Transportation; Vermont's Winter Eco-Imperative; Hold the Salt

Summary

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We're talking road salt. Last year, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) spread more than 108,000 tons of sodium chloride on its roads and highways -- more than it did the year before but less than the annual average over five years. That number doesn't include the tons spread by municipalities, schools, private contractors and homeowners. Winter hasn't even officially begun, and already the AOT has used more than 15,000 tons of the stuff. Nationally, the use of road salt as a de-icer has been steadily climbing. In 1940, the United States used 164,000 tons of road salt. Last year, it used more than 16 million.

[Mike Morissette] says that Vermont is working on ways to reduce its salt output. For example, it abandoned its "bare and wet" road policy, which required all state roads to be completely clear of snow -- a mandate which required enormous amounts of salt. Recently the AOT purchased tankers that spread a liquid brine instead of rock salt. Brine has several advantages, Morissette says. The oatmeal-like substance can be used in advance of a storm and in heavy traffic it doesn't bounce off roads, so the environmental impact is reduced. Brine can cut down salt usage by as much as a third. Morissette says the AOT plans to test it on I-89 between Montpelier and Burlington this winter. If it works well, they'll expand the practice statewide. And by the end of next winter, Vermont's cars may not all look like margarita glasses.

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Transportation; Vermont's Winter Eco-Imperative; Hold the Salt

VERMONT -- Vermont is renowned for its eco-awareness. But for six months a year the state intentionally dumps a chemical into the environment that contaminates public waters, kills vegetation, injures wildlife, damages personal property, destroys ...

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