Road Salt Update

MSNBC, USA Today and WTRF reported several states running out salt to ice their roads last winter.  The sites interview public works personnel about the shortage and asked how they were trying to prepare for the very snowy winter.

I spoke with the president of the Salt Institute in Alexandria, Va., Dick Hanneman about the "shortage."  He said there wasn't a shortage.

Hanneman said, "Nobody ran out of salt."  In February and May 2008, Hanneman spoke at conferences and sent out press releases stressing preparation for the upcoming winter.  He said states needed to buy early to ensure the amount of salt they could get.  Also, he said when salt is bought pre-season, it is cheaper.

Last winter, Hanneman said states and cities were "panic-buying" road salt in anticipation of the rough winter ahead.  That is what caused the price of salt to increase by as much as three times the average amount per ton. Hanneman suggested in the previously mentioned press releases states should buy salt early to avoid price increases.  Apparently, no one listened.

There was enough salt for each state, Hanneman said, some states just did not get the full amount they wanted.

Hanneman said, "We should be in decent shape to prepare for it," referring to winter 2009/2010.  He stressed if state departments would do as the Salt Institute recommended, there will be no problem with salt "shortages" this winter.