Road salt task force sets inaugural meeting for Feb. 28

By Zachary Matson

The state’s new Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force is scheduled to hold its first meeting Feb. 28 led by state Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez and Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. 

The two commissioners will lead a discussion among the task force members about priorities for reducing salt use and establish a process for future meetings and public information sessions, according to a media release from the two state agencies. The 1 p.m. virtual meeting will be open to the public.

Gov. Kathy Hochul in December named the task force appointees about a year after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law establishing the panel. The appointments were delayed during a chaotic leadership transition from Cuomo to Hochul. The task force already missed a December deadline to submit to lawmakers an initial report.

The members include water scientists, local highway superintendents, advocacy group leaders, environmental lawyers and government officials. The task force is charged with recommending ways to reduce salt use in the Adirondacks and initiating pilot programs to implement the recommendations.

Register for the meeting at: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8bb9b315b78fa9bb46f54092d5d7ea83.