North Haledon adds rules for privately owned salt storage to limit runoff

The Borough of North Haledon adopted Ordinance #22-2023 on Dec. 13, adding Chapter 517 to regulate privately owned salt and de-icing material storage to reduce stormwater contamination.

The ordinance (introduced and read by the municipal clerk and adopted on a motion by Council Member Donna Puglisi, seconded by Council Member George Pomianek) requires that temporary outdoor storage of granular de-icing materials be limited to Oct. 15 through April 15 unless the material is kept inside a qualifying permanent structure. Temporary piles must sit on a flat, impervious surface, be located at least 50 feet from surface water bodies, storm drain inlets or ditches, be formed in a cone-shaped pile and be fully covered with a waterproof, impermeable cover that extends to the base of the pile and is secured to resist wind.

The ordinance specifies acceptable cover-weighting methods (for example, sandbags lashed together or poly-cord nets) while prohibiting items that can hold water such as tires. It recommends permanent structures where available; a compliant fabric-frame structure is treated as a permanent structure only if it meets anchoring, slab and enclosure specifications and protects sidewalls during loading/unloading.

Property owners must designate a responsible person for storage-site operations and document weekly inspections. The ordinance exempts facilities already regulated under another NJPDES permit. Enforcement is delegated to the Borough’s Property Maintenance Officer or designee; violators have 72 hours to correct deficiencies, and repeat violations or failure to cure will be subject to penalties under the borough’s general penalty provisions.

The council adopted the ordinance on second reading by unanimous roll call.