by Paul Bean
A Senate bill to control road salt pollution notably exempts the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) from the bill’s requirements while asking municipalities and private businesses to comply.
This week the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy will receive testimony on S.29, an act to establish the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources. The bill focuses on reducing chloride contamination from road salt which is impacting Vermont’s water quality and ecosystems.
Language of the bill specifically defines commercial salt applicator and municipal salt applicator but excludes language defining the Agency of Transportation as an applicator. It also excludes salt application on state infrastructure construction sites. “The program shall include best management practices for application of salt or salt alternatives by commercial salt applicators and municipal salt applicators,” says S.29. “…but the program shall specifically exclude salt applications related to transportation infrastructure construction projects.”
After reviewing S.29, the Town of Williston Department of Public Works criticized the bill in a document addressed to the Committee questioning “why the Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans) would be exempt from the requirements…. Similarly, it is unclear why VTrans projects would be exempt from the proposed bill. Without clear and reasonable justification, we urge that VTrans projects also be held to the same standards as other projects under the bill.”
“If they’re going to do this no one should be exempt and everyone should have to comply,” said Sen. Terry Williams, a member of the committee. “They’re trying to get private contractors to comply with this voluntarily, and that’s going to be a challenge unless you give them a carrot. If you want to know how much we are using, we got to know how much is coming into the State. This bill doesn’t include Home Depot, Lowes, etc. That’s all got to be put into the equations.”
“No one really knows what the bill is about and what the consequences are…It’s not a bad idea, but there’s more to it than meets the eye, but I am not quite sure who’s pushing it,” Williams said.
Christine Dougherty, the Assistant Director of Public Works in Williston, will give testimony on the bill today in committee.
See all bills assigned to this committee here. Constituents may contact committee members (click link on name for bio, party affiliation, etc.) with comments, questions and information at the following email addresses:
Anne Watson, Washington County, Chair, awatson@leg.state.vt.us
Terry Williams, Rutland, Vice Chair, Twilliams@leg.state.vt.us
Ruth Hardy, Addison, rhardy@leg.state.vt.us
Seth Bongartz, Bennington, sbongartz@leg.state.vt.us
Scott Beck, Caledonia, sbeck@leg.state.vt.us
All committee transcripts are available at www.goldendomevt.com. Committee meeting video available at the committee’s YouTube channel. The committee meets in the morning in Room 8.