Section 8-602.1 - Best practices guidelines for road salt management. - Maryland Statutes

§ 8-602.1. Best practices guidelines for road salt management.
 

(a)  Legislative findings.- The General Assembly finds that the use of best management practices for the storage, application, and disposal of road salt is necessary to reduce the adverse impacts on the water and land resources of the State by preventing: 

(1) An increase in chloride concentrations in the soils and waters of the State; and 

(2) Harm to soil integrity, soil organisms, and vegetation. 

(b)  Legislative intent.- The General Assembly intends, by enactment of this section, to reduce to the greatest extent possible the adverse effects of road salt runoff and to safeguard life, limb, property, and public welfare. 

(c)  Guidance document.- On or before October 1, 2011, the Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, shall develop a road salt management best practices guidance document for use by local jurisdictions and the State to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of road salt runoff in the State. 

(d)  Guidance document - Annual update.- The Administration shall annually update the guidance document required under subsection (c) of this section and shall make the document available to the public on the Administration's website. 

(e)  Guidance document - Contents.- In the road salt management best practices guidance document required under this section, the Administration may: 

(1) Establish best management practices that protect the environment from the negative impacts of road salt; 

(2) Identify all activities that may result in the release of road salt into the environment, including road salt storage, the application of road salt on highways, and the disposal of snow that contains road salt; 

(3) Take into consideration highway safety to the greatest extent possible; 

(4) Establish standards and procedures for identifying: 

(i) Areas that are particularly vulnerable to road salt runoff; and 

(ii) Additional road salt management practices that need to be implemented in these areas; 

(5) Establish goals for achieving a reduction of the environmental impact of road salt released into the environment; 

(6) Include a training program for all State, local, and contract personnel who perform winter maintenance activities involving the use of road salt; 

(7) Establish response procedures to address uncontrolled releases of road salt that may adversely impact the environment; and 

(8) Establish record keeping and annual reporting procedures for the quantity of road salt used, the locations where the road salt is used, and any training conducted. 
 

[2010, ch. 72, § 5; chs. 606, 607.]