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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

SSM-HVA-E/F-1.0

Sault Ste Marie

Low, Moderate

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

Conservation Authority

Strategic

Education / Outreach

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

Local Board

Strategic

Land Use Planning Approaches

Future

Implemented

MTO - Salt

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

Implemented

RESPONSE to Question (Specify Action): Contractors working on the provincial highway network are required to conform to the Salt Management Plan. Training is provided annually before the start of the winter season to all of MTO’s maintenance contractors. The MTO provincial Salt Management Plan contains best management practices to ensure application rate, timing and location of salt to reduce the potential for salt-related surface water run-off and groundwater infiltration. MTO ensures the Salt Management Plan meets the objectives of Environment Canada's Code of Practice for Environmental Management of Road Salts. The MTO Salt Management Plan ensures the best available winter maintenance practices are implemented to ensure safe driving conditions on the provincial highway network, and consideration is given to local environmental protection including drinking water sources. Road salt best management practices have been developed by government and industry, primarily through the Transportation Association of Canada's Syntheses of Best Practices: Road Salt Management framework, and Environment and Climate Change Canada's Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts. The best management practices typically included in a Road Salt Management Plan are proven and science-based. MTO’s best management practices for the environmental management of road salt include use of: •Road and Weather Information Stations for monitoring and forecasting winter weather and highway conditions in order to apply the right amount of salt at the right times. •Pre-wetted/pre-treated road salt and direct liquid application to increase the efficiency of the de-icing agent and reduce the amount of road salt applied to the surface. •Electronic spreader controls to ensure the right amount of de-icing agent is applied for the local conditions. MTO continually reviews standards, new technology, equipment and materials to optimize winter maintenance practices. Maintenance operations have evolved significantly over time. New technology, such as the Road and Weather Information Stations, are used to predict winter storms and assist with planning and deploying maintenance equipment and materials. New products such as pre-wetted salt and equipment innovations like automatic spreader controllers enhance the effectiveness of operations and decrease environmental impacts.

Sault Ste. Marie City of - (Municipality)

Have Regard to

Land Use Planning Approaches

Future

In progress/some progress made

Sault Ste. Marie City of - (Municipality)

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

Policy Text:

Part A - The City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Sault North Planning Board are encouraged to protect the Highly Vulnerable Aquifers through Official Plan policies pertaining to Source Water that restrict uses that are associated with the following threat activities:

• Fuel Storage and Handling
• Handling and Storage of Organic Solvents
• Handling and Storage of DNAPLs
• The establishment, operation or maintenance of a system that collects, stores, transmits, treats or disposes of sewage, threat subcategory: sewage system or sewage works – discharge of stormwater from a stormwater retention pond.

All planning decisions must have regard for this policy. The Official Plan should be updated to appropriately reflect this policy in accordance with section 26 of the Planning Act.

Part B - The City of Sault Ste. Marie is encouraged to continue with Best Management Practices (BMP) in regard to road salt application and is encouraged to seek strategies to optimise the use of road salt to recognise source water protection and public safety in the Highly Vulnerable Aquifer areas.

The Ministry of Transportation is encouraged to continue with Best Management Practices (BMP) in regard to road salt application and is encouraged to seek strategies to optimise the use of road salt to recognise source water protection and public safety in the Highly Vulnerable Aquifer areas.

Part C - Education and outreach materials should be developed and delivered to owners/operators of properties and businesses as well as residents within the HVA, to address the handling/storage of fuel, handling/storage of organic solvents, handling/storage of DNAPLs, road salt management, as well as the discharge of stormwater from stormwater management facilities.

Monitoring Text:

SSM-HVA-MP-1.0: City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Sault North Planning Board should report by February 1 of each year its decisions in the previous calendar year regarding any proposals, applications and changes in the official plan and zoning by-law, in the area where this policy applies. The Ministry of Transportation should report by February 1 of each year the results of the review of the Road Salt Management Plan and any changes as a result of changes to the Best Management Practices.

SSM-EOgeneral-MP-1.0: The Conservation Authority shall provide an annual report to the Source Protection Authority of the education and outreach program indicating that the program has been delivered and providing details of the manner in which the program was released. The annual report due February 1 shall highlight cases from the previous calendar year known to the municipality or the Conservation Authority where protection was achieved through the program and inclusion of comments from those participating in the program or receiving the information. The annual report shall also include any education and outreach program activities and materials/products developed.