Smart Salting training helps improve operator effectiveness and reduce chloride pollution while keeping roads, parking lots, and sidewalks safe. Participating organizations have been able to reduce their salt use by 30 to 70%. In addition, the training has been shown to prevent chloride contamination in lakes, rivers, and streams.
Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop
Participants in these two-hour online workshops will learn about the effects of chloride on the environment and on infrastructure and will be offered specific action steps and policies that can help reduce salt pollution in their communities.
- None scheduled at this time
Trainings for hands-on winter maintenance professionals
Smart Salting certification training provides winter maintenance professionals the opportunity to learn best practices to reduce their salt use while maintaining safety and minimizing impacts on the environment and infrastructure. Participants earn a five-year certification for attending this 5.5-hour training and passing the test.
Smart Salting for Roads and Smart Salting for Parking Lots and Sidewalks certification trainings for all winter maintenance professionals.
- September 19, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- September 24, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Location: Minneapolis, MN | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- October 8, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Location: Minneapolis, MN | Smart Salting: Parking lots and sidewalks certification training
- October 16, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- October 17, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Smart Salting: Parking lots and sidewalks certification training
- October 22, 2024, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Location: Rosemount, MN | Smart Salting: Parking lots and sidewalks certification training
- October 23, 2024, 8:30am - 2pm | Location: Hugo, MN | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- November 7, 2024, 8am - 1:30pm | Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Smart Salting: Parking lots and sidewalks certification training
- November 19, 2024, 8am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- December 10, 2024, 8am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Parking lots and sidewalks certification training
- December 11, 2024, 8am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
Smart Salting tool
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has recently updated and redesigned its Smart Salting tool to help communities and organizations across the state evaluate sources of chloride impacting local water resources. The Smart Salting tool also provides support and guidance on how to address those sources.
- None scheduled at this time
Training for property managers, business owners, and environmental professionals
Learn how to reduce indoor and outdoor salt damage and related costs, recognize sustainable practice suggestions among maintenance crews, hear ideas for managing liability, and more. Learn about the hidden costs of salt use on properties. Gain understanding and take a comprehensive look at winter maintenance strategies to discover possible improvement areas. The four-hour training also covers the new chloride requirements in the MS4 permit. Participants earn a three-year certification.
- October 1, 2024, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Smart Salting: Property Management certification training
- October 24, 2024, 9am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Property Management certification training
- November 13, 2024, 9am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Property Management certification training
Smart Salting certification refresher trainings
Participants in these three-hour refreshers will learn about the impacts of salt on the environment, learn the fundamentals of Smart Salting, and take a deeper look into specific topic areas like winter weather tools and more. Participants must have current Smart Salting certification to attend. See the certification list below to verify current certifications.
- October 3, 2024, 8 - 11 a.m. | Smart Salting: Salt and snow storage refresher
- November 12, 2024, 8 - 11am | Smart Salting: Weather for winter maintenance refresher
- November 19, 2024, 8am - 1:30pm | Smart Salting: Roads certification training
- December 5, 2024, 8 - 11 a.m. | Smart Salting: Liquid deicer refresher