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Senate committee hears voluntary salt-application training, liability and mapping proposals to cut chloride runoff
Summary
Committee members and witnesses discussed a voluntary applicator training program, liability protections and mapping of municipal salt stores as a way to reduce chloride pollution; witnesses said AOT already uses similar best-management practices and that the program would be voluntary.
Senators on the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee discussed a proposed voluntary salt-application training program intended to reduce chloride runoff and to provide limited liability protections for contractors and property owners who follow best-management practices.
Senator Chris Matos, who said he runs a property-management and plowing business, told the committee that the bill would clarify whether sidewalks and private parking lots are included and whether following training and best-management practices protects contractors from liability. Committee members and several witnesses said the Agency of Transportation already follows similar BMPs for state roads.
Witnesses described the program as voluntary and suggested the training could mirror New Hampshire's Green SnowPro model. Committee staff said the program would likely require a training, a check for understanding and certification; initial participation might involve a fee and re-certification could be annual or biennial.
Committee discussion raised several practical questions: how the liability protection would operate (it would not prevent lawsuits but would establish compliance with BMPs as a viable defense), whether mapping of private salt stores is necessary (the draft narrowed mapping to municipal and state storage), and whether the start date should align with the winter season (witnesses suggested an October start would better match winter maintenance schedules).
Testifying by phone, Keith Williams said he was "kind of 50/50 split right now" on whether he would join a voluntary program; other contractors said the liability clarity could be valuable but that recordkeeping and calibration of spreaders would create some administrative work.
No committee votes or formal actions were taken. Legislators asked agencies to return with recommendations on course delivery, fees, reciprocity with neighboring states and how mapping would be scoped.
