• An unprecedented snow season has caused 6 feet (72 inches) of snow to fall on Boston in the last month, with authorities now giving cities permission to dump snow in the Boston Harbor.
• In an average year, Boston gets 47 inches of snow which has been overwhelmingly eclipsed by the 72 inches which have fallen in the last 30 days.
• While dumping snow in the Harbor is usually not permitted, the reality is that Eastern Massachusetts is running out of places to put it, with the city already melting 430 tons of snow a day.
• The storm has wreaked havoc on the city, with rail transport, courts and schools all being closed – as well as parking on the street!
• State law prohibits the disposal of snow in the Harbor as plows pick up oils, metals and other contaminants which pollute the water, but the practice is permitted where public safety is at risk.

Read more:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/10/us/northeast-snow/

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/09/mayor-walsh-city-may-begin-dumping-snow-boston-harbor/KIW2nhQlS0yPfMuViLVI4K/story.html

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/02/how-us-cities-decide-what-to-do-with-snow/

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