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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 1, 2024 09:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joe Webster |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Road Salt Management |
I will be introducing legislation based on neighboring state law to direct PennDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection to collaborate and develop best management practices for the use and reduction of salt to treat roadways in Pennsylvania. Under my bill, the departments will develop a guide for use by local governments and the state to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of road salt runoff. In the guide, the departments may identify areas that are particularly vulnerable to road salt runoff and establish response procedures to address uncontrolled releases of road salt that may harm the environment, all while considering highway safety to the greatest extent possible. They may also implement recordkeeping and annual reporting procedures to track the quantity of road salt used and where it is applied. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) used more than 801,000 tons of salt to treat Pennsylvania’s roads in the winter of 2021-2022. This staggering number does not include the amount of salt that municipal governments, businesses, and individuals used during this time. It takes only one teaspoon of salt to contaminate five gallons of water; as such, salt is permanently changing the chemistry of our freshwater streams. Even salt concentrations generally recognized as safe can negatively affect our freshwater ecosystems, as high salt concentrations are toxic to fish and other wildlife that absorb or drink it. Not only does salt pollute our environment, but it also corrodes and destroys our infrastructure and vehicles, costing about $5 billion in damage in the U.S. annually. Some cities have implemented alternative practices, such as applying anti-icing brine solutions made with biodegradable substances to reduce the amount of salt needed. Others have opted to mix their rock salt with sand or chips that can help create more traction on roads and be reused in future winters. Other road applications or plowing practices can keep our roads safe for winter driving without putting the environment and wildlife at risk. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation to move toward more sustainable road salt management practices in Pennsylvania. |