Chris Wallace

The prevalence of icy winter roads is becoming more frequent in NH due to changes in climate, leading to greater use of road salt. The application of salt on roads, driveways, parking lots and other surfaces has an environmental impact. When snow and ice melt, the road salt runs off into freshwater systems, including lakes, rivers and groundwater resources like wells. Ongoing studies show that rising levels of salt in these systems is detrimental to human health and that of aquatic plants and animals. Chloride makes up about 60 percent of road salt, and can also be detrimental. Elevated amounts of this chemical is toxic to plants and animals, including humans. Chloride also corrodes infrastructure like bridges and pipes and pollutes soil, posing not only environmental and health risks but also safety risks. For these reasons, establishing a road salt fee to fund salt reduction best practices is not only vital to the overall environment, our health and safety, but also to the economy of NH where outdoor tourism, and specifically the the enjoyment of our lakes, is a major revenue driver. Better training in best practices for road maintenance and the more effective use of materials is a great step toward the protection of our water bodies. Thank you.