EPA Compromise Saves Great Lakes Jobs & Protects Environment

Washington, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) today finalized sweeping new air emission regulations for large ships in U.S. waters, including a temporary exemption for 13 U.S.-Flag steamships on the Great Lakes as part of a legislative compromise brokered by Representatives Dave Obey (D-WI) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN).

The compromise between officials from EPA, Rep. Obey, Rep. Oberstar, and others in the Great Lakes delegation, addressed a defect in the EPA’s original proposed rule. The compromise will save tens of thousands of jobs in the Great Lakes mining, steel, and shipping industries, while maintaining unprecedented new air quality requirements for the region.

“You really can’t say enough about the way Congressmen Obey and Oberstar worked with the EPA to find a reasonable middle ground and so avoid further devastation to the Midwest economy,” said Don Cree, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest coalition ever to promote shipping on the Lakes. “Before they became involved, we were talking about the potential loss of thousands of jobs in a region that cannot afford to lose even one job.”

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OBEY, KOHL SECURE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR FRASER SHIPYARDS

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) and Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) announced today they had secured $2 million for the City of Superior in the federal budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist with the expansion and improvement of Fraser Shipyards in Superior. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included the funding for Fraser Shipyards, was signed into law by President Obama on Wednesday.

”This is a great example of private industry working cooperatively with government at every level, federal, state and local,” Obey said, ”and it will bring jobs and economic development to the region.”

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Superior Bullish on Business Growth & Development

Superior is living up to its name.

The Wisconsin city at the head of greatest of the Great Lakes is building a new reputation for business growth and development.

Coming off a year-long national recession, Superior is racking up some pretty impressive statistics. In September, the city had the third lowest unemployment rate in the state, 6.4 percent, with only Madison and Caledonia Village posting stronger numbers. And according to Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Superior had the second-highest growth rate of equalized value property value in the state at 4.85 percent.

“Our time has come,” said Andy Lisak, executive director of the Development Association of Superior and Douglas County, who is part of a team that welcomes business development to the area that had struggled for years with an ailing economy and an image of a hard-scrabble town of railroad workers and sailors who lived and died on the swings of a few large industries.

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