As another major winter storm bears down on the northeast, the Department of Homeland Security is working to make it harder and more expensive for New Jersey communities to keep ice off the roads.

New Jersey officials were trying to obtain tons of salt from Maine that would be delivered along the East Coast by barge for communities that have run out during the heavy winter of 2013-2014.  However, Homeland Security has prohibited the shipments claiming they violate the 1920 Federal Maritime Act.

The 1920 Act says that no ship flying a flag other than American or flying no flag at all cannot transfer goods from one American port to another.  The law was put in place to protect the U.S. shipping industry from foreign competition.

The barge was not an American ship and so it had to sail away empty, leaving the much needed road salt sitting at a port in Maine.

The mayor of Jersey City said he’s been waiting two weeks for salt shipments from smaller suppliers.  They received 200 tons Tuesday and are hoping another 300 would arrive before the current storm front strikes.  Mayor Steve Fulop noted the city usually uses 800 tons of salt for a winter storm.

The city has had to rely on much more expensive liquid brine and sand for city streets.

Officials say they are trying to work with Homeland Security to obtain larger shipments.