1. 1 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Twin Cities Metro Area Chloride Project (Minnesota) Presented by: Jeremy Walgrave

2. 2 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Acknowledgements Brooke Asleson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Connie Fortin, Fortin Consulting Inc.

3. 3 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Overview What’s the problem? What can be done about it? Where can you go for additional resources?

4. 4 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Project Components Data Collection Data Assessment Stakeholder Involvement Modeling and TMDLs Chloride Management Plan Chloride Implementation Plan Winter Maintenance Assessment Tool (WMAT) Project was 5 years – it will take many more years to see results and optimize BMPs.

5. 5 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What’s the problem? The public expects & needs safe roads, parking lots and sidewalks

6. 6 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What’s the problem? ~365,000 tons of road salt are applied in Twin Cities metro area each year

7. 7 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Who is using chloride?

8. 8 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Road salt usage has increased

9. 9 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What’s the problem? Chloride is toxic to aquatic life ~1 teaspoon salt in 5 gallons water

10. 10 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Impaired Waters 37 Chloride Impaired Waterbodies in the Twin Cities Metro Area Twin Cities Metro Area – over 1,000 lake and streams Chloride Data collected for only 10% of the lakes and streams Over 30% of waterbodies with data are impaired for chloride Chloride in shallow groundwater is increasing Lakes and streams behave differently Collect more data or start implementing BMPs

11. 11 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Battle Creek chloride 2002-2007

12. 12 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Summary of existing stream TMDLs Shingle Creek and Nine Mile Creek have EPA approved TMDLs –60%-70% reductions in the amount of salt applied

13. 13 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Other problems with road salt Corrosion Vegetation Cost

14. 14 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What’s the solution? - Find a balance between safe roads and clean water Water quality impacts & conditions Understand road safety needs Create a shared vision Develop shared goals & strategies Implement

15. 15 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Chloride Management Plan Assist local partners to better manage the balance between clean water and road safety How? Develop Chloride Management Plan for the 7-county metro: –Chloride TMDLs for all impaired waters –Performance based goals to restore impaired waters and protect the remaining surface waters –Implementation strategies/best practices Opportunity lies in the process of developing plan

16. 16 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What can I do? Get certified Practice: –Proper storage –Removing snow and ice first (shovel, sweep, blow, plow) –Applying proper amount at the right times

17. 17 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. What can I do? Certification MPCA, Fortin Consulting, University Continuing Educations, DOTs Voluntary training program established in 2005 Certification given to participants – must pass test 3,500 individuals certified in MN & 1,400 out of state Teach best practices to reduce chloride impacts Targeted to private applicators & local government Highly successful program: Dakota County applied 405 tons of salt per event in 2009 and in 2010 cut to 355 tons per event

18. 18 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Winter Maintenance Assessment Tool

19. 19 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Winter Maintenance Assessment Tool

20. 20 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Making Progress MS4 Future Requirements (within first 5 years) –Develop a chloride management plan –Track progress – BMPs implemented Performance Based Requirements Progress will be tracked and implementation will be re-evaluated after the first 5 years Enforcement will likely be minimal Many chloride users are already making progress

21. 21 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Proper storage Inside storage Sufficient capacity Cover outside piles Impermeable pads Good housekeeping

22. 22 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. NaCl – sodium chloride Works well on pavement warmer than 15 ⁰ F If it’s colder – it won’t work effectively! You should consider other products: KCl: 12 ⁰ F MgCl 2 : 5 ⁰ F CaCl 2 : -25 ⁰ F

23. 23 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. How do I know the pavement temperature? Laser-temp gun - available for about $75

24. 24 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Apply the right amount – don’t waste money! Just under 4 pounds/1,000 sq feet –The warmer it is the LESS you need

25. 25 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Calibrate equipment

26. 26 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Use wet salt for more effective performance Works faster Stays on target better Reduce salt use by 30% or more

27. 27 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Potential cost savings Hypothetical Example: MaterialCost/tonAmt. needed Total cost Dry salt$7010 tons$700 Wet salt$906.6 tons$594

28. 28 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Work super fast Melt from bottom up Put on pavement before the storm Don’t put on top of ice Can add it to granular to make it work faster Switch to liquids

29. 29 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Anti-ice before the storm Prevent bond from forming between the pavement and ice –Removal is much easier We only need to melt this little layer Pavement Ice

30. 30 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Where can I find additional resources? MPCA voluntary certification Winter maintenance of roads with reduced environmental impacts Winter maintenance of sidewalks/parking lots with reduced environmental impacts Over 5,000 certified professionals For training schedule, training manuals, list of those certified visit: www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/roadsalt.html

31. 31 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Where can I find additional resources? MPCA website –http://www.pca.state.mn.us/r0pgb86http://www.pca.state.mn.us/r0pgb86

32. 32 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Where can I find additional resources? University of Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) –http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/topics/snow/http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/topics/snow/

33. 33 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

34. 34 © 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact information : Jeremy Walgrave, P.E. LimnoTech 7300 Hudson Blvd, Suite 295 Oakdale, MN 55128 651-330-6038 jwalgrave@limno.com