Final Report on Environmentally Sensitive Sanding and Deicing Practices

Download or read book Final Report on Environmentally Sensitive Sanding and Deicing Practices written by and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growth in the Denver-metro area has led to an increased impact on the environment due to winter maintenance activities. According to the Regional Air Quality Council, the use of sand as a traction aid contributes up to 45% of the particulate air pollution (PM sub 10) in the Denver area. The Environmentally Sensitive Sanding and Deicing Practices at the University of Colorado at Denver investigated literature and current practices from a wide variety of sources to arrive at a document which summarizes the current state of knowledge about deicing practices and their effect on human health and the environment. Topics include: properties of snow and ice, roadway traction, anti-skid materials, air quality impacts of anti-skid materials, water quality impacts of deicing chemicals, deicing chemicals, equipment to apply deicers, snow and ice management practices, and current practices obtained from interviews and site visits. Topics for further research are also discussed. This report recommends that the use of sand be reduced, that sand be swept up as soon as practical, that the use of alternative deicers be considered, that winter maintenance activities be timed for optimal efficiency, and that the Colorado Department of Transportation conduct technology transfer seminars around the State to increase awareness of environmental impacts.