MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Road Salt Application & Storage Road Salt Application & Storage Part 3 Part 3

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping NPDES program designed to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. Roadway salt application is one source of pollution. NPDES program designed to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. Roadway salt application is one source of pollution. The Goal of NPDES Program is reduction in product use, use of environmentally friendly alternatives. The Goal of NPDES Program is reduction in product use, use of environmentally friendly alternatives.

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Road Salt Application & Storage Environmental Consequences Environmental Consequences Alternative Products Alternative Products –Emerging Technologies Storage and Mixing Storage and Mixing Product Use Tracking Product Use Tracking

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Road Salt – Environmental Consequences Growing concern over roadside habitat degradation, wildlife kills, and water-quality issues Growing concern over roadside habitat degradation, wildlife kills, and water-quality issues Runoff to surface waters and percolation to groundwater are the most common mechanisms for road salts to enter water supplies Runoff to surface waters and percolation to groundwater are the most common mechanisms for road salts to enter water supplies

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Road Salt - Environmental Consequences Exposure to NaCl inhibits some soil bacteria Exposure to NaCl inhibits some soil bacteria Loss of bacteria creates friable soils which can lead to suspension of sediment in runoff Loss of bacteria creates friable soils which can lead to suspension of sediment in runoff Salt also disrupt the uptake of plant nutrients and inhibits long-term growth Salt also disrupt the uptake of plant nutrients and inhibits long-term growth

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Salt use jeopardizes the health of consumers of contaminated water supplies especially those with heart or kidney disease Salt use jeopardizes the health of consumers of contaminated water supplies especially those with heart or kidney disease corrodes automobiles, bridges, and other infrastructure corrodes automobiles, bridges, and other infrastructure Road Salt - Environmental Consequences

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping California and Nevada restrict road-salt to reduce chloride injury to roadside trees California and Nevada restrict road-salt to reduce chloride injury to roadside trees Massachusetts turned to alternative road deicers to prevent contamination of residential drinking wells Massachusetts turned to alternative road deicers to prevent contamination of residential drinking wells Road Salt - Environmental Consequences

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Europe is about 10 years ahead of the U.S. in decreasing both costs and salt use while maintaining safety Europe is about 10 years ahead of the U.S. in decreasing both costs and salt use while maintaining safety Increasing its use of pre-wetted solid chemicals as well as use of salt brine Increasing its use of pre-wetted solid chemicals as well as use of salt brine Road Salt - Environmental Consequences

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Product most commonly used because it is relatively inexpensive Product most commonly used because it is relatively inexpensive Calcium, potassium, and magnesium chlorides all used, but to a lesser degree than NaCl Calcium, potassium, and magnesium chlorides all used, but to a lesser degree than NaCl Road Salt - Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Applied in liquid or crystalline form, either of which can be used in conjunction with abrasives (sand) Applied in liquid or crystalline form, either of which can be used in conjunction with abrasives (sand) Brine Storage Tank Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride More expensive than NaCl More expensive than NaCl Both can be applied as granules or liquid Both can be applied as granules or liquid Commonly used with rock salt Commonly used with rock salt Calcium chloride is more corrosive than rock salt Calcium chloride is more corrosive than rock salt Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride Benefits: Benefits: –Works at lower temperatures (-25 C) –Decreases the toxicity of metals –Improves soil characteristics –Magnesium chloride causes less vegetation damage –Melts faster –No cyanide additives –Magnesium chloride is less corrosive Negatives: Negatives: –Costs more than salt (7 times more) –Calcium chloride is more corrosive Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Benefits (compared to salt) Benefits (compared to salt) –Less vegetation damage –Improves soil structure and permeability –Decreased metal toxicity –Less toxic to aquatic biota –Biodegradable –No cyanide additives –No new spreading equipment needed Cover trucks to prevent caking –Adheres to pavement longer –Less mobile in soil, no groundwater contamination Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Negative Aspects (compared to salt) Negative Aspects (compared to salt) More expensive (about 20 times) More expensive (about 20 times) Potential for oxygen depletion of waters Potential for oxygen depletion of waters Not as effective below 23 degrees F Not as effective below 23 degrees F Blown by wind more easily Blown by wind more easily 20% greater volumes needed (increases need for storage space and # trucks used) 20% greater volumes needed (increases need for storage space and # trucks used) Slower acting (15-30 minutes) Slower acting (15-30 minutes) less effective in freezing rain, drier snowstorms, and light-traffic conditions less effective in freezing rain, drier snowstorms, and light-traffic conditions Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Anti-Icing Agents Anti-Icing Agents wide range of different substances can be used as anti-icers wide range of different substances can be used as anti-icers Anti-icing is a preventative approach Anti-icing is a preventative approach Local experiments are needed to choose the most appropriate anti-icer to use for specific types of roads and storm conditions Local experiments are needed to choose the most appropriate anti-icer to use for specific types of roads and storm conditions Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Pre-Wetted Salt Pre-Wetted Salt Benefits (compared to salt): Benefits (compared to salt): –Less wind and traffic scatter –Dissolves faster –Penetrates snow and ice faster Negative Aspects (compared to salt): Negative Aspects (compared to salt): –Need for special equipment Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Sand/Salt Mixtures Sand/Salt Mixtures Benefits (compared to salt): Benefits (compared to salt): –Decreases amount of salt used –Less toxic to aquatic biota –No new equipment needs Negative Aspects (compared to salt) Negative Aspects (compared to salt) –Sand may damage some aquatic habitat –Sand may add excess nutrients to waters –Less effective in certain conditions –Fewer corrosion problems Road Salt Alternative Products

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping SafeLane – Alternative Pavement SafeLane – Alternative Pavement SafeLane is a surface overlay that will not eliminate chemical applications but rather lessen the frequency of use SafeLane is a surface overlay that will not eliminate chemical applications but rather lessen the frequency of use There is an Ohio test location for the application; I-80 eastbound, Brecksville Ohio There is an Ohio test location for the application; I-80 eastbound, Brecksville Ohio Contact: Jerry Bergstrom, Ohio Turnpike Contact: Jerry Bergstrom, Ohio Turnpike Emerging Technologies

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping SafeLane – Alternative Pavement SafeLane – Alternative Pavement Curing time is hours, not days Curing time is hours, not days Minimal traffic delay Minimal traffic delay Reduced potential for work area accidents Reduced potential for work area accidents Can be installed over concrete, asphalt, steel, FRP or wood Can be installed over concrete, asphalt, steel, FRP or wood Emerging Technologies

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Salt Storage Keep covered Keep covered Clean-up loading areas Clean-up loading areas Mix inside storage area Mix inside storage area Road Salt – Storage & Mixing

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Use salt and grit carefully during snow events… Road Salt Application BMPs... and exercise care washing the truck after use.

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Track product usage and application areas. Road Salt Application BMPs

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Track product usage and application areas. Road Salt Application BMPs

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Roadway salt application is an important source of stormwater pollution. NPDES Program goal is to reduce product use and use environmentally friendly alternatives where possible. Road Salt Application & Storage