U.S. ADMINISTRATION OPPOSES U.S.-CANADA SEAWAY CORPORATION

   The Clinton Administration opposes legislation that would establish a
binational U.S. and Canadian agency to manage and operate the St. Lawrence Seaway.
   "The Administration at this time does not support the creation of a
binational agency," Albert S. Jacquez, administrator of the St. Lawrence
Seaway Development Corp. told the House Water Resources and Environment Committee. "The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. and its Canadian counterpart have worked hard over the past 40 years to present the Seaway user with as seamless a system as possible under the current national structures. In many areas, including joint rules and regulations, and joint vessel traffic control, the agencies have been successful in presenting the seaway user with a unified system."
    Rep. James Oberstar, D- Minn., the bill’s sponsor and other supporters of the legislation say that the creation of a binational agency will cut costs by eliminating duplicative functions of the U.S. and Canadian management agencies.