BACKUS — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and its partners will host a "Smart Salting for Roads" certification training for winter maintenance professionals and contractors.
The training is open to anyone who does winter road maintenance and will equip them with knowledge and tools to balance public safety with environmental protection, according to a news release.
The event is 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, at the Cass County Land Department in Backus. Lunch is provided, and registration is required by Oct. 1.
The training will cover application rates, weather considerations, environmental effects of de-icing, calibration, storage, new maintenance methods and anti-icing strategies.
"Participants will learn how to integrate science-based practices into winter road maintenance to improve efficiency while reducing the environmental impacts of salt use," the release stated.
After the course, participants can test to earn a five-year PCA Smart Salting for Road Certification.
The Crow Wing and Cass County soil and water conservation districts and the Pine River Watershed are partnering with the PCA for this event, with the free training funded by the state's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
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