Reducing Rock Salt for a Cleaner Environment While Preserving Safe Travel
Introduction
New York State is known for its harsh winters, with frequent snow and ice storms, making travel treacherous at times. To combat the slippery snow and ice, road salt (or rock salt as it is also known) is often used to keep roads and walkways clear to ensure easy and safe navigation. Unfortunately, the impacts of excessive rock salt applications pose significant impacts to public health and the environment through contamination of surface water (lakes, ponds, rivers, streams), and groundwater used for recreation and as sources of drinking water, as well as infrastructure failure because of excessive corrosion.
In 2020, the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force was established to complete a comprehensive review of road salt contamination and road salt application practices within the Adirondack Park. The Task Force released a Final Report (PDF) with recommendations that identify training and public outreach practices to support road salt reduction targets and reduce the overall application of road salt through various best management practices. Today, New York State is expanding on these efforts and encourages all New Yorkers to manage rock salt use effectively and safely. Don’t be salty, New York!
Survey
To better understand rock salt usage across New York State, DEC is conducting a public survey. By completing this survey, you can help DEC gain a better understanding of the perceptions surrounding rock salt usage. The information received will help DEC, and other partner New York State agencies, make appropriate recommendations for reduction strategies. The survey will remain open until November 1, 2024. We appreciate your feedback!
Reduce Salt Spreading for a Healthy Environment
- Take our survey and let us know how you use rock salt at home or at your business.
- Shovel what you can first. Removing snow and ice first helps reduce the amount of rock salt you’ll need.
- Think twice before you start spreading rock salt. You only need 12 ounces to effectively melt snow and ice on a 20-foot driveway.
- Know the temperature. Rock salt will not melt snow or ice below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
DEC would like to thank the ADK Action team for sharing their salt reduction outreach resources. For more information on ADK Action’s “Clean Water Safe Roads” campaign, visit their webpage.
Rock Salt Reduction in Action
In May 2024, NYSDEC made $15 million in Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding available to eligible applicants to support best management practices for road salt reduction and storage as part of the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. WQIP is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program that supports implementation projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. In 2024, WQIP offered funding to eligible applicants for brine making and brine storage equipment, plow blades and guards for more efficient snow and ice removal, as well as equipment to allow municipalities to inform application of rock salt to roadways. Additional funding was also made available through NYSDEC’s Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning Grant (NPG) focused on planning for BMP implementation by creating community-led winter road maintenance plans.
Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force
The Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force was established in recognition of the need to reduce the application of road salt in the Adirondack Park, to reduce risks to public health and the environment while maintaining public safety. Following the passage of legislation in 2020, the Task Force was authorized to complete a comprehensive review of road salt contamination and road salt application best management practices within the Adirondack Park. The report represents the results of that comprehensive review and addresses:
- The nature, scope, and magnitude of impacts from road salt on surface and groundwaters, public health, and infrastructure
- Reviews current state, local, and commercial winter road management practices,
- Identifies methods for training and public outreach related to the wise use of road salt and its potential impacts, and
- Provides recommendations to reduce the overall application of road salt through various best management practices, thereby limiting its impact on the environment and public health.
- Recommendations for a road salt reduction pilot program to reduce sodium and chloride levels in surface and groundwaters, record-keeping database system, guidance for future pilot programs, changes to traffic management during hazardous conditions, monitoring of truck operators and road conditions along state roadways in the Adirondack Park.
Report Components:
- Final Report - Assessment and Recommendations (PDF)
- Background and Technical Appendix (PDF)
- Legislative Bill Number S8663A Establishing the Road Salt Task Force
Task Force Membership
The Task Force was co-chaired by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), with representation by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Adirondack Park Agency (APA), and 10 additional Governor-appointed members. The appointed members represented various areas of expertise related to understanding environmental impacts, management, and the application of road salt. This included representation of academia, law, private industry, county and local governments, and environmental advocacy. Task force members receive no compensation for their services but are reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Governor Appointees
- Brittany Christenson
- Chris Navitsky
- Dr. Daniel Kelting
- Gerald Delaney
- Joe Martens
- Kevin J. Hajos
- Dr. Kristine Stepenuck
- Phillip Sexton
- Robert J. Kafin
- Tracy J. Eldridge
New York State Agency Representation
- Department of Environmental Conservation (Co-Chair)
- Department of Transportation (Co-Chair)
- Department of Health
- Adirondack Park Agency
Task Force Vacancies
- All vacancies: None
- All expired terms: None
- Terms expiring within one year: N/A
- Process of filling vacancies: Governor Appointment
Meeting Minutes and Agendas
Outreach and Education Materials
