Difference between revisions of "Smart Salting (S2) training information"
Phosphorus in stormwater > Smart Salting (S2) training information

Latest revision as of 18:45, 13 December 2022

Link to the Smart Salt training calendar

Information: Because of the expanded training schedule, we no longer maintain the training schedule in the stormwater manual. The training calendar is found here.

Did you ever think about what happens to the tons of salt that goes on our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks each winter? Most of it ends up in our lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. As a result, clean water in Minnesota is in jeopardy.

The MPCA’s Smart Salting trainings provide suggestions to improve operator effectiveness and for reducing chloride pollution while keeping the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks safe. Many organizations that have participated in the Smart Salting training have been able to reduce their salt use by 30-70%!

Learn how you and your organization can become Smart Salting certified.

1 Smart Salting (S2) training schedule
2 MPCA Smart Salting Level 1 Certification: Snow and ice control best practices
3 MPCA Smart Salting Level 2 training and organizational level certification
4 Smart Salting Assessment Tool (SSAt)
5 Other resources
- 5.1 Model Snow and Ice Policies
- 5.2 Model Snow and Ice Contracts
6 Related pages

Smart Salting (S2) training schedule

Because of the initial success of the pilot project, Fortin Consulting has received a 319 grant to conduct additional training sessions in Minnesota. The training calendar is found here.

Training sessions include the following.

Level 1 training
- Smart Salting for roads
  - 5 year individual certification
- Smart Salting for parking lots and sidewalks
  - 5 year individual certification
- Smart Salting for Property Management
  - 3 year individual certification
Smart Salting Level 2
- 2 year organizational certification

MPCA Smart Salting Level 1 Certification: Snow and ice control best practices

If you are involved with winter maintenance, you can learn how to significantly reduce your salt use, reduce damages to infrastructure and vegetation and save money while maintaining your current level of service.

Who should participate?

State, city, county, schools and other government winter maintenance staff
Private sector winter maintenance professionals
Property managers
Environmental professionals, law makers, researchers or anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of the chloride situation and ways to reduce salt use.
Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Parking lots and sidewalks (Note: Will be updated in 2020)
Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Roads (Note: Proposed update in 2021)
Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Property Management - coming soon

MPCA Smart Salting Level 2 training and organizational level certification

Level 2 training has been developed for winter maintenance leadership (public or private). It will help leaders assess their entire winter maintenance operation and chart a path towards salt reduction. The training centers around the use of the free online Smart Salting Assessment tool SSAt. Note that attending Level 2 training is not required to become Level 2 certified but using SSAt is required. Level 2 training walks attendees through how to use the tool and its many capabilities for assessments, salt saving projections and reporting.

Smart Salting Assessment Tool (SSAt)

Today SSAt allows the user to conduct assessments in winter maintenance and in dust control. Future additions are planned in Water Softening and likely Fertilizer.

Maintaining Level 2 Certification Organizations with Level 2 certification remain certified as long as they update and resubmit their reports every 2 years.

The MPCA is interested in sharing positive, salt-saving changes. Please share your success story with us at at this email address
If you have any questions about the certification process or the SSAt please contact us at this email address

Other resources

Model Snow and Ice Policies

Model Snow and Ice Contracts

Model Ordinances

Chloride Reduction Model Ordinance Language

Related pages

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{alert|16th Annual Road Salt Symposium, Thursday, '''February 2, 2017''' from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Mounds View Event Center in Mounds View.  For more information, and to register, go to [http://freshwater.org/annual-road-salt-symposium-fights-chloride-pollution/ the Freshwater Society's web site.]|alert-info}}
 [[file:Smart salting training 1.jpg|300px|thumb|alt=smart salting photo]]
+[[File:Smart salt training icon.png|300px|thumb|alt=calendar image|<font size=3>[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/smart-salting-training-calendar/2019-08 Link to the Smart Salt training calendar]</font size>]]
-In February 2005, an EPA pollution prevention grant was secured to develop and test an education outreach program for local government and private applicators of road salt. The key objectives of the outreach were to:
+{{alert|Because of the expanded training schedule, we no longer maintain the training schedule in the stormwater manual. The training calendar [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/smart-salting-training is found here].|alert-info}}
-*develop best management practices (BMPs) for application of road salt;
+Did you ever think about what happens to the tons of salt that goes on our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks each winter? Most of it ends up in our lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. As a result, clean water in Minnesota is in jeopardy.
-*develop a training program and conduct three pilot training sessions; and
-*follow-up those trained to learn what changes occurred as a result of using best management practices.
-The target of this training is private applicators. However, other interested parties and local government officials are also being trained. In this way local officials will be knowledgeable about the training that is going on in their city, can learn the newest techniques, and be in a position to continue training in their city. Also, cities have the opportunity at these training sessions to address the audience and cover any other environmental concerns affecting lakes and streams.
+The MPCA’s Smart Salting trainings provide suggestions to improve operator effectiveness and for reducing chloride pollution while keeping the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks safe. Many organizations that have participated in the Smart Salting training have been able to reduce their salt use by 30-70%!
-[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/training Updated training schedule for Level 1 and 2 attached]
+Learn how you and your organization can become Smart Salting certified.
-==MPCA Smart Salting Level 1 Certification: Snow and ice control best practices==
+==Smart Salting (S2) training schedule==
+Because of the initial success of the pilot project, Fortin Consulting has received a 319 grant to conduct additional training sessions in Minnesota. The training calendar [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/smart-salting-training is found here].
-'''Audience:''' Winter Maintenance staff for high/low speed roads, contractors and staff maintaining private/public walkways and/or parking lots, property managers writing contracts, distributors of anti-icing/de-icing products, snowplow drivers— those who make it happen. Anyone else interested in reducing salt use.
+Training sessions include the following.
+*Level 1 training
+**Smart Salting for roads
+***5 year individual certification
+**Smart Salting for parking lots and sidewalks
+***5 year individual certification
+**Smart Salting for Property Management
+***3 year individual certification
+*Smart Salting Level 2
+**2 year organizational certification
-'''Purpose''':  Through education and outreach, applicators of road salt can learn best practices and significantly reduce their use while maintaining road safety.
+[[Category:Level 2 - Pollutants/Chloride]]
+[[Category:Level 2 - Management/Winter management]]
-Types of Level 1 Classes: There are two types of Smart Salting Level 1 training classes.
+==MPCA Smart Salting Level 1 Certification: Snow and ice control best practices==
-#high/low speed snowplow drivers (roads class), and
+If you are involved with winter maintenance, you can learn how to significantly reduce your salt use, reduce damages to infrastructure and vegetation and save money while maintaining your current level of service.
-#for anyone maintaining private/public walkways and/or parking lots and service roads (parking lot/sidewalk class).
-Why is it important? This class will help:
-*save you money;
-*keep our parking lots and sidewalks safe;
-*protect our water; and
-*get certified.
-===Level 1 - Training schedule===
-<!--Access the latest Level 1 training calendar: [[file:MPCA S2 Level 1 training calendar.xlsx]]-->
-The following training schedule is changed periodically as training events are completed/added.
-{{:Smart Salting Level 1 training schedule}}
-{{:Smart Salting Level 2 training schedule}}
-*[[File:Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance.pdf |Clip Board Pages]] (October 2010) - applicators attending training will be given a clip board containing critical information. The hope is that this clip board will be a useful tool for applicators to keep in there their vehicles during storm events.
-==MPCA Smart Salting Level 2 Training==
-'''Audience:''' Winter maintenance supervisors and leadership
-'''Purpose:'''
-*Explore the [http://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/Winter_Maintenance_Assessment_tool_%28WMAt%29 Winter Maintenance Assessment tool] (WMAt) with guided instruction
-*Demonstrate how the WMAt can be used to assist with planning and prioritizing implementation of salt reducing BMPs
-*Show how the WMAt can help organizations show progress already made and additional opportunities for reducing salt use to improve water quality and potentially save money
-*Discuss how the WMAt can be used to gain support from the public, local decisions makers, and others to implement salt reducing BMPs
-==Level  2 - Training schedule==
-The following training schedule is changed periodically as training events are completed/added.
-{{:Training schedule for Level 2 Smart Salting}}
-===Smart Salting Level 2 Voluntary Certification===
-'''This is an organizational certification'''. This means a private or public entity. The organization can include one assessment submittal for the whole organization or multiple submittals for an organization as long as each submittal has a unique address (e.g. the City of Medina, MNDOT’s Plymouth truck station).
-'''To become Smart Salting Level 2 certified an organization must:'''
-*Use the WMAt to complete the BMP and salt savings assessments for the most recent fully completed winter maintenance season. For example, if you are filling out the BMP and salt savings assessment report on January 1, you will have to answer based on the previous season.
-*Submit the following items to MPCA:
-**Application sheet for Smart Salting Level II Certification
-**Summary of BMP question responses for current report
-**BMP question responses: Summary Charts Report, and
-**Salt Savings Summary 1 Report.
-Reports should be for at least current and future time periods and include all of the surface type(s) in which you are involved, not a separate report for each surface type.
+Who should participate?
-*Submit reports to:
+*State, city, county, schools and other government winter maintenance staff
-**Email [mailto:Brooke.Asleson@state.mn.us Brooke Asleson]
+*Private sector winter maintenance professionals
-**Mail to:
+*Property managers
-***Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
+*Environmental professionals, law makers, researchers or anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of the chloride situation and ways to reduce salt use.
-***Attn: Andy Ronchak
+*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-10.pdf Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Parking lots and sidewalks] ('''Note: Will be updated in 2020''')
-***520 Lafayette Road N
+*[http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/publications/handbooks/documents/snowice.pdf Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Roads] ('''Note: Proposed update in 2021''')
-***St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
+*Manual that accompanies the Smart Salting for Property Management - '''coming soon'''
+==MPCA Smart Salting Level 2 training and organizational level certification==
+Level 2 training has been developed for winter maintenance leadership (public or private).  It will help leaders assess their entire winter maintenance operation and chart a path towards salt reduction.  The training centers around the use of the free online Smart Salting Assessment tool SSAt.  Note that attending Level 2 training is not required to become Level 2 certified but using SSAt is required.  Level 2 training walks attendees through how to use the tool and its many capabilities for assessments, salt saving projections and reporting.
-Related Documents:
+==Smart Salting Assessment Tool (SSAt)==
+Today SSAt allows the user to conduct assessments in winter maintenance and in dust control.  Future additions are planned in Water Softening and likely Fertilizer.
-*Level 2 – [[File:Application cover page.docx ]]
+Maintaining Level 2 Certification Organizations with Level 2 certification remain certified as long as they update and resubmit their reports every 2 years.
+*The MPCA is interested in sharing positive, salt-saving changes. Please share your success story with us at [mailto:smartsalting.pca@state.mn.us at this email address]
-*Level  2 – [[File:How to become Level 2 Certified.pdf]]
+*If you have any questions about the certification process or the SSAt please contact us [mailto:smartsalting.pca@state.mn.us at this email address]
