PennDOT Abby McDonald, Mallory Bastin, Heather Wilson, and

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PennDOT

• Abby McDonald, Mallory Bastin, Heather Wilson,
  and Emily Karr

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What is PennDOT? (Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation) Mission Through the active
involvement of customers, employees and partners,
PENNDOT provides services and a safe intermodal
transportation system that attracts businesses
and residents and stimulates Pennsylvania's
economy. You probably know them
for -Driver and Vehicle Services -Public
Transportation -Road Construction and
Maintenance
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Road Salting NaCl (Sodium Chloride), more
commonly known as salt, is used to deice roads
during the winter months. Why? Salt makes water
freeze at a lower temperature. It is very easy to
use because it is abundant and inexpensive.
However, not everyone thinks its such a great
idea California and Nevada restrict the use of
road salt in certain areas. Massachusetts uses
an alternative deicer Environment Canada
launched an investigation into the effects NaCl
has on roadside habitats, water quality and
wildlife and theyre very concerned with their
findings So why are these people so worried
about road salt?
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Here are just a few ways road salt affects the
environment Water Deicing salts are the primary
source of NaCl in groundwater. They also
accumulate in surface water, and there is no
natural mechanism to remove them. This affects
not only the water quality, but also the
ecosystems that are dependant on that water
quality. Soil NaCl inhibits soil bacteria and
in turn affects soil structure, often leading to
soil erosion and the elimination of natural
erosion control. Vegetation Salt can create
inhibit water and nutrient absorption and reduce
growth in plants. Salt-tolerant species that are
usually found in coastal wetlands (like cattails)
are colonizing at roadsides, and the affects of
salt on buffer zones between roads and
groundwater can diminish the vegetations
beneficial impact on the water quality. Wildlife
Salt damage to vegetation can destroy food
sources, shelter and breeding/nesting sites for
wildlife. Animals that are sodium deficient often
travel long distances to ingest road salt, but
end up consuming too much. This also puts them
near roads and creates an increased likelihood
for wildlife-involved car accidents. Birds may
not be able to distinguish between salt and their
usual food sources. http//www.youtube.com/results
?search_query22roadsalt22search_typeaqf
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Infrastructure NaCl is corrosive over time. It
increases the conductivity of water which
accelerates corrosion.
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Alternatives Calcium Magnesium Acetate has proven
to be less toxic to fish and may actually
stimulate plant growth. Unfortunately, it also
doesnt work as fast and is less effective than
NaCl in cold conditions Potasium Acetate has
shown high performance, low corrosion and low
environmental impacts. However, it may be a
slight respiratory irritant. But for now, in
Pennsylvania, this is what we see
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Road Expansion

• Case Study of Route 41
• Route 41 is a 22 mile long highway connecting
  Lancaster, PA to Wilmington, Delaware
• Intended to expand to 4 lanes for 9.6 miles
• This expansion would pave approximately 80 acres
  of new road
• Effects on the environment include water resource
  quality, wetland destruction and air quality

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Water Resources

• Rt. 41 crosses through 4 watersheds which provide
  drinking water, aquatic habitat and recreation
• Increase in pavement would increase runoff and
  decrease the water quality of both stream and
  ground water
• Increase in pavement also increases likelihood of
  flooding with less ground to soak up precipitation

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Wetland Destruction

• Wetlands are used for ecological function
  (crucial stage for many aquatic and terrestrial
  species), to mitigate flooding, purify water and
  sustain downstream ecosystems
• Wetlands are habitat for the endangered species
  the Bog Turtle
• The expansion of route 41 would require crossing
  the wetlands, potentially harming the habitat,
  ecological functions and water quality, as well
  as increasing chance of flooding

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Air Quality

• Increase in roads would increase traffic
• Therefore would increase air pollution (and
  fossil fuels which lead to GCC)
• Chester County is already ranked among the
  dirtiest 10 of U.S. counties in terms of an
  individuals added risk of cancer from hazardous
  air pollutants
• Under Clean Air Act regulations, federally-funded
  highway projects may not cause new air quality
  violations, worsen existing violations, or delay
  timely attainment of the national air quality
  standards

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PA Environmental Awareness

• In 1998 former Governor Tom Ridge created the
  Green Government Executive order which called for
  state agencies to improve their environmental
  performance
• This idea of environmental stewardship continues
  today under Governor Edward Rendell

