What's happening
This bill creates a state road salt applicator training program to promote best practices, environmental protection, and certification for applicators.
Why it matters
Addresses both environmental and human health risks. by requiring training on the impacts of road salt, encouraging applicators to understand and reduce pollution, especially in sensitive areas.
Promotes accountability and transparency. through requirements for annual reporting of salt use by location and a verification process to ensure best practices are implemented and maintained.
Could lead to new legal and financial frameworks. by exploring limited liability relief for certified applicators and recommending funding options for localities to purchase advanced equipment, potentially lowering costs and legal risks for participants.
Leverages local expertise and national comparisons. by consulting with ongoing research programs in New York and evaluating similar initiatives in other states, aiming for a program grounded in the best available science and proven practices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Road Salt Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Train Road Salt Applicators
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6519
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to creating a road salt applicator training program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 24 to read as follows:
§ 24. Road salt applicator training program. 1. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation, shall create a road salt applicator training program that shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Training materials regarding the environmental and human health impacts of road salt;
(ii) Best practices for the application of sodium chloride to roads, parking lots, and sidewalks;
(iii) Use of state of the art equipment for snow and ice removal;
(iv) Use of monitoring technologies for annual reporting of road salt use by location;
(v) A plan of action for the reduction or elimination of sodium chloride pollution in environmentally sensitive areas;
(vi) A verification process for assuring best practices are being implemented and will continue to be implemented;
(vii) The use of road salt alternatives; and
(viii) A process for certification of trained and approved applicators, including particular locations for such training program, and a time period within which to complete continuing training requirements.
(b) In creating the road salt applicator training program, the commissioner shall use best efforts to consult with current programs and research being conducted in the state such as those undertaken by the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11761-01-9
S. 6519 2
Fund for Lake George, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and Cornell University.
2. The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the the governor, the temporary 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 road salt applicator program findings and recommendations that include, but are not limited to:
(a) Recommendations for conducting the training program by agency staff or a private contractor;
(b) Findings regarding the appropriateness of limited liability relief for certified applicators;
(c) Recommendations regarding funding options or assistance to localities for purchase of state of the art equipment;
(d) Findings, using existing data and information, regarding locations in the state where road salt contamination may be a threat to the environment, property or human health;
(e) Findings regarding the use of similar programs in other states, such as Rhode Island and Minnesota;
(f) Recommendations regarding a timeline for implementation of the road salt applicator training program; and
(g) Findings regarding costs associated with conducting such program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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:
Read the full memo (762 words)
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 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 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
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.