DEC launches online survey on reducing rock salt use

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is holding an online survey on ways to reduce the use of rock salt. While rock salt is effective in melting snow and ice, there are negative environmental impacts.

A.J. Smith with the DEC says the survey is part of an education and outreach campaign on reducing rock salt usage across the state.

"As part of that, we want to get a better understanding of how the public uses rock salt, both as a homeowner or on a residential piece of property, but then also as commercial applicators, so that we can better understand how people view the use of rock salt and the potential impacts on the environment and public health," said Smith in an interview with WBEN.

While rock salt will have to continue to be used to melt ice and snow, Smith says the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force asked the DEC to look at the impacts of rock salt.

"It's a balancing act, because we want to try to make sure that we're protecting the environment as best we can, but at the same time maintaining safe public travel and safety on our roads," Smith noted.

One recommendation from the task force is to update the water quality standards, to limit the amount of of sodium and chloride that come into surface and groundwaters statewide. Another recommendation looks at reducing the use overall.

"Things like brine alternatives, essentially like a salty water solution applied to the road in advance of storms. It's new road salt truck, plow truck technologies to be able to calibrate and place down at a certain rate a certain amount of rock salt, identifying cold spots on roadways where there may be a need for more rock salt to be applied, whereas in other areas, it could be reduced plow technologies that provide better contact with the road," Smith said.

The public can submit feedback through this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WinterRockSalt . The survey can be filled out on a smartphone, tablet, or computer and will remain open until Nov. 1, 2024.