Sand and chemicals should be stored in a manner to minimize any contamination of surface or ground water. In general:

• As previously discussed, all known runoff receptors should be inventoried and protected.
• Care should be taken to prevent runoff from chemical tanks or chemical treated stockpiles. Stockpiles of winter materials should be maintained according to best management practices.
• Covered storage for dry chemicals is preferred.
• All usage of sand and chemicals should be continuously and accurately recorded.
• Vehicle washwater should be managed as well.

Environmental stewardship practices for operation of maintenance facilities and maintenance of stockpiles are reviewed in Chapter 6 on Facilities.

• The sites should be secured to avoid illegal dumping, prevent unauthorized access, by both humans and animals, for safety reasons and to permit safe efficient operation of the site. Security and environmental considerations include:
  • Delineation of the site boundary using perimeter fencing with appropriate signage and a gate with controlled access.
  • Provision of adequate lighting for operations, with the lights focused away from adjacent land uses.
  • Provision of low permeability berms (with or without trees) around the site to prevent uncontrolled offsite release of meltwater. These berms and additional landscaping can also mitigate noise, litter, and visual impacts.

• Ensure that a single individual is assigned responsibility for the operation of the site and is accountable for its operation and environmental performance.
• Litter control:
• With any snow removal and disposal operation a significant amount of small, lightweight debris will be collected and dumped along with the snow. This litter is blown around by the wind and can be a problem both on and offsite.
• Staff should collect litter regularly to prevent it from blowing onto adjacent properties.
• The installation of a net or fence around the perimeter of a snow disposal facility can help contain the litter within the site.
• All debris in the snow storage area should be cleared from the site prior to snow storage.
• Collect and dispose of onsite litter, debris and sediment from the meltwater settling area in accordance with local waste management legislation.
• All debris in the snow storage area should be cleared from the site and properly disposed of no later than May 15 of each year.
• If a municipality provides locations for private contractors to deposit snow, they should require disposal according to these recommendations.
• Control emissions (drainage, noise, dust, litter, fumes) to prevent offsite environmental impacts.

• Efficient flow of meltwater to the collection area should be maintained.
• Placing snow in high, compact masses with steep sides all around minimizes the exposure of accumulating sediment on the snowfill surface to seepage and flow.
• Placing snow in a single snow mass rather than several isolated masses reduces exposure of sediment to up-gradient meltwater sources. Sites can also be operated to take advantage of aspect, with snow placed as compact masses at northernmost down-gradient locations so that a snowfill will preferentially recede from uphill to downhill. This practice will reduce exposure of down-gradient sediment to meltwater flows as the sediment settles to the pad surface in the final stages of melt (and becomes most vulnerable to erosion).
• Rutting caused by heavy trucks should be kept to a minimum or repaired quickly.
• Fast flowing, high volume channels of meltwater should not be allowed to develop near the piles, to avoid excessive erosion and rutting of the driving and snow pile surface. Sheet flow of meltwater under and near the piles is preferred.
• Avoid blowing, pushing or dumping snow into the watercourse.
• Place hauled snow over the full width of each swale. Sequence placement of snow starting at the downslope side and working upslope.
• Maintain snow in a compact mass with steep sides.
• Maintain setback from all containment berms and from the discharge end of V-swales.
• Maintain pad vegetative cover and re-grade only to ensure V-swale functionality.
• Restrict access and prohibit off-season traffic and on-snow storage uses.

All parties involved should recognize that snow disposal sites will have an impact on the environment. Most activities should be focused on minimizing or mitigating the impacts. Monitoring aids in the determination of the extent of the impacts, the effectiveness of the mitigation measures taken, and potential adjustments that can be made.

• Baseline condition (benchmarking) of site and surrounding area for future monitoring comparisons should be completed prior to the site being commissioned. Contaminant levels recorded once the site is operational will have to be compared to levels prior to the site opening to give a true indication of any environmental impacts.
• Contamination levels may be monitored at various points around the site and surrounding area. Various factors can effect the number and location of monitoring points including - urban vs. rural location, intensity of site use, size of site, and local requirements.
• Where warranted some or all of the following locations may be monitored:
  • Beneath the site (ground water and soil).
  • Above and around the site (where air quality is an issue).
  • In the snow being dumped.
  • In the melting snow piles.
  • In the collected meltwater.
  • At the discharge site and in the discharged melt water.
  • Upstream (for comparison) and downstream of the discharge site (in the receiving area or mixing zone).
  • In the ground water downstream or downflow of the discharge site.
• There are numerous potential contaminant levels that can be monitored. Important contaminants from a salt management perspective include chlorides, sodium, pH, - metals, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), and suspended solids.

• The efficiency and remaining capacity of the meltwater collection and treatment areas need to be monitored. Over time the collection and treatment ponds will silt-up reducing their capacity and ability to handle the meltwater. Regular removal of the material that has settled out will significantly extend the life of the areas.
• The stability and condition of the snow storage and driving surface. If the surface deteriorates significantly a site may become unusable until major repairs are done.

The following list includes items and issues for which records should be kept:

• General site information:
  • Number of snow disposal sites and their capacity.
  • Percentage of snow disposal site with run-off collection and/or treatment system(s).
  • Percentage of snow disposal sites with a monitoring program (groundwater, surface soil, etc.).
• The volume of snow dumped and when it was dumped.
• An estimate of the melt rate. Can use estimate of volume of snow left, flow into meltwater collection and treatment system or discharge volume. A record of basic atmospheric data is useful in helping to determine the melting rates.
• Debris volume and type. Some sites have instituted a lost and found so residents and businesses can retrieve items such as mailboxes, garbage cans, signs, etc.
• Contaminant monitoring records (point data, trends, levels, etc.). Benchmark and contaminate monitoring data may need to be kept on file even after the site has been decommissioned. Monitoring records may be subject to periodic audits and third party reviews and need to be kept appropriately.
• Maintenance and operation records.
  • Regularly review site operations and look for ways to improve efficiency of dumping, pile management and melting.
  • Look for ways to reduce debris and litter by tracking type and source.