| Salt Management | Download Ecoplans Salt Management Information Sheet (PDF format) | |||
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In 2001, Environment Canada released an assessment
report stating that road salts are entering the environment in large amounts and
are posing a risk to plants, animals, birds, fish, lake and stream ecosystems and
groundwater. Based on the assessment, Environment Canada is considering declaring
road salt to be "toxic" under the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA), 1999.
The "toxic" designation only means that it is harmful to the environment if used
in excessive amounts. Environment Canada has stated that they will not ban road
salts, but rather will encourage users to develop their own salt management strategy.
Environment Canada had until December 1, 2003, to develop control measures for the use of salt. A draft Code of Practice was released in September, 2003 for public comment. The final Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts was issued on April 3, 2004. The Code recommends that road authorities develop a Salt Management Plan and have until January, 2006 to begin implementation of their salt management strategies. Background information, copies of the Code and links to the notice of issue can be found at Environment Canada's Road Salts Working Group Web site. The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) has also released their Syntheses of Best Practices Road Salt Management. The 9 documents, along with TAC's Salt Managment Guide, 1999, are an excelent resouce for developing Salt Management Plans and are available online from the TAC Reading Room. |
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| Salt Management Plans | ||||
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A number of road authorities in jurisdictions
across Canada are looking to improve their management of Road Salt and develop a
Salt Management Plan. Bob Hodgins, President of Ecoplans, is a leading authority
on road salt management issues in Canada. His work has included preparing the
Transportation Association of Canada's Salt Management Guide and the Syntheses of
Best Practices - Road Salt Management, reviewing and advising on salt management
issues for Environment Canada, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, the
City of Winnipeg and Parks Canada. Ecoplans has helped and is helping to
prepare Salt Management Plans for the following road authorities: |
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| City of Calgary Parks Canada Region of Halton Simcoe County City of Winnipeg |
Region of Niagara Province of Manitoba Province of Saskatchewan Province of New Brunswick Municipality of Clarington |
City of Toronto City of London City of Kamloops City of Saskatoon Province of Alberta |
City of Ottawa City of Hamilton City of Kingston Durham Region |
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| Salt Management and Winter Maintenance Training | ||||
| Ecoplans has provided training to winter maintenance personnel in salt management, winter maintenance operations, and weather. Bob Hodgins was an advisor to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia on the development of a comprehensive snow and ice control program. He also developed the TAC online salt management course and provided training for Kelowna B.C., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hamilton, Toronto, London and Niagara. | ||||