Bill > A07057

This bill establishes the East of Hudson watershed road salt reduction task force, a 14-member group tasked with comprehensively reviewing road salt contamination and management practices in the East of Hudson watershed, which includes parts of Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties. The task force will include state commissioners and appointed experts in fields like civil engineering, hydrology, and public health, who will conduct a detailed assessment of road salt's environmental and infrastructure impacts. By December 2026, the task force must submit a report to state leadership with findings on salt contamination sources, current winter road management practices, and recommendations for reducing salt usage while maintaining public safety. These recommendations will include potential road salt reduction targets, best practices for winter road maintenance, a proposed pilot program to test reduced salt application methods, and strategies for public education. Following the task force's report, the departments of transportation and environmental conservation will review the recommendations and potentially implement a road salt pilot program in the watershed, with a requirement to submit a summary report on the program's results by August 2030. The bill will automatically expire five years after the pilot program's completion, ensuring a time-limited approach to addressing road salt contamination.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7057