Utica official proposal to ban the use of brine from hydrofracking fluids
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: January 23, 2013
DPW workers from different municipalities get together every month to figure out how to better to keep the roads clear during snowy conditions.
But, one official is proposing legislation to ban one type of treatment.
Utica Common Council Member, Frank Vescera wants to prohibit the use of brine from hydrofracking fluids to treat city roads.
Area municipalities are looking into the brine system- but they say it doesn't deal with fracking products.
For officials responsible for treating our roads during wintry conditions, one thing is for sure, salt is not cheap.
Which is why Richard Sherman, the Highway Superintendent for the Town of New Hartford is looking into buying a brine system.
"The brine system we're looking into it takes salt and water solution and it dissolves it to make a liquid brine," said Sherman.
That brine would then be put into tanks and sprayed onto roadways. Currently, the NYS Thurway Authority treats the highway with the brine system.
As the former Supervisor of the Thruway, Mr. Sherman wants to bring the system to New Hartford.
"Brine works faster. It coats the salt so it doesn't bounce off the roads and it starts the melting process quicker," said Sherman.
The system is a bit costly, but he says it'll save money and limit the use of salt in the long-run.
But, Utica official, Frank Vescera is trying to ban the process when it involves fracking brine.
Councilman Vescera wants to prohibit the use of brine from hydrofracking fluids as road surface treatments on city streets.
"We put the ban on the actual fracking. We certainly wouldn't want to put the byproducts on our streets which would flow out and dissipate in the roadways," said Vescera, (D)- 1st Ward.
He is presenting his legislation at Wednesday's Common Council meeting.
The Town of New Hartford wants to stress the brine system it's eyeing does not involve hydrofracking brine.
If the town supervisor and board approve of the system, the New Hartford highway superintendent says it will be ready for the next winter season.
