Roundtable Facilitators Report
ENVIRONMENT CANADA’S ROAD
SALT ASSESSMENT
Facilitator:Dick Hanneman
President, Salt Institute
Alexandria, VA
Brief description of the Road Salt Assessment issue and its current status:
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), two agencies --Environment Canada and Health Canada, began a five-year environmental assessment, in 1995, of “road salts” (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium chloride used for deicing or dust suppression). Environment Canada’s assessment focused on environmental impacts on surface and ground water, aquatic life, fish and mammals. Health Canada determined that road salt represents no human health threat.
In August 2000, staff of Environment Canada published for 60-days of public comment a lengthy draft assessment report. That report produced a record 104 public comments (Environment Canada is in the midst of assessing an Estimated 23,000 substances under CEPA) -- and virtually all the comments were critical of the quality of the science offered by the staff and/or its conclusion that “road salts” should be added to the List of Toxic Substances. The Canadian Public Works Association, the Salt Institute and all participating municipalities, counties and provinces uniformly opposed the recommendation. So did the Canada Safety Council, arguing that cutting salt use would increase accidents, injuries and deaths on Canadian roads. Environment Canada has been studying the comments and is attempting to revise the draft report. The final report was due out in December 2000, but has been delayed. The next step will be to publish the final report and then the ministers of Environment and Health, with consultation of the full Cabinet, will determine whether to list “road salts” as CEPA “toxic” or if “no further action” is required. Environment Canada is being encouraged to make the latter declaration because all instances of documented environmental damage have been associated with improper storage or application practices and, once corrected, the adverse impacts are self-correcting. Thus, CPWA, the Salt Institute, the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) support reliance on best management practices to prevent any future “toxic” impacts. TAC has produced a Salt Management Guide, developed a series of training seminars and an online training course.
Examples from participants of “best practices” for using road salt:
Recognizing that differing local situations and different storm conditions make simple “solutions” inappropriate, roundtable participants recognized that the TAC Salt Management Guide represents best practices and these including use of brine, pre-wetting rock salt, use of RWIS and proper salt storage.
Other comments/issues raised:
Once Environment Canada publishes its intent—and undergoes another 60-day public comment period, there will be either “no further action” by Environment Canada (though continuing implementation of best practices by salt users) or there will commence an 18-month public consultation with stakeholders over what strategies might be used to mitigate the “toxic” impacts. Environment Canada has ruled out a “salt ban,” but would seek input on how to design incentives to implement best practices or proceed to develop federal salt management standards. One concern is that such a strategy might ask each salt using agency to reduce its use by a certain percentage. The Roundtable Participants felt that this would not be feasible because some agencies have already made all the reductions that can be made through best management and it is impossible to factor-in the effects of weather. All agreed that traffic safety must remain the priority. (Environment Canada says it agrees with this as well). Roundtable participants agreed that it would be useful if someone would develop an index which would enable agencies to determine the appropriate amount of salt to be applied given storm, topographic and traffic conditions. No one knew how such a multi-factorial tool could be developed. Environment Canada is seen as heavily committed to use of RWIS as a major component of the solution, in part because Environment Canada itself markets RWIS systems, charging customers fees for the service.
RWIS – IT’S ALL IN THE TIMING
Facilitator:Jerry Pickett
Street Superintendent
Greeley, CO
5 participants representing Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about using RWIW and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionHow many of you use RWIS / 2 of the 5 people attending this roundtable
What types do you use? / Weather forecasting from private firm. Telecast on internet, also National Weather channels, live radar
Use as many resources as possible to help you in your decision making / Storm watch service from local T.V. station which sends faxes on storms
Utilize local police – out 24 hrs a day
SSI (Surface Systems Inc)
Install pavement temp gauge on vehicles
Spotters (local residents to call who can let you know conditions)
DTN
Internet
Hot Issue: Cost of RWIS / Work with various state Departments of Transportation to partner on installing systems.
RWIS – great tool
Pavement temperature
Air temperature
Wind
Dew
Sub-surface temperature
Humidity
Forecasting
AUTOMATED ANTI-ICING SYSTEMS
Facilitator:Larry Frevert
Deputy Director, Public Works
Kansas City, MO
Participants: Representing state DOTs, Cities, Counties, Vendors and Roads & Bridges Magazine
Examples of how Roundtable Participants are using automated anti-icing systems:
PA DOT – 3 systems, Boschung and 2 additional
KCMO – Evaluating
Cuyahoga Falls, OH –Evaluating – plenty of brine available
WA DOT – 0 now, 2 out to bid, projected benefit:cost ration of 2.5/1 for one of the systems
KY DOT – 1 system activated from district office, CaCL currently being used but NaCl is being considered. System is an Odin. RWIS system in use
Columbus – Evaluating
IL DOT – 0 –Evaluating Odin system in the Chicago suburbs. Problem encountered with the deck mounted spray system that became clogged by traffic debris causing hose to burst and material spillage
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about automated anti-icing systems ….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionParapet mounted spray is distracting to vehicle driver – causing accident problems. Also, windrowed snow along the parapet wall blocks spray / Advanced flashing light warning for motorists, deck mounted nozzles sequenced towards traffic
Nozzles plugged causing back pressure on system –bursting of supply lines / Use a bladder system that maintains constant pressure on system. In off-season, remove chemical and periodically fire nozzles with water as preventative maintenance.
System “blowouts” / Its important to maintain constant pressure of 145 to 150 psi to prevent blowouts and to fire system periodically during the off season.
