For years, many environmentalists have wanted to stop ocean-going ship traffic on the Great Lakes. That’s because vessels traveling from the ocean to the Lakes sometimes carry invasive species. But opponents call the industry a vital part of the economy. A new study paid for by the Joyce Foundation questions how vital that industry really is. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Shawn Allee reports:
Transcript
For years, many environmentalists have wanted to stop ocean-going ship
traffic on the Great Lakes. That’s because vessels traveling from the
ocean to the Lakes sometimes carry invasive species, but opponents call
the industry a vital part of the economy. A new study paid for by the
Joyce Foundation questions how vital that industry really is. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Shawn Allee reports:
The study tackled this question:
How much would it hurt the economy if we end ocean shipping on the
Great Lakes?
The report suggests transportation prices would rise about fifty-five
million dollars per year.
Co-author James Roach says ending ocean ship traffic will cost money,
but keeping it could cost more.
“One has to look at that in terms of, for example, the costs of invasives.
You know, and if that’s 3, 4, or 5 hundred million dollars a year, then
policy makers are gonna have to take that into consideration.”
Independent transportation experts who’ve read the study question some
of its methodology.
For example, it assumes prices for alternatives, such as rail, would
remain constant, but some experts say it’s possible those costs would rise,
making the transition away from ocean shipping more expensive.
For the GLRC, I’m Shawn Allee.
“Host Tag: In the interest of full disclosure, the Joyce Foundation also
provides funding to the GLRC.”