1. What is the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Study?

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Study was undertaken jointly by Canada and the United States to examine the existing infrastructure of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway commercial navigation system in order to ensure it remains a safe, efficient, reliable and sustainable component of North America’s transportation infrastructure for years to come. The final binational report prepared as a result of the study process was made public on November 26, 2007.

2. Why was the study necessary?

The infrastructure of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway is aging, resulting in greater costs for maintenance to ensure its safety, efficiency, reliability and effectiveness with each passing year. Both Canadian and American officials agreed that obtaining a snapshot of existing engineering infrastructure, and current economic and environmental conditions would prove invaluable in determining what actions would be required to ensure the system – with its existing infrastructure – continues to meet our growing social, environmental and economic needs over the next 50 years.

3. What issues did the study examine?

The study examined highly complex and technical issues such as: the condition and reliability of the system, including the costs of maintaining the existing infrastructure; the engineering, economic and environmental considerations of future infrastructure needs in relation to commercial navigation; and the factors and trends affecting the domestic and international marine transportation on the system, including evolving modal linkages and transportation technologies.

4. Did the study consider the expansion of the Seaway by enlarging the locks and dredging the shipping channels to deepen them? Is expansion still under consideration by any of the agencies (U.S. or Canadian) involved?

The study focused on evaluating the existing infrastructure and configuration of the commercial navigation system in order to optimize the system and ensure it remains safe, reliable, viable and efficient for years to come. The study did not evaluate major infrastructure modifications, such as an expansion of the Seaway locks or an increase in channel dimensions, and none of the agencies involved currently have any intention to examine or consider system expansion.

5. Did the study consider winter or year-round navigation?

The study focused on evaluating the existing infrastructure and configuration of the system in order to optimize the system and ensure it remains safe, reliable, viable and efficient for years to come. The study does not consider winter or year-round navigation. Winter shut down periods during which the system is closed represent an important component of the overall operation and maintenance program for the system, providing a period during which critical maintenance activities can be accomplished without impacting navigation.

6. Which organizations were involved in the study?

Seven government organizations participated in the study. For the United States, they included the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For Canada, the departments and agencies included Transport Canada, Environment Canada and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.
Additionally, the Great Lakes Commission and the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council assisted in identifying stakeholders and organizing public outreach meetings in communities throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region.

7. Who led the study: Canada or the United States?

A bi-national Steering Committee was established to provide oversight while the study was ongoing. This committee included senior-level officials from each of the study’s participating organizations and agencies, and to whom a management team comprised of one Canadian and one American study manager was reporting. These two project managers oversaw the work of three working groups—engineering, economics and the environment, who reported to them on a regular basis throughout the course of the study.

8. Did Canada and the United States consult stakeholders to obtain their feedback throughout the study?

Public meetings were held in 2004 and 2005 to provide interested parties throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region with the opportunity to share their views and comments on the study. A diverse group of stakeholders provided feedback, including the marine transport sector, First Nations/Tribes, industrial groups, environmental and coastal management entities, municipalities, universities and research institutes, recreational boaters and citizens. The results of these stakeholder meetings were documented and shared with all stakeholders throughout the region, and additional workshops were held during which the feedback received was further discussed and clarified, focusing on those issues that were within the scope of the study.

9. Does the final report of the study include recommendations? If yes, what are they?

The final report includes four observations that will need to be taken into consideration by government and industry stakeholders, in Canada and the United States, when making decisions regarding the future of the commercial navigation system:

1. The system has the potential to alleviate congestion on the road and rail transportation networks as well as at border crossings in the Great Lakes Basin and St. Lawrence River region;
2. A stronger focus on shortsea shipping would allow the system to be more closely integrated with the road and rail transportation systems, while providing shippers with a cost-effective, timely and reliable means to transport goods;
3. The existing infrastructure of the system must be maintained in good operating condition in order to ensure the continued safety, efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of the system; and
4. The long-term health and success of the system will depend in part on its sustainability, including the further reduction of negative ecological impacts caused by commercial navigation.

10. What steps are planned by Canada and the United States to address the study findings?

The study includes observations and key considerations that will be critical in helping to ensure that the existing infrastructure of the Seaway system is properly maintained as it ages, and that it continues to meet our growing social, environmental and economic needs in the future. Over the coming months, the organizations involved in the study will maintain their collaboration to discuss potential next steps regarding the overall findings of the study so that, together, we can continue to shape the future of this significant waterway for generations to come.

11. Does this study constitute the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) supplement to its 2002 reconnaissance study?

No. This study does fulfill several of the USACE supplemental reconnaissance study mandates identified as part of the approval of the original USACE reconnaissance report, including a thorough assessment of the baseline condition of the commercial navigation system, coordination with Canada, and public involvement. This study will also serve as the basis for the elimination of any further consideration of seaway expansion in the USACE supplemental reconnaissance report.