Around the Port

Oberstar rejoins the battle against user fees for navigational services

In an effort to stop the U.S. Coast Guard from continuing its proposals to collect user fees to cover costs associated with navigational services, Congressman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., made a proposal of his own in early April. He introduced bill H.R. 3674, which would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from collecting user fees for navigational assistance, including ice breaking services. The bill would clarify that the Secretary of Transportation does not have the authority to collect user fees for those services.

A U.S. Administration proposal in 1997 to charge fees for keeping Great Lakes shipping channels open in winter was abandoned after Congressmen Oberstar and David Obey, D-Wis., led a political charge against the fee. The Lake Carriers' Association, the American Iron & Steel Institute, American Great Lakes Ports and the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force also mobilized to block the proposal.

Navigational services provided by the Coast Guard benefit far more "users" than just commercial interests. Moreover, nearly all Americans are benefited by the flow of commerce on the lakes. The iron ore, coal and grain shipped in the Great Lakes are products of national, not regional significance. Last year's proposal of a 63-cent-per-ton tax on vessels using the Great Lakes prior to April 15 or after Dec. 15 would have cost an average laker more than $40,000 per trip.

A coalition of maritime interests called The American Waterborne Commerce Task Force has again been formed in Washington to help stop such fees. The bill H.R. 3674 was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

(photo by Jon LaFontaine)