IMMEDIATE RELEASE             July 2, 2000

In the interest of safety and the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) which went into effect July 1, 2004, the Arthur M. Clure Public Marine Terminal will be closed to the general public during Duluth’s fireworks celebration this year.

A guard will be posted at the entrance and only employees working on the property will be allowed to enter the facility from 8 a.m. July 4, 2004, to 8 a.m. July 5, 2004, or if rain, such other day that Duluth’s fireworks celebration takes place.

As mandated by the MTSA, the U.S. Coast Guard required all U.S. ports to submit security assessments and plans for review by December 31, 2003, with a July 1, 2004, deadline for implementation of the plans. The U.S. Coast Guard Port Area Security Plan for Duluth-Superior—the first area plan to reach U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.—has been approved and is now in effect.

Duluth Seaway Port Authority waterfront facilities are in full compliance with new MTSA international security standards, and the Authority continues to invest in security initiatives. The Authority received a Port Security Grant of $400,600 to help offset the capital costs of meeting the new security requirements. The funds were part of round three, Port Security Funding Grant Program in the FY’04 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, and were administered by the Transportation Security Administration.

“Although the Port Authority met the July 1 deadline for Port facility security improvements, it should be noted that this in no way will bear the full expense of Port security requirements. Further funding will be needed for security planning and projects to improve dockside and perimeter security which is vital to securing our critical national seaports,” said Port Director Adolph Ojard.

“With the Coast Guard estimating national facility enhancements required to comply with MTSA regulations at $1.3 billion, the Administration’s proposal of less than four percent of this amount, including only $46 million in its FY’05 budget, is simply inadequate to secure our ports. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority joins the American Association of Port Authorities and its member public ports in encouraging Congress to support a funding level of $400 million in FY’05 budget for the port security grant program to ensure that port facilities have the necessary resources to harden security now,” said Ojard. - 30 -

CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Port Security Director, phone 218-727-8525

More Press Releases, 2004