Vermont S 218: An act relating to the Department of Mental Health’s Ten-Year Plan

Bill Text

BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.218
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S.218
Introduced by Senator Watson
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Date: January 7, 2026
Subject: Conservation and development; water quality; protection from
liability; salt application
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
Secretary of Natural Resources to establish the Chloride Contamination
Reduction Program for the voluntary education, training, and certification of
commercial salt applicators. A certified commercial salt applicator would
have an affirmative defense against a claim for damages resulting from a
hazard caused by snow or ice if the claimed damages were caused solely by
snow or ice, and any failure or delay in removing or mitigating the hazard is
the result of the certified commercial salt applicator’s implementation of the
best management practices of the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) for the
application of salt or salt alternatives. ANR also would be required to make
the changes to the Vermont Local Roads curriculum needed to support
municipal salt applicators, including training on best management practices for
spreading salt or salt alternatives on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. A
municipal employee applying salt or salt alternatives would have an
affirmative defense to claims for damages from a hazard caused by snow or ice
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BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.218
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if the municipal employee completed the municipal salt applicator curriculum,
the claimed damages were caused solely by snow or ice, and any failure or
delay in removing or mitigating the hazard is the result of the applicator’s
implementation of the curriculum.
An act relating to reducing chloride contamination of State waters
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. PURPOSE
It is the purpose of this act to establish the accepted standards of care for
the application of salt and salt alternatives in an effective and efficient manner
that provides safe conditions for pedestrians and motor vehicles on traveled
surfaces while also reducing the impacts of salt and salt alternatives on the
quality of the waters of the State.
Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. chapter 47, subchapter 3B is added to read:
Subchapter 3B. Chloride Contamination Reduction Program
§ 1361. DEFINITIONS
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Apply salt” or “application of salt” means to apply salt or a salt
alternative to roadways, parking lots, or sidewalks for the purpose of winter
maintenance or for summer dust control. “Apply salt” or “application of salt”
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does not mean the application of salt to a transportation infrastructure
construction project.
(2) “Commercial salt applicator” means any individual who for
compensation applies salt or salt alternatives, but does not include municipal
or State employees.
(3) “Master commercial salt applicator” means any individual who
employs and is responsible for individuals who for compensation apply salt or
salt alternatives, but does not include municipal or State employees.
(4) “Salt” means sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium
chloride, or any other substance containing chloride used for the purpose of
deicing, anti-icing, or dust control.
(5) “Salt alternative” means any substance not containing chloride used
for the purpose of deicing, anti-icing, or dust control.
(6) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Natural Resources.
(7) “Transportation infrastructure construction project” means a project
that involves the construction of roadways, parking lots, or sidewalks or other
construction activities at transportation facilities or within transportation
rights-of-way.
§ 1362. CHLORIDE CONTAMINATION REDUCTION PROGRAM
(a) The Secretary of Natural Resources, after consultation with the
Secretary of Transportation and other states with similar chloride
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BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.218
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contamination reduction programs, shall establish the Chloride Contamination
Reduction Program for the voluntary education, training, and certification of
commercial salt applicators regarding the effective and efficient application of
salt and salt alternatives to provide safe conditions for pedestrians and motor
vehicles on traveled surfaces while also reducing the impacts of salt and salt
alternatives on the quality of the waters of the State.
(b) As part of the Program, the Secretary of Natural Resources, on or
before July 1, 2027, shall adopt by rule best management practices for the
application of salt or salt alternatives by commercial salt applicators. The best
management practices may be based on practices currently implemented by the
Agency of Transportation or other