Upcoming Smart Salting Trainings - Register Today!

The MPCA is now offering trainings and workshops to help a wide range of audiences become Smart Salters. Check out our offerings and register today!

Smart Salting for Local Leaders workshops

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is partnering with the We Are Water MN program to offer a new Smart Salting workshop designed for local leaders. Developed and co-presented by a MN GreenCorps member. Participants in this workshop will learn about the impacts of chloride on the environment and infrastructure and discover specific action steps and policy changes that can help reduce salt pollution in their communities. 

Audience: local and state elected officials, members of sustainability and environmental commissions, board members of housing associations, neighborhood associations, or watershed districts, and other local decision makers

• Monday, August 1 – Register HERE
• Monday, August 15 – Register HERE
• Tuesday, August 16 – Register HERE

MPCA's Smart Salting for Local Leaders is considered an introductory workshop and is not intended as a replacement for other trainings. Hands on winter maintenance professionals will benefit most from participating in the MPCA Smart Salting certification trainings listed below. This workshop does not fulfill MS4 permit requirements.

Smart Salting Level 2 certification training Participants are shown how to best use the web-based Smart Salting Assessment tool (SSAt) and the steps to obtain Level 2 certification for their organization. The SSAt provides the user a way to complete a detailed evaluation of all their winter maintenance practices and identify opportunities to improve practices that can save money and protect water resources. Organizational 2 year certification. Audience: winter maintenance leadership, public works managers & supervisors, MS4 permittee’s, business owners, superintendents, and other lead staff Wednesday, July 20th 8am- Register HERE   Training only offered 2 times each year in July and December.

Smart Salting for Roads certification trainings Learn how to integrate science with practical winter maintenance on roads while minimizing impacts on the environment. Covers technical aspects such as application rates, calibration, using weather conditions to more accurately plan and apply, converting to de-icing and anti-icing, storage and more. Individual 5 year certification. Audience: city, county, or state winter maintenance professionals Thursday, August 4 – Register HERE Wednesday, August 24 – Register HERE The MS4 General Permit includes requirements for MS4 permittees aimed at reducing chloride pollution. If you are an MS4 permittee, one way to meet the new requirements is to have your winter maintenance staff, or those you contract for winter maintenance, attend an appropriate MPCA Smart Salting Certification training class.

Smart Salting for Parking Lots & Sidewalks certification trainings

Learn practical, more efficient winter maintenance practices for parking lots and sidewalks that can help save on costs and time while minimizing environmental impacts. Individual 5 year certification.

Audience: private winter maintenance companies, city park staff, hospital and school winter maintenance professionals

• Friday, August 5th 8am – Register HERE

Smart Salting Refresher: Weather for Winter Maintenance

Participants in MPCA's brand new refresher trainings will learn about the impacts of salt on the environment, the fundamentals of Smart Salting and take a deeper look into specific topic areas like winter weather tools and more. Must have current Smart Salting certification to attend.

• Thursday, September 15 – Register HERE

Smart Salting for Property Management certification trainings Learn how to reduce damages caused by salt, ways to encourage your maintenance crew to use sustainable practices, tips for addressing liability concerns, and the basics of snow and ice management. Individual 3 year certification. Audience: property managers, environmental professionals and advocates, business owners, those who hire private winter maintenance professionals, MS4 and Wastewater permit staff, and public works directors or other high-level management roles Thursday, August 4th 9am – Register HERE

Smart Salting certification training in Spanish (pilot) Capacitación de Salazón Inteligente para el Manejo de la Propiedad (Property Management in Español) This pilot training will help Spanish speaking winter maintenance professionals and property manager learn how they can save money and protect water resources using less salt safely. Individual 5 year certification. Audience: Spanish speaking winter maintenance staff, supervisors, and property managers In-Person - Tuesday, August 30/Martes 30 de agosto - Register HERE Villa Del Sol Community Space, St. Paul, MN Walk-ins welcome without registration Online - Monday, September 19/Lunes 19 de septiembre - Register HERE Funding provided by Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) and MPCA with Clean Water Funds and the Natural Resources and Environmental Trust Fund.

Visit the MPCA Smart Salting Training website for the training calendar and list of certificate holders. 

Questions about the trainings? Email smartsalting.pca@state.mn.us.

Support for the MPCA Smart Salting Program comes from Clean Water Land & Legacy funds.