08-R187
2008 -- S 2453 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 04/24/08
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
REQUESTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REPORT ON
ALTERNTIVES TO SODIUM
CHLORIDE AS A DE-ICING AGENT
Introduced By: Senators
Sosnowski, Revens, Breene, Blais, and Miller
Date Introduced: February
13, 2008
WHEREAS,
De-icing agents are used on roads to provide safe driving conditions during
inclement
weather; and
WHEREAS,
De-icing agents can have negative health and environmental impacts when
applied
to roads in excess or in environmentally sensitive areas; and
WHEREAS,
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is responsible for the
management
and regulation of the application of de-icing on roads; and
WHEREAS,
The Department has the authority to test alternative de-icing and anti-icing
agents
and to establish appropriate application rates for these agents; now, therefore
be it
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
hereby
respectfully requests the Department of Transportation to provide a report
addressing the
following:
1) Alternatives to sodium chloride that are more environmentally suitable to
protect
surface
and ground water drinking sources; 2) Proper application and spreader rates for
de-icing
and
anti-icing agents that are currently used by the department and its
contractors; 3) Costs
associated
with using alternatives to sodium chloride on a statewide basis and in special
watershed
areas that are known to be more sensitive to surface and ground water
infiltration; and
4)
Recommendations for implementing the findings of the report; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate requests that the department shall report its findings and
recommendations
to the Senate no later than June 2, 2008; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he herby is authorized and directed to
transmit
a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of
Transportation.
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LC01863/SUB A
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