New Study Available on St. Lawrence Seaway System

Published Jun 3, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system, built and shared by Canada and the United States, is a key component of North America's transportation infrastructure. The waterway serves 15 major international ports and some 50 regional ports on both sides of the border. Maritime commerce on the system supports domestic and international trade. However, the system is aging, and the costs of maintaining the transportation infrastructure are rising. Transport Canada and the U.S. Department of Transportation initiated a bi-national study partnership in 2003 to undertake the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Study (GLSLS Study), the purpose of which is to assess current and future navigation options in the area. While the growth of international trade is a driving factor in the study, many environmentalists worry that current navigation activities are already causing problems in the area ? including changing water levels, habitat destruction, and invasive species. A series of stakeholder meetings have been scheduled to facilitate dialogue and information exchange: Montreal, Quebec (June 3); St. Catharines, Ontario (June 8); Duluth, MN, (June 15); Clayton, NY (July 6); and Chicago, IL (July 14). Cleck here to review the study,http://www.glsls-study.com/English%20site/studysummary_english.html.