Government Proposal on Road Salts Released

OTTAWA, November 30, 2001 - A 60-day public comment period starts December 1, 2001, with the publication in the Canada Gazette, Part 1 of the recommendation that road salts, which contain inorganic chloride salts with or without ferrocyanide salts, be added to Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The government will make a final decision on this legal step following a complete review and consideration of the comments received. Canadians are welcome to provide comments until January 29, 2002 to Environment Canada.

The government recognizes the importance of road salts in protecting roadway safety and is not proposing a ban on road salts or to put in place any measures that would compromise or reduce road safety.

Consultations will be launched next year on better ways to manage road salts so that harm to the environment is reduced. This follows the release of a comprehensive five-year scientific assessment by Environment Canada that determined that road salts in sufficient concentrations pose a risk to the aquatic environment, plants and animals.

Under CEPA, the government has two years to develop management measures to reduce the impact of road salts on the environment. A broad range of management actions will be studied, including, improved application technologies, and better storage and handling techniques. These measures will be selected and developed by the Government of Canada with input from and building upon work already done by some provinces and territories; and with stakeholders, including municipalities, transportation and road maintenance authorities, the road salt industry and environmental groups. The proposed risk management regime will be presented to the government for a further 60-day consultation period. If the regime is accepted, this will be followed by a period of 18 months to finalize the measures.

Road salts were identified for a scientific assessment of their impact on the environment in 1995 as a result of recommendations from an expert panel that established the Priority Substances List under CEPA. A five-year study concluded that because of high releases around storage and snow disposal sites and through runoff and splash from roadways into soil, streams and rivers, road salts are harmful to the environment. The assessment was restricted to ecological effects as the expert panel judged that there was no evidence of human health effects.

Canadians wishing to make comments on the recommendation that road salts, which contain inorganic chloride salts with or without ferrocyanide salts, be added to Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) can do so to the Director, Existing Substances Branch, Environmental Protection Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OH3, by fax: (819) 953-4936 or e-mail: PSL.LSIP@ec.gc.ca.

Related documents:

• Science Assessment and Risk Management of Road Salts
  [backgrounder, 2001-11-30]
• Road Salts: Frequently Asked Questions [backgrounder, 2001-11-30]
• Reducing the risk of road salts to the environment, while keeping our roads safe
  [issue page, 2001-11-30]