Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 9, 2016 (10:30 a.m. Eastern)

Massena, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; Cleveland, Ohio

The Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC)

convened on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern) at the Cleveland Marriott 

Downtown Hotel at Key Center. Representatives from both the SLSDC’s Washington, D.C. and 

Massena, N.Y. offices also participated via teleconference.

The following individuals were in attendance during the meeting on behalf of the SLSDC:

x Betty Sutton, SLSDC Administrator

x David McMillan, SLSDC Advisory Board Chairperson

x William Mielke, SLSDC Advisory Board Member

x Wenona Singel, SLSDC Advisory Board Member

x Arthur Sulzer, SLSDC Advisory Board Member

x Nancy Alcalde, SLSDC Director of Congressional and Public Relations

x Lori Curran, Director of Lock Operations and Marine Services

x Carrie Mann Lavigne, SLSDC Chief Counsel

x Tom Lavigne, SLSDC Associate Administrator

x Craig Middlebrook, SLSDC Deputy Administrator

x Kevin O’Malley, SLSDC Director of Budget and Economic Development

x Adam Schlicht, SLSDC Great Lakes Regional Representative

x Nancy Scott, SLSDC Director of Financial Management and Administration

x Charles Wipperfurth, SLSDC Deputy Chief of Staff

The following members of the public attended the meeting:

x Dale Bergeron, Maritime Extension Educator, Minnesota Sea Grant

x Capt. William Sabatini, U.S. Brig Niagara/Erie Maritime Museum

x Jim Sharrow, Director of Port Planning and Resiliency, Duluth Seaway Port Authority

I. Call to Order

In his capacity as Board Chairperson, David McMillan welcomed all participants to the Advisory 

Board meeting and, noting the presence of quorum, called the meeting to order at 10:33 a.m. 

II. Approval of the Minutes

SLSDC Director of Congressional and Public Relations recommended the Advisory Board 

approve a slight wording adjustment to the minutes; the changes were accepted without 

objection. Approval of the minutes from the December 2015 meeting was motioned by SLSDC

Advisory Board Member William Mielke and was seconded by Advisory Board Member Arthur 

Sulzer. Without objection, the motion passed unanimously, and the December 2015 meeting 

minutes of the SLSDC Advisory Board were approved as amended.
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III. Quarterly Updates

SLSDC Administrator Betty Sutton provided a quarterly update to the Advisory Board 

membership, including a general overview of SLSDC activities following the previous Advisory 

Board meeting. In particular, the Administrator noted that tonnage transiting the Seaway locks 

was down about 9 percent compared against the 2014 shipping season, though breakbulk, 

project, and general cargoes remain important and growing commodities system-wide. The 

Seaway is tentatively expected to open the week of March 21, 2016, the Administrator also 

stated. The Administrator spoke at length about the SLSDC’s Asset Renewal Program (ARP) 

projects expected in the proposed 2017 budget, specifically replacement of the SLSDC’s tugboat 

fleet, including the Robinson Bay, as well as implementation of Hands Free Mooring (HFM) 

technology at Snell Lock. Chairperson McMillan inquired about the ability of the SLSDC to 

analyze the value of Great Lakes cargoes in new ways, and the Administrator concurred, noting 

that the value of Great Lakes ships should not be limited to an aggregation of transiting ships per 

year.

A quarterly report was next presented by Lori Curran, Director of Lock Operations and Marine 

Services. The 57th navigation season of the Seaway successfully ended on December 30, 2015, 

requiring no intervention from U.S. or Canadian icebreakers. Other highlights of the 2015 

shipping season included increased utilization of the Draft Information System (DIS) as well as 

continued successful implementation of the Enhanced Seaway Inspection Program with the 

Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC).

Advisory Board Member Wenona Singel inquired about the SLSDC’s ongoing planning and 

response to the St. Laurent incident at Eisenhower Lock in summer 2015. Ms. Curran noted that 

shipping through Eisenhower Lock resumed within 48 hours after the incident, limiting the 

impact to system availability metrics and performance reporting. Administrator Sutton reiterated 

the extraordinary emergency response achievements of both SLSDC responders as well North 

Country local responders. SLSDC Associate Administrator Tom Lavigne volunteered to provide 

members of the Advisory Board with a copy of the SLSDC’s 2015 system and lock availability 

reports once available.

Deputy Administrator Craig Middlebrook responded to an inquiry from Advisory Board Member 

Sulzer, noting that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will not be issuing a report 

specific to the St. Laurent incident as the infrastructure damage was not considered economically 

significant. However, a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) public review of the incident is tentatively 

expected to be issued in summer 2016. Advisory Board Member Mielke asked about how the 

SLSDC is recouping costs associated with the St. Laurent incident, and Associate Administrator 

Lavigne responded that the SLSDC has diligently tracked all repair-associated costs and will be 

issuing an invoice to the cruise line responsible for the damage.

