"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 449 : Strategies to Mitigate the Impacts of Chloride Roadway Deicers on the Natural Environment documents the range of methods, tools, and techniques used by transportation agencies to minimize the environmental impact of chloride-based roadway deicers"--Publisher's description.

Examines the total cost of salt and calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), including the indirect cost of application and indirect costs to the environment, infrastructure, and motor vehicles. This report focuses on defining the true cost of salt, which is the most popular deicer and the standard of comparison for most other deicing products.

The first and only comprehensive guide to best practices in winter road operations Winter maintenance operations are essential to ensure the safety, mobility, and productivity of transportation systems, especially in cold-weather climates, and responsible agencies are continually challenged to provide a high level of service in a fiscally and environmentally responsible manner. Sustainable Winter Road Operations bridges the knowledge gaps, providing the first up-to-date, authoritative, single-source overview and guide to best practices in winter road operations that considers the triple bottom line of sustainability. With contributions from experts in the field from around the world, this book takes a holistic approach to the subject. The authors address the many negative impacts on regional economies and the environment of poorly planned and inadequate winter road operations, and they make a strong case for the myriad benefits of environmentally sustainable concepts and practices. Best practice applications of materials, processes, equipment, and associated technologies and how they can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of winter operations, optimize materials usage, and minimize cost, corrosion, and environmental impacts are all covered in depth. Provides the first up-to-date, authoritative and comprehensive overview of best practices in sustainable winter road operations currently in use around the world Covers materials, processes, equipment, and associated technologies for sustainable winter road operations Brings together contributions by an international all-star team of experts with extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing sustainable winter road operations Designed to bring professionals involved in transportation and highway maintenance and control up to speed with current best practice Sustainable Winter Road Operations is essential reading for maintenance professionals dealing with snow and ice control operations on highways, motorways and local roads. It is a valuable source of information and guidance for decision makers, researchers, and engineers in transportation engineering involved in transportation and highway maintenance. And it is an ideal textbook for advanced-level courses in transportation engineering.

The overall conclusion of the study is that application of magnesium chloride deicer having a chemical composition and application rate similar to those of 1997-98 is highly unlikely to cause or contribute to environmental damage at distances greater than 20 yards from the roadway. Even very close to the roadway, the potential of magnesium chloride deicer to cause environmental damage is probably much smaller than that of other factors related to road use and maintenance, including pollution of highway surfaces by vehicles and use of salt and sand mixtures to promote traction in winter. Magnesium chloride deicer may offer net environmental benefits if its use leads to a reduction in the quantity of salt and sand applied to roadways. The environmental safety of magnesium chloride deicer depends, however, on low concentrations of contaminants and avoidance of rust inhibitors containing phosphorus. Appropriate specifications for vendors and routine testing can insure the continued environmental acceptability of magnesium chloride deicers. Deicers provided by vendors should be monitored independently by CDOT for chemical characteristics. Any significant changes in processing or source material should be disclosed by the vendor. Colorado-based specifications should be developed for vendors. Independent specifications for low elevation could be developed, or the more stringent high elevation specifications can be applied to all purchases.

Chemical Deicers and the Environment provides a complete discussion of chemical deicer technology and history in the United States and Canada. The book describes engineering applications, maintenance procedures, economic evaluations, in addition to environmental problems and concerns relative to the use of chemical deicing. It also provides a technical appraisal of the latest technology to stimulate further research and discussion directed toward achieving a more integrated approach for the application of new deicers that will protect motor vehicles, highways and infrastructures, and the environment. Chemical Deicers and the Environment will be a useful reference volume for scientists, legislators, transportation engineers, environmentalists, consultants, and concerned individuals interested in learning about the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of today's chemical deicers.