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New concerns raised over road-salt runoff
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 12, 2011)
New concerns raised over road-salt runoff
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency added to Chardon Township's "to-do" list in its efforts to control suspected road-salt runoff from the township's maintenance yard.
Township Road Superintendent Donald Mohney said last week that a visit from EPA officials will require additional work for the township as it moves toward building a salt shed next year.
He said the official reported seeing a salt stain on an asphalt pad that was installed this year. He said road salt is delivered on the asphalt pad, and workers push it inside a small shed for storage. The stain was likely left after one of the deliveries this winter, he said.
Mr. Mohney said EPA officials had concern that the area of the salt stain drained into a pipe and then into a ditch that flows downhill from the maintenance yard.
Township officials were asked to build a dike to divert any salt residue that might be carried by runoff into the ditch. Mr. Mohney said he installed a dike to divert the runoff, using cold-patch asphalt.
In addition to the dike, township officials were directed to provide another test for cinders that are mixed with salt for application to the roads, Mr. Mohney said.
Initially, trustees were reluctant to agree to the test, saying it had nothing to do the road salt or its leaching from the maintenance yard.
"It has nothing to do with road salt or the leaching problem," Trustee Steven Borawski said.
He said the cinders are a byproduct of coal-burning electricity plants in the area and are commonly used by a number of communities for treating roads. He said the township already had supplied the EPA with an analysis of cinders, and there did not seem to be a reason to do another test.
Mr. Mohney said the test now requested is expected to show any existence of heavy metals, which initial tests could not.
Officials eventually agreed to perform the test, saying they are obligated to fulfill any request of the EPA.
"Just do it," Trustee Charles Strazinsky Jr. said. "They want it done."
Mr. Borawski agreed that it may be best to continue to cooperate with the state agency. He said he anticipated the cost may not be more than $300 to $400.
The township has been working this past year to remedy a salt runoff problem after receiving a notice of violation from the EPA last March.
The EPA began an investigation after a complaint from a neighboring property owner, who reported having salt in a water well. Nine homes surrounding the township maintenance yard were found to have elevated concentrations of salt in wells.
The township has hired the firm of Burgess and Niples, of Painesville, to assist in collecting data in soils and water wells to determine whether steps by the township lower those salt concentrations in neighboring properties.
The township paved a gravel lot, where salt previously had been stored, and moved all salt operations under roof.
Township officials also are working toward building a salt shed next year for better control of the salt.
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