1 / 43

Balancing Winter Transportation Safety Needs and Environmental Priorities: The Canadian Experience

Balancing Winter Transportation Safety Needs and Environmental Priorities: The Canadian Experience.

sahirah
Download Presentation

Balancing Winter Transportation Safety Needs and Environmental Priorities: The Canadian Experience

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Balancing Winter Transportation Safety Needs and Environmental Priorities: The Canadian Experience Panelists: Sandi Moser, Environment Canada; Sarah Wells, Transportation Association of Canada; Shael Gwartz, Ontario Ministry of Transportation; Gary Welsh, City of Toronto; Dick Hanneman, Salt Institute; moderator: Wilf Nixon, University of Iowa

  2. Today’s Presentation • Organization Perspectives • Sandi Moser, Environment Canada • Sarah Wells, Transportation Association of Canada • Shael Gwartz, Ontario Ministry of Transportation • Gary Welsh, City of Toronto • Dick Hanneman, Salt Institute • Lessons Learned • General Discussion and Questions

  3. National Perspective Sandi Moser Environment Canada

  4. Environment Canada Perspective Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) • Administered by Minister of Environment and Minister of Health • Requirements • Establish Priority Substances List (PSL) • Assess substances on PSL • For substances that meet the criteria of “toxic” (s.64 of CEPA), propose risk management instrument(s) within 2 years • Finalize instrument(s) within 18 months

  5. Environment Canada Perspective What are road salts? • Salts applied to roadways for maintenance such as deicing, anti-icing and dust suppression • Substances assessed include: • Inorganic chloride salts (NaCl, CaCl2, KCl, MgCl2) • Sodium ferrocyanide (anti-caking additive)

  6. Environment Canada Perspective History – Risk Assessment • Ministers’ Expert Advisory Panel recommended 25 substances (including road salts) be assessed under PSL2 • Environmental Resource Group (ERG) prepared supporting documentation for assessment • ERG members from federal and provincial governments, academia, consulting firms and industry • Draft assessment report published Aug 12, 2000 for public comment • Final assessment report published Dec 1, 2001

  7. Environment Canada Perspective History – Environmental Effects • Wide range of impacts on: • Freshwater ecosystems (groundwater/surface water) • Soil • Vegetation • Wildlife • EC determined that in high concentrations, road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment

  8. Environment Canada Perspective History – Risk Management (RM) • Developed RM strategy • Consulted on RM objectives & instruments • Developed instrument (Code of Practice) • Published Code in Canada Gazette for 60-day comment period on Sept 20, 2003 (as required by CEPA) • Currently revising proposed Code

  9. Environment Canada Perspective Next Steps • Winter 2004 • Finalize Code • Work with stakeholders on implementation and promotion aspects • Spring 2004 (tentative) • Publish final Code of Practice • Winter 2005-2006 • Implementation of the Code • Spring 2009 • Review Progress

  10. Environment Canada Perspective Consultation – Multi-stakeholder Working Group • Formed in March 2002 • 80 participants from road authorities, environmental groups, salt producers, federal and provincial governments and associations • Purpose – Review and comment on materials, share information, transfer technology and ideas and develop a common approach to addressing environmental issues related to road salts • 6 meetings since April 2002

  11. Environment Canada Perspective Risk Management Instrument • From the beginning • Did NOT consider banning road salts • Did consider environmental risks, road safety, economical, technological and other issues • Overall objective • To ensure environmental protection while maintaining road safety

  12. Environment Canada Perspective Code of Practice • Main recommendations: • Prepare and implement salt management plan • Reflect best management practices in SMP, particularly in salt storage and application and snow disposal • Nothing in the Code should be construed as a recommendation to take action to the detriment of road safety

  13. National Perspective Sarah Wells Transportation Association of Canada

  14. National Perspective • TAC: national association of transportation stakeholders • TAC ~ AASHTO • Private and public sector members (federal, provincial, municipal agencies) • Neutral forum • Promotes the provision of safe, efficient, effective, sustainable (environmentally and financially) transportation system and services

  15. National Perspective • TAC Involvement in Salt Management • Publish • Pilot • Participate • Partner • Prepare

  16. National PerspectiveTAC involvement in salt management • Publish Salt Management Guide (1999) • Comprehensive reference guide on road salt management practices • Primer on Road Salt and Snow and Ice Control • Seven focused “codes” of practice • Endorsed by Chief Engineers’ Council and Environment Council

  17. National PerspectiveTAC involvement in salt management • Pilot national road salt management working group • Monitor Environment Canada assessment • Develop action plan to address needs of road authorities re road salt management • Develop framework for salt management plans • Develop communications plan

  18. National PerspectiveTAC involvement in salt management • Participate in Environment Canada’s Working Group • Acted as observer • Diverse viewpoints of federal, provincial, municipal members • Encouraged participation of interested, individual members • Monitored expected use of existing TAC documents in process

  19. National PerspectiveTAC involvement in salt management • Partner with stakeholders to update Syntheses of Best Practices for Salt Management (2003) • Federal, provincial, municipal members, Environment Canada and Salt Institute • Nine new and revised syntheses of best practice referenced in EC Code of Practice • See Reading Room at www.tac-atc.ca

  20. National PerspectiveTAC involvement in salt management • Prepare road maintainers, managers for new practices • Training available • On-line course on salt management guide • On-site courses available • More coming soon • RSMS Learning Guide free on TAC web site • Webinar sessions

  21. Provincial Perspective Shael Gwartz Ontario Ministry of Transportation

  22. Provincial Perspective • 10 Provinces, 2 territories • 2.1 million tonnes/year used on highways under provincial control • 45% of total road salt used in Canada • Wide variation in salt use across Canada • Duty to balance road safety and environmental stewardship

  23. Provincial Perspective • Focus on: • Continuous improvement • Best Practices rather than salt reduction targets • Voluntary rather than regulatory approach • Balancing safety and environmental protection • Working collaboratively with others

  24. Ontario Perspective • Salt Management initiatives • Search for alternatives since 1970s • Initiation of demonstration site (1995) • Development and testing of new materials, methods and technologies (ongoing) • Fostering implementation of best management practices

  25. Ontario Perspective • Cooperative Efforts • Participation on Environmental Resource Group • (open and transparent information sharing) • TAC Salt Management Guide development (1999) • Participation in the TAC and EC Working Groups • Ontario ministries working group • Participation in Ontario’s municipal salt working group • Partnerships with municipalities on sharing RWIS data

  26. City of Toronto Perspective Gary Welsh City of Toronto

  27. City of Toronto Perspective • Population - 2.6 Million • Snowfall - 50 inches/year • Salt Used - 155,000 tons/year • De-Icing Events - 40 to 50 times/year

  28. City of Toronto Perspective Political/Environmental Pressures • In 2001, Canadian Municipalities concerned with Environment Canada’s consideration of listing road salts under CEPA • Toronto Councillors suggesting de-icing methods should change • Environmental groups holding media events stating the City uses too much salt

  29. City of Toronto Perspective Pro-active versus Re-active • could wait for Environment Canada to mandate changes • could wait for politicians to dictate changes • could wait for a possible no salt policy on City roads OR be pro-active to determine strategy instead of being told what to do

  30. City of Toronto Perspective Toronto staff initiatives • involved with Environment Canada and other technical organizations (TAC) to help to determine how road salts were to be used in the future • make Toronto a leader in salt management instead of being perceived as lagging behind • developed a comprehensive salt management plan • formed a salt management working group with other municipalities and the province

  31. City of Toronto Perspective Salt Management Plan • to optimize the use of de-icers on Toronto’s roads while striving to minimize impacts to the environment • objectives for: • level of service • equipment technology • materials/storage • training • winter operations administration

  32. City of Toronto Perspective Salt Management Plan - Implementation • would be based on TAC’s Salt Management Guide • would require staff to significantly change methods of operation • would be completed within 8 months (November 2001) • would need several years to fully meet objectives

  33. City of Toronto Perspective Salt Management Plan - Results • reduced salt usage by 15% • achieved over $2 Million CDN savings • funding made available for new equipment/storage improvements • new training program developed • compliments from politicians, environmental groups

  34. Salt Industry Perspective Richard L. Hanneman Salt Institute

  35. Salt Industry Perspective • Expert Panel, 1995 • EC gets organized, 1995-1997 • Assessing “road salts” 1997-2000 • Scientific process and issues: the battle of the scientists • Salt as poison: the battle of public relations • CEPA public consultation

  36. Salt Industry Perspective (continued) • The salt industry’s commitment to environmentally-sensitive salt management • Sensible Salting 1972 – present • Sensible Salting Seminars 1972 – 1998 • Excellence in Storage awards 1988 – present • Partnership with National LTAPs 2001–present • Developing TAC’s Salt Management Guide • Stakeholder in EC working group 2001–present • Training Canadian snowfighters: OGRA, TAC

  37. Lessons LearnedEnvironment Canada • Establish clear goals, process and work plan • Outline expectations • Describe how input/comments will be used • Listen to stakeholders • Take advantage of existing resources and new partnerships • Begin with issues that have consensus • Start early

  38. Lessons LearnedTransportation Association of Canada • Communicate • Respect jurisdiction • Recognize responsibility • Work together

  39. Lessons LearnedProvinces • Collaborate rather than oppose • Establish common goals and understand implications • Participate in consultative process • Promote understanding of initiatives that address concerns of others • Share information (internally and externally) • Proactive rather than reactive • Coordinate approaches • Continuous improvement • Focus on succeeding

  40. Lessons LearnedCity of Toronto • A pro-active agency can be influential in overall process • Road de-icing operations in many municipalities need to be reviewed and updated • Sometimes change will only occur if there is a threat of someone else making decision • There is a great deal to learn from other organizations in the various working groups

  41. Lessons LearnedCity of Toronto (continued) • An organization needs a champion • Support needed from senior management, elected officials, and even the media • Road safety does not have to be compromised • Savings can be achieved

  42. Lessons LearnedSalt Industry • It’s politics, not science. Regrettably, the process is more political than scientific: don’t be lulled into thinking science is enough • Start early: We failed to mobilize salt customers, convincing them until nearly too late of the threat • Start with the end in mind: in this case, better salt management. Solve the problem first, before the politics

  43. General Discussion

More Related