Travis,

They're using liquid de-icing on streets in some areas of Colorado, similar to what they spray on airplanes. It doesn't rust anything, there's no residual particulate polution like there is with sand or salt (or any mixture of both), and it doesn't have to be swept up after the snow melts.

That might be your problem in the great northeast, the snow doesn't melt. I woke to a foot of the white stuff in my yard this morning, but the only trace of this storm that will still here by Saturday will be some piles of ice in plowed parking lots.

Bob