U.S., CANADA SEEK CLOSER TIES IN GREAT LAKES, ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY

U.S., CANADA SEEK CLOSER TIES IN GREAT LAKES, ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY    The U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to strengthen their already close cooperation in the management and improvements to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system.
   “Planning to ensure the continued viability of this waterway requires collaborative approaches among the many stakeholders involved on both sides of the border,” said Transport Canada Minister David Collenette at the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the U.S. Transportation Department in Washington, May 1.
   “The signing of this memorandum of cooperation further enhances collaboration between our two agencies to evaluate the future needs of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the transportation infrastructure on which it depends,” he added.
   The memorandum calls for DOT and Transport Canada to:
   * Identify factors and trends affecting domestic and international marine transport industries.
   * Assess current and future transportation requirements for the waterway.
   * Evaluate the reliability and condition of the waterway, including costs and benefits to maintain the existing infrastructure.
   * Assess the environmental, as well as engineering and economic factors, related to the current and future needs of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system.
   The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system is a 2,300-mile long transportation network, which supports more than 200 millions tons of cargo a year.
   The five U.S. and Canadian government agencies in charge of the system are Transport Canada, DOT, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., and DOT’s Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.