State approves Adk. road-salt reduction measure

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act became law on Dec. 2 when Gov. Andrew signed the statute in Albany. Having cleared both the state Senate and Assembly in July, the measure launches a three-year pilot program to reduce road salt contamination in Adirondack watersheds, lakes, and rivers. It marks a huge environmental protection win for a coalition of town officials and Adirondack research and watershed protection organizations, including AdkAction and the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith's College, which has studied this issue for years. It is a major achievement for the Adirondack Council where efforts working to reduce salt use with New York's Department of Transportation have been in place for some 15 years. Local lake and river association leaders have warned that rising salt levels around the park are a threat to water quality. "This legislation creates a Task Force and a three-year pilot program to implement data-driven salt reduction tactics while maintaining safe roads for winter drivers," AdkAction said in announcing the new measure. "This much-needed pilot program will work towards halting the spread of salt pollution into our streams, lakes, and most importantly our drinking water." SALT USE According to current research data, the state spends approximately $16 million on road salt, some 190,000 tons of it, on Adirondack roads each year. And it seeps into soils and groundwater. "A 2019 study by the Adirondack Watershed Institute tested 500 Adirondack wells downhill from state roads and found that 64 percent had sodium levels exceeding the federally recommended limit," AdkAction said of their ongoing research. In an interview with the Sun, Dr. Dan Kelting, executive director at the Watershed Institute, said there are two key areas of research data that indicate danger from road salt. "We found through our work that we've had remarkably high salt concentrations in the lakes and streams associated with highways," he said. "This raises concern with the ecosystems themselves because in the Adirondacks, we don't have any natural source of salt." The change in salinity threatens plant, animal, and micro-organisms in the natural environment. It is also a threat to human health. "The biggest piece of information that resulted in this bipartisan push to reduce the use of road salt is our work finding remarkably high concentrations of salt in people's drinking water. Now we talking about human health and people having problems with their pipes, pumps, and plumbing because salt is so corrosive." High salinity in drinking water can worsen health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, scientists found. SAFE ROADS, SAFE WATER The three-year road salt reduction act will monitor salinity in both drinking water and in the environment. "We thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders for addressing road salt pollution now before it becomes as widespread and damaging to the environment and economy as acid rain," Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway said of the new law. "We should have safe roads and clean water. Corrosive, salty water is bad for everything it touches: lakes, rivers, fish, roads, cars, bridges, driveways, pumps, plumbing, and people." The council's research, he said, shows that Repair, maintenance, and replacement of road infrastructure corroded by road salt costs $18,563 per land-mile per year. And repair, maintenance and depreciation of motor vehicles from road salt corrosion costs about $3,416 per lane-mile per year. New York uses the most road salt of any state or province in North America, according to Clear Roads data. PARTNERSHIP The state's salt reduction program will test alternative winter road treatment on state roads throughout the park from Oct. 2021 until 2024. Asked if the three-year interval is enough time to gauge impact, Kelting says it is. "Three years will be a good length of time for the project," he said. Alternative winter road treatment reviewed in the project could reveal better methods. But major success from this law comes in partnership. "The biggest piece of the legislation is the formation of the Task Force, which is comprised of folks from various different groups with equal seats at the table. The collaboration involves scientists, local government folks, plow truck drivers, local elected officials and members of lake and water associations." The Watershed Institute, water, and lake associations, and DOT will continue to monitor salt impact. The high concentrations of salt would dissipate naturally with reduced use, Kelting said. "If we just stopped using salt, with cycles of rain and snowmelt, it will rinse it out over a long period of time." Lessons learned in the Adirondacks could be applied statewide in the years ahead. Even though the legislation doesn't take effect until Oct. 2021, programs launched by DOT in 2018 along Route 9 in Lake George, on Route 86 in Wilmington and Lake Placid, and at Mirror Lake will continue this winter. RANDY PRESTON'S WORK The policy is named for one of its most stalwart proponents, the late Town of Wilmington Supervisor and Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Preston. A founding member of the initial Adirondack Road Salt Working Group, Preston forged collaboration between local elected officials, scientists, and stakeholders. "Thanks to the past efforts of Preston and many others who are passionately working to reduce harmful road salt use, the Adirondack Park is one step closer to achieving that vision today," AdkAction said. Reduced salt use is also being reviewed on local and county roads. AdkAction said 26 Adirondack towns and villages have signed on to their Pledge to Reduce Road Salt. To read more about road salt impacts on people and the environment: adkaction.org/project/reducing-road-salt/ Costs of Road Salt, Adirondack Council: adirondackcouncil.org The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act bill (S.8663-A/A.8767-A) was sponsored by Sen. Tim Kennedy, (D-Buffalo), Sen. Betty Little, (R-Queensbury), and Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay).

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State approves Adk. road-salt reduction measure

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