RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled ‘Salt Management Plan Review’ as prepared by the General Manager, Operations dated February 28^th, 2005 be received and approved;

AND THAT staff be directed to execute the 2005 Implementation Plan and all associated costs be paid from 2005 Capital Budget account number 050-6150-6620-005 ($50,000);

AND THAT staff submit a copy of this report to Environment Canada to confirm that the Town of Markham has prepared a salt management plan in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts, published April 3^rd, 2004.

PURPOSE:

This report has been prepared to introduce to Committee and Council to the Town of Markham’s ‘Road Salt Management Plan’. In addition, the Operations Department is seeking Council’s endorsement of the plan in order to meet Federal legislative requirements to have a completed Salt Management Plan in place by April 3^rd, 2005.

BACKGROUND:

On average, 5 million tonnes of road salts are used each year as de-icers on roadways in Canada. Due to concerns about the large quantities of chlorides being released to the environment, road salts underwent a comprehensive five-year scientific assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act beginning in 1995. The assessment report, published on December 1, 2001 concluded that high releases of road salts were having an adverse affect on freshwater ecosystems, soil vegetation and wildlife.

Following the release of the report, a working group comprised of representatives from various road authorities, federal and provincial governments, industry, environmental organizations and related associations worked together over a two-year period towards the development of the ‘Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts’.

The main objective of the Code of Practice is to ensure environmental protection while maintaining roadway safety. The two main recommendations in this Code are as follows:

The development of salt management plans, based on a review of existing road maintenance operations, identification of means and goal-setting to achieve reductions of the negative impacts of salt releases; and

The implementations of best management practices in the areas of salt application, salt storage and snow disposal, as outlined in the Transportations Association of Canada’s Syntheses of Best Practices.

When applied, the recommendations made within this Code will result not only in benefits to the environment, but will also have the potential to result in benefits to the Town, including more efficient operations, improved roadway safety and savings in material usage.

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

The Town of Markham has developed this Salt Management Plan (Attachment ‘A’) in accordance with Environment Canada’s Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts. The plan will address the growing concerns with respect to the effect road salt is having on our natural environment and, at the same time, continue to provide for road safety by better managing our use of salt.

The plan is intended to set out a policy and procedural framework for ensuring that the Town of Markham continuously improves the management of road salt used in its winter maintenance operations. Any modifications to winter maintenance activities must be carried out in a way that provides roadway safety and user mobility consistent with the weather conditions experienced during the snow and ice control season.

The plan is dynamic, allowing the Town to phase in new approaches and technologies in a way that is responsive to fiscal demands and the needs to ensure that roadway safety is not compromised.

Environment Canada has identified the following key areas of concern and management objectives associated with road salt use in Canada:

Road Salt Use: General Areas – New technologies for general use have shown significant reductions while improving road safety, however, the amount used in a season is dependent on weather and severity of the winter.

Salt Storage – No further deterioration of sites, and for new sites, no uncontrolled releases.

Snow Disposal – Effective practices reducing chlorides and other contaminants to acceptable levels.

Road Salt use in Sensitive Areas – Identify approaches that can be used in addition to best management practices, such as use of alternative chemicals.

Monitoring and Reporting – Establish a regular monitoring and reporting program to measure the implementation of best practices and effects over a 5-year period. Determine if the risk management objectives are being met and the recommended controls are effective and re-evaluate accordingly.

Considerations of alternative anti-icing / de-icing agents – Chemical alternatives to sodium chloride used in winter road maintenance and associated technical, environmental and economic issues.

Environment Canada’s objective is to implement sound salt management practices that protect the environment without compromising road safety. The plan sets out commitments to improve the use, handling and storage of road salt by:

Improving spreader equipment and techniques
Fine tuning application rates
Introducing greater use of liquid chemicals for anti-icing and pre-wetting
Improving winter forecasting and decision making capabilities
Improving salt and sand storage facilities and practices
Improving snow storage facilities and practices
Improving training and record keeping
Improving snow and ice control decision making

The specific goals for key operations practices and strategies are outlined in the Salt Management Plan (Attachment ‘A’).

The Salt Management Plan incorporates a monitoring program, which will help identify improvements in snow and ice control practices in order to revise the Plan as improved Best Management Practices become available.