Material used / MgCl, CaCl and NaCl
Container and control box location - vandalism / Mounted on fill slope under bridge depending on available space. Storage tank sizes range from one 500 gal to two-1000 gal tanks
Other chemical problems / Certain types effect operation of solenoids, sticking open or closed. Precaution is to be selective in chemical usage.
Substitute for manual salting / Manual salting crews are not directed to skip bridge, apply salt right across bridge but do not hit “blast” button
Alternative “homemade” system / Due to cost, one city built a parapet-mounted system working from an unused traffic lane. Electrical wiring placed in PVC conduit. Rubber hose delivery of material.
Function / Frost prevention & early prevention of snow & ice bond.
Spray usage with motorcycle traffic / No known solution
Full surface wetting / One system recommends wetting 25% of surface plus one set of nozzles on bridge approach and departure. Group opinion that this isn’t adequate and recommends at least 75% of deck be wetted.
Triggering of spray / Range from totally automated to manual activation. One agency uses only temperature-based detectors. Another not only uses sensors to fire system but also to activate call out of manual salting crews.
Results / Very good accident reduction experience.
1 location hidden by curve caused problems to approaching motorists and by adding an advance sprayer in roadway the problem was solved.
Monitoring / Still photography verifies activation and results
Chemical problems / Recirculation is necessary for some chemicals due to formation of precipitates.
PURCHASING: WRITING SPECS FOR CHEMICALS
Facilitator:Gary Vandegriff
Operations Manager
Indianapolis, IN
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about spec writing for chemicals and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionHow to get what you need / Know physical properties of product
Know what performance you want to achieve
Testing / Write into spec
Procedures and frequency
Spec performance or properties / Has to be mixture of both.
Other Comments:
Roundtable Facilitators Report
WHICH CHEMICAL WORKS BEST
UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS
Facilitator:Dennis Belter
Program Support Manager
Indiana Department of Transportation
Examples of results Roundtable Participants have achieved using specific chemicals or mixtures:
Liquids Used:
Calcium chloride
Salt brine (23%)
Potassium acetate
Magnesium chloride
Ice Ban
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about using anti-icing/de-icing chemicals (i.e. prewetting, impact of temperature and humidity, etc.) ….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue
/ SolutionIce Ban (50% IB – 50% cal
Effectiveness / IL liked as prewet. Effectively broke ice pack.
Salt Brine (2 times/week) / Added 5% calcium chloride (32%)
Stays 4 days
Effective to 15 degrees F
What do you do with left over salt from salt brine making / Pour over pile in dome
Legal issues of making own brine / Document preparation
Frost or Black Ice / Spray bridge decks twice/wk
How to apply / Steamer nozzles -- how to keep it simple 10” apart
Decorative concrete and brass / CMA Ice Ban
Start liquid usage / Get materials supplier you trust, get people behind it
Wetting loads / Saddle tanks preferred over spraying load
Temp low enough only every 10 years / Don’t invest in saddle tanks.
Other issues discussed:
Don’t mix calcium and mag
Prewet salt w/ cal & prewet w/brine & cal – burns off quick
Roundtable Facilitators Report
COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES: TESTING
ANTI-ICING/DE-ICING CHEMICALS
Facilitator:Pat Condon
INDOT
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about testing methods for anti/de-icing chemicals….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionSalt straight vs Pre-Wet / Pre-wetting keeps more solids on pavement and works sooner in most cases. Pre-wetting of …. Works but touch application preferred
Anti-icing vs not / Equipment is expensive. However providing is good service
Salt Brine / Has its place but very temperature sensitive. Adding Mag or Cal Chloride has to be done.
Liquids / With caution. – presents new set of problems. More refining is being done to make a cleaner liquid
How do small town get into anti-icing – due to expense and lack of funds
Other Comments:
Roundtable Facilitators Report
GOOD STORAGE STRATEGIES
Facilitator:Jim Dean
Town of Orangetown, NY
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about salt and chemical storage….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionStorage capacity / Build additional facility @ agency, location: supply when needed, quality control. Combined storage (build facility for use)
Environmental – run off loading area
Liquid brine storage 26% - 33%
Getting deliveries / 280,000 gal pond – Ohio
plastic – 5 double wall tanks fiberglass
Have adequate storage capacity.
Plan for tank mixing capability
Tank values may be a weak spot - fiberglass or poly tanks
Protect tanks with concrete or rail barriers.
Other Comments:
All storage needs good security provisions
Plan for extra capacity – deliveries
Plan for first flush capture
May recycle salt brine
Roundtable Facilitators Report
APPLYING ANTI/DE-ICERS
Facilitator:Tom Konieczny
District Operations Engineer
Indiana Department of Transportation
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about anti/de-icier application….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionWhat materials are used? / MgCl
Agricultural based products
CaCl
Brine
Dry salt at right time
Application Rates? / Basically 40-60 gal/lmi brine
Down to 15-30 Ag products
Apply prewet / Good luck spraying last 6 to 8 inches of auger or belt before it falls into chute
Dallas TX lots of ice – usually starts as rain / Try prewetting salt with liquids
Containment / Suggest holding everything to eliminate pollution – possibly storing inside
Other Comments:
Purity of products: need to look at filtering products. AG products typically have solids. Brine has salt impurities. Recirculate products.
Low budgets – make homemade. Bring production. Homemade applicators. Government surplus.
Roundtable Facilitators Report
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL USAGE
Facilitator:Volunteer
Examples of the questions/issues raised by Roundtable Participants about the environmental effects of chemical usage….and the solutions/advice given by other Roundtable Participants:
Issue / SolutionRust inhibitors
Phosphates / Test
NPDES
Sodium phosphates / Stay on top of regs
Ply –10
Air quality / Mag chloride
Public Education
Other Comments: