure best practices is implemented;

(g) Use of road salt alternatives; and

(h) A process to certify, train and approve applicators.

2. The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the governor, the tempo-
rary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of
the senate committee on transportation, and the chair of the assembly
committee on transportation, on or before December first, two thousand
twenty, a report containing the report containing the road salt applica-
tor program findings and recommendations that include, but are not
limited to:

(a) The conducting the training program;

(b) Findings regarding the appropriateness of limited liability relief
for certified applicators;

(c) Funding options or assistance to localities for the purchase of the
state of the art equipment;

(d) Identifying locations in the state where road salt contamination may
be a threat to the environment, property or health;

(e) Similar programs in other states;

(f) A timeline for implementation of the road salt applicator training
program; and

(g) Costs associated with conducting such a program. Section 2 is the
effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Sodium chloride used as road salt is retained in local ecosystems for
decades. When road salt is applied, it runs off roads to nearby ditches
and streams, eventually finding its way to soil and groundwater. The
resulting increase in salinity levels in groundwater affects both
ecosystems and drinking water wells.

Water wells polluted by improper road salt storage or overuse of salt on
nearby roads causes elevated sodium levels in the water, which can make
the water undrinkable. Additionally, elevated sodium chloride in well
water corrodes pipes, creating a high burden for property owners who can
neither sell their homes nor afford the investment for new plumbing.
Such cases exist in East Fishkill and Pawling.

The long-term use of road salt also damages asphalt roads, concrete
bridges and underground electrical wiring. Potholes form when water and
salt travel into cracks, freeze and expand. In 2018 alone, New York City
filled over 200,000 potholes. Chloride deteriorates concrete on bridge
decking and parking garage structures, and damages reinforcing rods,
compromising structural integrity. When road salt melts ice, it can
travel down manholes and into electrical units causing electrical fires
and explosions.

Road salt negatively impacts aquatic ecosystems. It can reduce the size
of rainbow trout hatchlings by about 30 percent, influencing their abil-
ity to elude predators and decreasing the number of eggs they lay.
Researchers have also found higher levels of salt can change the male-
female sex ratio of wood frogs, which could impact population levels.
Salt can kill zooplankton and amphipods, which are essential organisms
for the health of entire ecosystems.

Minnesota and New Hampshire have implemented training programs for road
salt application. Minnesota created the Smart Salt Training Program and
New Hampshire offers Green Snow Pro, each focusing upon improving and
educating road salt applicators. The training entails reducing salt use
on roads by informing applicators to use a regulated amount of salt and
clean up excess salt deposits while maintaining public safety. The MPCA
estimated that a 10% reduction in salt use would save the metro area and
counties $8 million and 35,000 tons of salt. A private assessment,
training and certification program, called Sustainable Winter Management
(SWiMP), is also available in New York State.

This legislation will help to improve the quality of water, the safety
of our residents and protect the ecosystem.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: S6519 referred to Transportation; same as A8067 (Abinanti)
referred to transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately