Smart Salting (S2) training information

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.

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 apply road salt, you can learn how to significantly reduce your use and save money while maintaining road safety. The two types of Level 1 trainings:

1. Roads class - High/low speed snowplow operation
2. Parking lot/sidewalk class - Maintaining private/public walkways and/or parking lots and service roads

The classes will help you save money, keep pavements safe, protect Minnesota's lakes and streams, and earn you Smart Salting certification.

Who should participate?

• State, city and county road maintenance staff
• Winter maintenance contractors
• Staff maintaining private/public walkways and/or parking lots
• Property managers
• Other snowplow drivers

• File:Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance.pdf (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 and certification: Smart Salting Assessment Tool (SSAt)

Level 2 is a certification for public and private organizations to help you assess your salt use and take steps to minimize it.

To become Smart Salting Level 2 certified:

• Using the Smart Salting Assessment tool (SSAt), complete the best management practices and salt savings assessments for the most recent fully completed winter maintenance season. For example, a report completed on January 1, 2018, would be based on the 2016/2017 winter maintenance season. An organization may submit one assessment for the whole organization or more than one, as long as each has a unique address. For instance, MnDOT may submit an assessment for each of its facilities, or a company may submit a separate assessment for each of its branch offices.
• On the assessment tool's user home page:

1. Click on the ‘Select Reports’ at the bottom right.
2. Select the appropriate completed reports for your organization. (Reports should include all of the surface type(s) in which you are involved, not a separate report for each surface type):
   • BMP Reports: Response Summary (Current)
   • BMP Reports: Comparison of Responses Between Assessment Periods (Current and Future)
   • Salt Savings Reports: Summary Report (Current and Future)
3. Click the ‘Submit’ after the proper reports have been selected.
4. After the reports have been submitted, if they are complete the tool will generate a certificate for your organization. Return to the user home page and select "Print Certificate." The "Certification status" section of the user home page will note when your Level 2 certification expires.

For questions please contact:

• Brooke Asleson, 651-757-2205
• Rachel Olmanson, 651-757-2473

Maintaining Level 2 Certification Organizations with Level 2 certification remain certified as long as they update and resubmit their Best Management Practices and Salt Savings reports. Level 2 certification is valid for two years. Smart Salting Level 1 training is not required for Level 2 certification, but is recommended. The MPCA is interested in sharing positive, salt-saving changes. If you have reduced your salt consumption due to change in your practices, please let us know.

Property Manager certification

The goal of this training is to help property managers save money and protect water resources by using less salt to de-ice parking lots, sidewalks and other surfaces. The salt used in winter maintenance is having serious side effects on infrastructure, vegetation and lakes, streams and groundwater. Participants will learn strategies for achieving safe surfaces in the winter with less salt.

This is a 3 year certification, to become Smart Salting certified.

• Attend training
• Pass test
• Pledge to hire certified contractors
• Pledge to certify your staff
• Pledge to reduce salt use on your properties

Model Snow and Ice Policies

• Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Minnesota Model Snow and Ice Management Policy File:Model Snow Ice Policy.docx
• Model Snow and Ice Policy Advisory Committee Guidance Document File:Model Contract Exhibit Language.docx
• Minnesota Model Exhibit for Private Snow and Ice Service Contract File:Model Contract Exhibit Language.docx

Example Snow and Ice Policies

• Scott County Snow Policy
• Goodhue County Snow Policy
• Olmstead County Snow Policy
• City of Eagan Road and Trail Snow Policy

Related pages

• How salt works
• Environmental impacts of road salt
• Other impacts of road salt use
• Snow and salt storage
• Salt application BMPs
• Technology-based deicing BMPs
• Non-chloride chemical alternatives for deicing
• Emerging and non-traditional deicing BMPs
• Chloride Management Plan
• Winter Maintenance Assessment tool (WMAt)
• Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual
• Smart Salting (S2) training information
• Smart Salting (S2) training certificate holders
• Educational resources for Smart Salting (S2)
• Cost-benefit considerations for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance
• Case studies for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance
• Chloride TMDL projects
• Links for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance
• References for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance