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Douglas County Passes Resolution on Proposed
Vessel Permit -Special Issue - March
20, 2009 Articles featured in this issue of the Development Association bulletin include: Douglas County Board Passes Resolution Opposing DNR Vessel Permit
The Douglas County Board of Supervisors, at its March 19 meeting, passed a resolution (#25-09) urging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to consider the adoption of ballast water permitting requirements for Oceangoing Vessels ("Salties') that do not put the Port of Superior at a competitive disadvantage to ports in other Great Lakes states. The resolution, similar to that passed earlier in the week by the Superior Common Council, contained additional language opposing the DNR permit as written. The Board's action was in response to a proposed Ballast Water Discharge General Permit for vessels visiting Wisconsin waters and ports, which was released for public comment on February 20. The permit as proposed, would require existing Salties, beginning in 2012, to install technology to treat ballast water at a standard 100 times the standard established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The states of Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania have adopted IMO standards for Salties with an implementation date of January 1, 20016. State Representative and Superior City Councilor Nick Milroy testified during the meeting urging the County Board to join the City of Superior in sending a unified message on this issue. Milroy also updated the Board on the work he and State Senator Bob Jauch have been doing to share the concerns of the community, labor and industry with the WDNR. "The action of the Douglas County Board sends a clear message that our community is united in finding a solution to the issue of aquatic invasive species that will not damage our international shipping industry and consequently lead to the loss of jobs and tax revenue," stated Andy Lisak, Executive Director of the Development Association - the lead economic development organization for Superior and Douglas County. "This message will help us immensely as we continue to share our concerns with the WDNR during the public comment process," Lisak stated "Both the County and the City by their resolutions recognize the importance of the maritime industry to the economy of Superior," stated Lisak. Earlier in the week, during a press conference at Superior's Fraser Shipyards, Senator Jauch described the Superior harbor as the heart and soul of the Superior community. The resolution commended the WDNR for recognizing the Great Lakes as an environmental and economic resource by providing a public comment period concerning the general permit process. The resolution went on to state the County's support of the exemption of lake-contained vessels "Lakers" from the proposed ballast water permitting requirements and its support of federal legislation to establish a strong ballast water regulatory program sufficient to prevent future introduction of aquatic nuisance species into all United States waters. A public hearing on the proposed permit is scheduled for 10:00 am on Monday, March 23 at the DNR's Milwaukee office. All comments or suggestions received from members of the public no later than 7 days following the date of this public hearing will be used, along with other information on file and testimony presented at the hearing, in making a final determination.
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