-It does not matter what the reports say, you can have poor practice, and you may have increased salt use. Becoming Smart Salting Level 2 Certified does not require you or people from your organization to be Level 1 certified. '''You do not need to attend a Level 2 training to become Level 2 certified'''.
-'''What will MPCA do for you?'''
-*Post your organizations name as being Level 2 certified on the MPCA website
-*Send you a certification by email to be printed out or by mail
-'''Please note:''' The organization certification period will be indefinite as long as the organization updates and resubmits the Best Management Practices and Salt Savings reports. We are hoping for a shift in positive practices and salt savings, depending on where you are in your operations this may or may not be possible. You may want to comment on your situation. If you have any salt saving numbers from a change in practice, please share to help make the tool the best it can be.
+==Other resources==
 ===Model Snow and Ice Policies===
+*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Model_Snow_Ice_Policy.docx Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Minnesota Model Snow and Ice Management Policy File:Model Snow Ice Policy.docx]
+*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Model_Contract_Exhibit_Language.docx Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Guidance Document File:Model Contract Exhibit Language.docx]
-*Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Minnesota Model Snow and Ice Management Policy [[File:FINAL Model Snow Ice Policy Draft 08-26-16 Clean.docx]]
+===Model Snow and Ice Contracts===
-*Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Guidance Document [[File:Model Contract Exhibit Language 08-15-16 Clean.docx]]
+*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-51c.pdf Minnesota Model Exhibit for Private Snow and Ice Service Contract]
-*Minnesota Model Exhibit for Private Snow and Ice Service Contract [[File:FINAL Guidance Document 08-25-16 Clean.docx]]
+*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-52a.pdf Minnesota Model Private Snow and Ice Service Contract]
+Model Ordinances
-===Example Snow and Ice Policies===
+*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-54.pdf Chloride Reduction Model Ordinance Language]
-*Scott County Snow Policy [[File:Roadsalt-scottpolicy.pdf]]
-*Goodhue County Snow Policy [[File:Roadsalt-goodhuepolicy.pdf]]
-*Olmstead County Snow Policy [[File:Roadsalt-olmstedpolicy.pdf]]
-*City of Eagan Road and Trail Snow Policy [[File:Roadsalt-eaganpolicy.pdf]]
 <noinclude>
-==Additional Winter Maintenance Resources==
-[[Smart Salting (S2) training information - Additional Winter Maintenance Resources]]
-===Calibration===
-[[file:Control point calibration.pdf]]
-#Load truck and fill sander hopper full with material.
-#Connect keyboard to Control Point.
-#Press “F6”on the keyboard to obtain the Calibration Menu Screen.
-##Press “#1” for Granular Calibration Screen.
-##Press “#1” for Salt Enabled.
-#Move spinner out of the way of discharge.
-##Place buckets under sander.
-##Truck engine speed to(1800 rpms)
-##Press “R” on keyboard to start. fill 4 (5 gallon) buckets full to top. Press “S” on keyboard to stop auger. and weigh buckets.
-##Type in total bucket weight using keyboard (example 232 lbs.)
-##Press “D” when done.
-##Press “Y” to confirm new calibration.
-#Press “F11” to obtain the System Response Calibration Menu.
-##Bring truck rpm to 1800.
-##Press 1 for the initial granular system response calibration screen.
-##Press “R” on the keyboard to start calibration routine and obtain the calibration screen. Wait on calibration for about 1 min.
-##When the calibration is complete – Press C key to continue.
-##Press “#4” for Spinner System Response Calibration.
-##Turn Spinner speed to 100% mark when calibration is done
-===Open Loop Calibration===
-[[file:Open loop calibration.pdf]]
-#OPEN LOOP CALIBRATION (NO REAR CENSOR)
-#SET DICKEY-JOHN IN MANUAL MODE.
-#SET AT 400 POUNDS PER LANE MILE.
-#THE SWITCH MUST BE IN OFF POSITION ACCESS THIS NEXT SCREEN.
-##EXAMPLE (400: 30)
-#MAKE SURE HOPPER IS FULL OF MATERIAL.
-#SWITCH CONTROLLER TO AUTO AND RUN MATERIAL FOR 30 SECONDS.
-#YOU SHOULD HAVE 100 LBS OF MATERIAL. OR ( 1 ¾ ) 5 GALLON BUCKETS.
-#GO TO LOCATION 61 AND 68 AND AJUST THE NUMERS UP OR DOWN TO
-#GET CLOSE TO 100 LBS AT YOUR CATCH TEST.
-'''Note''' a 5 gallon bucket of salt weighs about 58 pounds.
-'''Explanation.''' 100 pounds of material or approximately (1 ¾ buckets) of material in 30 seconds.
-x 4 = 400 lbs per lane mile.
-===Calibrating Manual Sanders===
-[[File:Roadsalt-calibratingmanualsanders.pdf]]
-===Calibration Data Record===
-[[File:Roadsalt-calibrationdatarecord.pdf ]]
 ==Related pages==
 *[[How salt works]]
@@ Line 181: / Line 82: @@
 *[[References for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
-[[category:Road salt and de-icing]]
+[[Category:Level 2 - Management/Winter management]]
 </noinclude>

Difference between revisions of "Smart Salting (S2) training information" Phosphorus in stormwater > Smart Salting (S2) training information