DEP Hosts Free Salt Management Workshops For Private, Public Plow Operators and Property Managers

With winter coming, the state’s environmental agency is teaching those who apply de-icing salt how to save money, protect natural resources and maintain safety through appropriate application-

AUGUSTA – November 9, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — As temperatures drop, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is offering two free workshops to help private and public snowplow operators and property managers learn to apply de-icing salt in a way that protects the environment and saves money.

DEP will host workshops in Portland on Nov. 20 and in Augusta on Nov. 27 to teach best management practices that minimize salt use while still providing the same level of safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

Salt runoff from roads, parking lots and walkways leads to elevated chloride levels in ground and surface water, degrades water quality and depletes oxygen levels which can threaten fish, wildlife and plants.

But proven practices to minimize those impacts through appropriate salt application will be taught at the workshop by DEP Nonpoint Source Pollution Educator Bill Laflamme and Patrick Santosa, director of New Hampshire’s Green Snow Pro Program. There will also be an interactive demonstration of calibrating salt spreading equipment.

The Portland workshop will be held at the Portland Water District’s Nixon Training Center on Tuesday, Nov. 20 and the Augusta workshop will be held at the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Both workshops run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are free as part of DEP’s commitment to assisting its partners in natural resource protection.

Snow removal contractors, state and municipal snowplow operators, property management companies and business owners are encouraged to attend. Seating is limited so pre-registration online at http://www.maine.gov/dep/land/training or by phone at 215-9110 is required in advance of the workshops.

Contact:
Samantha DePoy-Warren, Maine DEP Director of Communications & Education, samantha.depoy-warren (at) maine (dot) gov / (207) 287-5842