An overview was presented by Kevin O’Malley, SLSDC Director of Budget and Economic 

Development, as part of his quarterly review next. In particular, Mr. O’Malley noted that the 

SLSDC’s Fiscal Year 2017 budgetary proposal will total approximately $36 million, including 

the Asset Renewal Program (ARP). Both Director O’Malley and Deputy Administrator Craig 

Middlebrook highlighted the recent weakness of the Canadian dollar against the United States 

dollar as an area of continuing interest, particularly as it pertains to management of the Seaway 

International Bridge between Massena, New York and Cornwall, Ontario. 
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Great Lakes Regional Representative Adam Schlicht presented an overview of the SLSDC’s 

economic and trade development activities with Mr. O’Malley, noting that the Regional Initiative 

in Cleveland recently celebrated its one year anniversary. The SLSDC, in partnership with the 

SLSMC, has targeted two initiatives in 2016: developing and expanding outreach to both the 

U.S. grain trade community as well as the freight forwarder/logistician community, particularly 

in Houston Texas. Advisory Board Member Mielke asked about growing the container market on 

the Seaway, and Mr. Schlicht spoke about the EcoShips proposal at the Port of Muskegon 

(Mich.) as a case-in-point of Great Lakes-wide interest. Chairperson McMillan spoke about the 

demonstrated investment in infrastructure at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, and 

Administrator Sutton agreed that investment on the Great Lakes is catalyzing new economic and

trade potential. The recently launched Great Lakes Seaway Partnership was also cited by the 

Administrator as an important marketing tool for expanding utilization of the Great Lakes 

Seaway System.

An update on the SLSDC’s engineering and maintenance project implementation, particularly 

through the ARP was presented by Associate Administrator Lavigne. Various projects remain on 

target for winter work before the 2016 shipping season, including initiatives supporting 

preparation for HFM and repairs to Eisenhower Lock due to the St. Laurent incident, as 

previously mentioned. Additionally, the SLSDC is installing updates to the gallery 

communication systems at both locks in critically identified areas. Finally, Mr. Lavigne noted 

that the SLSDC has begun testing all-weather buoy technology during the winter, as part of an 

ongoing binational initiative with the SLSMC.

The SLSDC will be involved in apprising the Aquatic Invasive Species Handbook for the first 

time since 2007, according to Deputy Administrator Middlebrook in his quarterly update. The 

Handbook will include updated information from the Ballast Water Working Group, the Ballast 

Water Collaborative, and the binational Seaway Regulations process. Though the U.S. is not yet 

a signatory of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention on Ballast Water, 

several other countries are nearing ratification, including Ghana, Panama, and Morocco. Both 

Advisory Board Members Singel and Sulzer spoke about the significance of the SLSDC’s 

outreach to Native American and First National communities as well as educational institutions 

to support and enhance Seaway initiatives, including environmental policy concerns.

At 12:03 p.m., Chairperson McMillan was excused from the remainder of the meeting due to 

other professional commitments, and Member Singel became Acting Chair for the duration of the 

meeting.

A number of updates were presented by Nancy Alcalde, SLSDC Director of Congressional and 

Public Relations, as part of her quarterly report. Ms. Alcalde presented the latest information 

about the proposed Surface Transportation Bill and the Vessel Incident Discharge Act as well as 

the U.S. Congress’ in-process reauthorization of water resources-related legislation. The 

SLSDC’s continued and expanding success in utilizing social media was also discussed. 

Administrator Sutton specifically discussed the SLSDC’s contributions to provide feedback 

about the proposed Water Resources Development Act reauthorization. 

The final quarterly report was offered by the SLSDC’s Chief Counsel Carrie Mann Lavigne. Ms. 

Lavigne noted that the SLSDC’s ethics program is expected to be audited in 2016. Moreover, the 
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SLSDC continues to engage with interagency stakeholders regarding the proposed International 

Joint Commission (IJC) Plan 2014. The Seaway’s aim is to ensure that commercial navigation on 

the St. Lawrence River remains included under a revised IJC Order within the Boundary Waters 

Treaty. The United States and Canada continue to jointly post regulatory and rule making 

updates in the Federal Register and the Canadian Gazette, including recent updates specific to 

Canadian Lock tolls. 

IV. Old and New Business

Capt. William Sabatini from the U.S. Brig Niagara/Erie Maritime Museum, attending the 

Advisory Board meeting as a member of the public, offered information about the Tall Ships 

America tour of the Great Lakes throughout summer 2016.

SLSDC Deputy Chief of Staff Charles Wipperfurth suggested that the next SLSDC Advisory 

Board meeting be held via teleconference the week of Monday, June 13, 2016.

Acting Chairperson Singel summarized the meeting, noting the SLSDC’s continued successes in 

infrastructure improvement, lock operations, and economic development initiatives. Advisory 

Board Members Sulzer and Mielke concurred, and thanked all participants for an informative 

and knowledgeable meeting.

V. Closing Discussion and Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 12:19 p.m. (Eastern), with a motion to close from Advisory Board 

Member Mielke, and seconded by Advisory Board Member Sulzer.

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