As with any program of this type, where there are long-term costs and benefits related to the implementation, it is difficult to quantify impacts. The following is a qualitative list of pros and cons that are provided for information purposes only, based on the implementation of the plan:

Pros

Reduced environmental impacts through:

- Reduced salt usage on roadways

- Better storage and handling of materials

Compliance with both Federal and Provincial legislation

Positive financial impacts associated with reduced salt requirements
Improved levels of service with the implementation of new technology

Cons

Higher capital costs associated with future fleet and equipment purchases (pre-wetting liquid system for 5 tonne and tandem trucks $10,000 to $15,000 each)
Impacts on contracted winter control operations (i.e. higher rental rates for new equipment and technology)

Summary

The Salt Management Plan will be phased in over the next 10 years. The Plan achieves the following:

Addresses Environment Canada’s expectations meeting both Federal and Provincial legislative requirements
Demonstrates the Town of Markham’s commitment to environmental leadership
Balances the need for roadway safety with environmental responsibilities
Reduces salt impacts to the environment
Protects groundwater resources
Reduces the Town of Markham’s liabilities to salt related claims
Provides a framework for the required capital and operating investments to achieve the plan

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There is a large economic benefit from maintaining mobility during winter weather conditions. The Town’s roadway system not only functions as the engine of the local economy but also as a conduit for emergency services. The Salt Management Plan, once fully implemented, will sustain the level of service to the public, while maintaining the economic benefits to the community. Implementation of the plan will also provide for annual savings through the reduced use of salt and improved efficiencies in the winter maintenance program.

The overall Salt Management Plan will require funding from both operating and capital budgets and will be phased in over a number of years, based on availability of funding. When fully implemented, the proposed Salt Management Plan should significantly reduce the cost of winter materials. The savings may be offset by higher capital costs of the pre-wetting liquid systems for Town trucks and higher rental costs for new equipment/technology. Due to constraints on our ability to retrofit existing units with pre-wetting technology and current winter contract obligations (existing tender extends to the end of the 2005/2006 winter season with an option to renew for two additional seasons), the Operations Department will not be in a position to implement pre-wetting on any Town owned or contracted units until the start of the 2006/2007 winter season.

2005 Implementation Plan

The Operations Department has included $50,000 in the 2005 Capital Budget to cover the cost of the following recommendations for the 2005 implementation of the Salt Management Plan.

Improvement Project	Estimated Cost	Schedule for Implementation
Retrofit new 1 tonne flatbed trucks (3 units) with groundspeed regulated spreader control devices.	3 units @ $6,000 ea. – $18,000	New technology should be available by fall 2005
Investigate options to manage on site wash-water and run-off from loading areas.	2005 design – N/A 2006 Implementation – TBD	Consider installation of on site oil/grit separators in Rodick Rd. reconstruction plans (Engineering Dept)
Handling/storage of liquid snow and ice control chemicals. Target for implementation of ‘pre-wetting’ 2006/2007 winter season	2005 Evaluation – N/A 2006 Implementation – TBD	Evaluate most effective measure of handling material (in-house or contract) in preparation for 2006/2007
Update staff training program to address the subject areas identified in the Synthesis of Best Practices for Road Salt Management.	2005 Operating budget – TBD	Fall 2005 for all Operations Department staff.
Planning and development of new snow disposal sites and evaluate the merits of purchasing snow melter to handle the increase volume of snow.	2005 Evaluation – N/A 2006 Implementation – TBD	Work with Real Property Manager to investigate possible sites – evaluate snow melter technology/cost
Update ‘Street Guide and winter maintenance operations’ for delivery to all households in Markham	Approximately $15,000	Complete revisions and printing late summer. Fall 2005 distribution.
Initiate pilot program of automated vehicle locators (AVL’s) for Operations vehicles and equipment	Approximately $6,000	Anticipate installation by summer 2005 – subject to IT approval
Monitor Environment Canada’s approach to addressing salt vulnerable areas and work with other agencies (TRCA, MNR, etc.) to initiate program to identify and map these areas. To be completed by 2008.	Operating budget impacts to hire part-time or contract person to work on program.	Initiate program in summer 2005.
Emergency Response Plan. Work will Fire and Emergency Services to update plan to include response plan for salt spills and subsequent staff training.	N/A	Complete response plan for salt spills prior to 2005/2006 winter season

Implementations plans for 2006 and beyond will be prepared by the Operations Department and presented to Budget Committee in the fall of each year.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment ‘A’ – Town of Markham Salt Management Plan

Peter Loukes, P.Eng.

Director, Operations and Asset Management

Jim Sales

Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2005\Operations\Roads\Town of Markham - Salt Management Plan.doc

		GENERAL COMMITTEE – FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION


	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council

	FROM:	Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

	PREPARED BY:	same as above

	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Feb-28

	SUBJECT:	Salt Management Plan Review