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• In response to the Governors green initiative,
  PennDot created the Strategic Environmental
  Management Program

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Strategic Environmental Management Program

• SEMP aims to
• Implement and plan for environmental management
• Practice continual improvement in PennDots
  Environmental performance
• Establish Measurable goals for environmental
  performance
• Conform to environmental laws and regulations
• SEMP is based on
• Protecting and conserving our resources.
• Leaving a legacy of better conditions for future
  generations.
• Serving our families and all PennDOT customers.
• Existing programs and requirements
• Enforcing the Principles of their Green Plan
  Environmental Policy

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PennDots Green Plan Policy

• 1)Plan, design, build, operate and maintain a
  statewide transportation system that protects the
  environment, prevents pollution and uses
  resources efficiently
• 2)Contribute to economic vitality and quality of
  life by applying sound environmental management
  practices which address the requirements of the
  public, users, carriers, industry, and labor
• 3)Comply with applicable environmental
  legislation and regulations

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Green Plan Policy

• 4) Establish a program of review and continual
  improvement of environmental performance which
  accounts for technical and economic developments,
  scientific understanding, and significant
  environmental impacts
• 5)Establish relevant and measureable objectives
  which endeavor to improve environmental
  performance and provide the meanst to gauge
  progress
• 6)Ensure employees understand these principles as
  well as priority, and are furnished with the
  means to fulfill them

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Focus Areas

• Pollution Prevention
• Stockpiles and Facilities
• PennDot facilities are being renovated to
  incorporate energy efficient lighting and heating
  systems
• Winter Maintenance
• Initiative to have all roadway winter materials
  stored under roof to prevent storm water
  contamination
• Usage of technology such as the GL400 computer
  mounted in each PennDot truck to help operators
  apply the correct amount of winter materials for
  desired results and minimal environmental impact
• Roadway Maintenance
• Erosion and sedimentation controls

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Stockpile of Winter Materials
GL400 Computer mounted in PennDot truck
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Erosion and Sedimentation controls like these
implemented on Falls Creek in Jefferson County,
PA are standard practice under the Environmental
Policy
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• Recycling
• Reuse recycled materials in other maintenance
  and construction projects
• Recycled Asphalt Pavement
• Scrap Tires
• Crushed Glass
• Fly Ash, Bottom Ash, Kiln Dust
• Slag and Spent Foundry Sand
• Compost (bio-solids, spent mushroom soil, leaf
  compost)
• Asphalt Shingles
• Plastics
• Aluminum
• Portland Cement Concrete

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Environmental Accomplishment

• In December 2002, highway engineering district 10
  in Pennsylvania became the first State
  Transportation agency in the United States to be
  14001 registered by the International
  Organization for Standardization (ISO)

District 10 includes Armstrong, Butler, Clarion,
Indiana and Jefferson Counties
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• ISO 14001 registration confirms that an
  organization has developed and implemented an
  environmental management system that supports
  environmental protection and the prevention of
  pollution in balance with socioeconomic needs and
  is fully interwoven within the fabric of the
  organizations core business activities Richard
  T. Pavic (Environmental planner of SEMP)

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Wetlands

• PennDots Project along I-99 in Blair and Centre
  Counties
• 9 miles, 38 permanent stormwater ponds and 25
  small stormwater catch basins
• DEP issued a water obstruction and encroachment
  permit
• PennDot has to provide replacements or
  restoration for natural resources that could not
  be avoided in construction

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Wetlands

• Natural Resource Compensation Plan, which deals
  with streams, wetlands, and various natural
  wildlife habitats
• No impacts to any dams, wildlife sanctuaries,
  public water supplies, landmarks or parks
• Provide 50 acres of wetland replacement, 40 acres
  of wetland enhancement and 70 acres of wetland
  preservation

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Air Quality

• Tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles are
  responsible for roughly one-third of the smog
  pollution that plagues Pennsylvania and Delaware
  communities
• 37 counties across Pennsylvania still do not meet
  the federal governments basic air quality
  standards

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Air Quality

• Partners with the Pennsylvania Department of
  Environmental Protection (DEP)
• Works with automobile manufacturers and dealers
• PennDot
• Certifies
• Ensures paperwork procedures

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Air Quality

• Certifies
• Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program
• California Air Resources Board (CARB)