Snow Disposal Information
The challenge of disposing of collected snow is highlighted by the presence of various pollutants, including road salt, litter, animal waste, and automotive pollutants. These pollutants, linked to urbanization and human activities, can be transported into surface water or groundwater as the snow melts.
Disposal of snow into fresh water, including lakes, streams, wetlands, rivers, estuaries, or tidally influenced streams or rivers, either frozen or unfrozen, without a permit is not allowed.
In exceptional circumstances, if no other snow disposal options are available and the snow is free from obvious contaminants, it may be permitted to dispose of snow in specific waterbodies. Notification to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Water is mandatory before disposal in these situations.
Information provided in the links to the right include guidelines regarding emergency snow disposal options that are acceptable to DEC, Division of Water.
Indicates an external site.