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DEC Seeks Participants for New Online Survey About
Winter Rock Salt Use
Published: September 20, 2024
at 12:30 p.m.
By: Press Release from NYS DEC
DEC Seeks Participants for New Online Survey About
Winter Rock Salt Use
Property Owners and Managers Encouraged to Provide
Feedback on Use of Rock Salt to Remove Snow and Ice
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean
Mahar is encouraging participation in a new survey to help better
understand typical rock salt use by New Yorkers and public awareness
regarding the potential environmental and health
impacts of salt overuse. Results of the survey will help DEC
tailor future outreach and education to help reduce overuse of rock salt on
roads, parking lots, and sidewalks.
“DEC is working
with State and local partners to implement the Adirondack
Road Salt Task Force’s recommendations and explore ways to balance
safety with the protection of public health and sensitive
ecosystems,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “This
short survey will help DEC learn more about how New Yorkers use rock salt
at their homes, businesses, municipal buildings, and other properties to
help target effective outreach and meet salt reduction
goals to protect lands and waters.”
State Department
of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The application
of road salt is a delicate balance between keeping our roadways safe and
protecting the environment, and the Department of Transportation is always
refining its approach. We appreciate our partners at the Department
of Environmental Conservation for assessing the use of salt beyond the
state highway system, the results of which will help further educate all
New Yorkers on how we can work to further protect our environment and our
state’s natural resources.”
State Health
Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “We encourage New Yorkers to
take this survey so that we can better understand how rock salt is being
used which will help further inform us on future educational efforts and
reduce the use of rock salt.” The Department of Health looks forward to continuing
our work with DEC and other State partners as climate change continues to
push us to explore new ways to help protect the health of our communities
and the environment.”
Although applying
rock salt on roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks helps to ensure the
safety of those traveling by vehicle or foot, overuse of salt can degrade
infrastructure and contaminate runoff that enters streams and waterbodies.
In 2023, the
Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force completed a comprehensive review
of rock salt contamination and road salt application best management
practices within the Adirondack Park. The findings and recommendations of
the Task Force, while originally focused on the Adirondacks, are applicable
statewide.
The survey
launched today is helping fulfill one of the Task Force
report’s recommendations to develop a public education and
outreach campaign that encourages New Yorkers to manage rock salt use
effectively and safely. Survey responses can help DEC better
understand perceptions surrounding rock salt usage and make appropriate
recommendations for reduction strategies that can be applied throughout New
York.
The public can submit feedback. The survey can be filled
out on a smartphone, tablet, or computer and will remain open until Nov. 1,
2024.
DEC is committed
to protecting New York’s waters and recently pledged up to $15 million to
help protect water quality by promoting proper salt storage and
application, fulfilling another recommendation of the Adirondack Road Salt
Reduction Task Force. The funding is part of up to $215 million in grant
funding made available through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, 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.
For additional information and resources, visit DEC’s Rock
Salt Reduction webpage.
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