Title
Supporting commercial salt applicators and property owners who follow best management practices.
Body
WHEREAS chloride contamination of water resources has been found in urban areas around the State of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has listed 40 waterbodies in the Twin Cities metro area as impaired for chloride including Battle Creek, Beaver Lake and Como Lake; and
WHEREAS MPCA studies have indicated that the largest chloride source to our lakes and streams is through the application of chloride compounds on roads, parking lots, sidewalks and other hard surfaces for winter maintenance practices; and
WHEREAS the MPCA currently oversees a voluntary Smart Salting Certification Program that provides training to public and commercial salt applicators, private property owners, managers, and others on how to maintain safe surfaces using salt efficiently; and
WHEREAS Saint Paul’s Department of Public Works is a leader and a model for using best practices in the uses of salt to reduce chloride pollution in waterbodies.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul supports action including legislation to reduce chloride pollution in waterbodies in Saint Paul and metro-wide by encouraging public and private salt applicators to get training in best practices; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul encourages commercial salt applicators and property owners using salt applicators to follow best management practices.