Statement of Commissioner Louis E. Sola on Lake Carriers’ Association petition and Section 19 Investigation

Today I joined with my fellow Commissioners to accept for review a petition filed by the Lake Carriers’ Association which alleges that the ballast water regulation currently under consideration by the Canadian government is discriminatory against U.S. flag vessels operating on the Great Lakes.

While it is true that Transport Canada has yet to implement the proposed ballast water regulation and may yet choose to refrain from its implementation, I felt It would be imprudent to wait until the rule were in effect to determine the economic impact of said regulation.  In my opinion, the Commission should be proactive in this matter to ensure that it is fully apprised of all of the facts in order to facilitate a quick response should the proposed regulation’s implementation be determined to cause harm to U.S. flag Great Lakes ship operators.

As I have said earlier, I will do all that I can to ensure that our U.S. fleet is able to continue operating on the Great Lakes and I shall do all that is possible to prevent any new regulation which could adversely and disproportionately impact U.S. maritime interests.

Louis E. Sola is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are his own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.