Senator seeks traction for highway deicer bill

For state Sen. Dee Brown, the word “slurry” begets “worry” and propels her each legislative session to try to reduce the state’s use of salt-brine deicers on public highways.

This session, Brown, a Republican from Hungry Horse, is trying again to pass a bill that has failed to gain traction during three previous sessions.

Senate Bill 117 would reduce over time the use on state highways of liquid deicers containing sodium chloride or magnesium chloride.

Brown said she believes the salt-brine deicers pose risks to the environment, including the rivers and streams that parallel many Montana highways and the lakes they often flow into.

And she said deicers can cause vehicle corrosion that presents safety hazards.

AAA has estimated that vehicle rust damage associated with road deicers totals about $3 billion a year nationally. The organization said deicers can lead to “rust-related vehicle damage to brake lines, fuel tanks, exhaust systems and other critical vehicle components.”

As proposed, Brown’s bill would reduce the use of chloride-based liquid deicers on public highways by 10 percent each year over the 10 years following the effective date of the legislation or until the use of such deicers “reverts to the mean average use over the period from Dec. 1, 2007, through March 31, 2010, whichever occurs first.”

In years past, the Montana Department of Transportation has opposed Brown’s attempts to reduce liquid chlorine-based deicers.

In an email Friday, Jon Swartz, the department’s maintenance administrator, made a case for the use of liquid chlorides.

“MDT’s winter program is focused on nationally recognized best practices, utilizing the right material, the right amount at the right time and place,” Swartz said. “Liquid chlorides are an important winter maintenance tool for MDT.”

He said the liquids allow the department to reduce the use of sand that can affect air quality and water quality.

“When you limit the tools available to the snow-plow operators, you impact their ability to make the best decision in the interest of safety, cost and environment,” Swartz said.

He said the only non-chloride deicer that meets specifications is potassium acetate, which he said is dramatically more expensive than the salt brine used by the department.

In turn, Robin Steinkraus, executive director of Flathead Lakers, said Friday that the nonprofit has supported Brown’s deicer bills in years past because of concerns that chlorine-based deicers degrade water quality.

Flathead Lakers says the organization works for clean water, healthy ecosystems and lasting quality of life in the Flathead watershed.

Brown’s bill is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday afternoon with the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.

Reporter Duncan Adams may be reached at dadams@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.