Senate, advocates and industry reach compromise on salt program; affirmative-defense approach would reward certified applicators

Senators, agency staff and stakeholders said on Thursday they reached a working compromise on a package to reduce road-salt impacts that would create a voluntary Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) certification and training program, require BMPs by rule, and give certified commercial applicators an affirmative defense in civil claims when they meet the standards.

"What we landed on eventually, was the affirmative defense approach, which is which is a carrot ... a solid compromise," the Senate Judiciary chair told the committee, summarizing yesterday's agreement and the compromise between business and environmental interests.

Program basics and standard-setting: Under the draft the committee reviewed, ANR would establish a voluntary education, training and certification program for commercial salt applicators and offer an approved winter-maintenance curriculum for municipal road crews. Best management practices (BMPs) for…