Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020

To amend title 14, United States Code, to require the Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes to minimize commercial disruption in the winter months, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020 2. Great Lakes icebreaking operations (a) In general Subchapter IV of chapter 5 564. Great Lakes icebreaking operations (a) Icebreaking operations The Commandant shall conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes in accordance with the standard for icebreaking operations under subsection (b). (b) Standard for icebreaking operations In carrying out subsection (a)— (1) except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commandant shall keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation not less than 90 percent of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways; and (2) in a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, the Coast Guard shall keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation at least 70 percent of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways. (c) Report to Congress Not later than July 1 of each year, the Commandant shall submit to Congress a report on the icebreaking operations conducted by the Coast Guard in the Great Lakes for the most recent fiscal year for which data are available. (d) Coordination with industry The Commandant shall coordinate Great Lakes icebreaking operations with operators of commercial vessels. (e) Icebreaking in Canada (1) In general The Coast Guard shall not break ice in Canadian harbors or bays unless the requirements of subsection (b) will be met during such activity. (2) Waiver authority The Commandant may waive the prohibition in paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis upon the approval of the Secretary for such waiver and notification to Congress of such waiver. (f) Definitions For the purposes of this section: (1) Commercial vessel The term commercial vessel (2) Great Lakes The term Great Lakes 33 U.S.C. 1268 (3) Ice-covered waterway The term ice-covered waterway (4) Open to navigation The term open to navigation (5) Reasonable demands of commerce The term reasonable demands of commerce . (b) Clerical amendment The table of analysis for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 564. Great Lakes icebreaking operations. . (c) Report Not later than the first July 1 after the first winter in which the Commandant of the Coast Guard is subject to the requirements of section 564 of title 14, United States Code, such Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report on the cost to the Coast Guard of meeting the requirements of such section.

Summary: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020 This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes in accordance with specific performance standards. Specifically, the Coast Guard must keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation not less than 90% of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways; in a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, keep channels and harbors open to navigation at least 70% of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways; and coordinate Great Lakes icebreaking operations with operators of commercial vessels. The bill prohibits the Coast Guard from breaking ice in Canadian harbors or bays unless it meets these performance standards during such activity. Such prohibition may be waived on a case-by-case basis upon approval by the Department of Homeland Security and notification to Congress.