Expand Seaway?

Northern New Yorkers and their representatives in Albany and Washington stood firm a few years ago in stemming expansion of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

They did so primarily to preserve the physical beauty and environmental integrity of the St. Lawrence River region. Widening the locks and deepening the channels in the river as envisioned by expansion enthusiasts would have adversely affected water levels, hampered homeowners, endangered wildlife and jeopardized the tourism industry.

Conversely, the plan pondered by the Army Corps of Engineers would have offered little of value to Northern New York or the state as a whole.

Now there are new stirrings concerning the Seaway. A bill that passed the House in June contains plans to transform the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. into a power marketing entity, one that would see its $32 million budget balloon to $3.5 billion.

Behind the change is Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who said, "The Seaway would have a new day."

Congresswoman Kaptur, who represents Toledo, one of the largest ports in the Great Lakes, spoke in Massena earlier this summer to commemorate the Seaway's 50th anniversary. The speech recorded on her Web site contains a link to an editorial in the Toledo Blade titled "Expand the Seaway."

Ms. Kaptur's legislation proposes establishing power marketing entities to lend billions of dollars for energy projects. She sees energy production as "the driving force for yielding a continuous flow of infrastructure improvement dollars, so vital to our Seaway's modernization and advancement."

The Toledo Blade writes: "Toldeo's longtime member of Congress, Marcy Kaptur, has been backing an idea that is essential for our nation's economic future: Spend what it takes to modernize the Seaway, including widening and deepening its locks not just for today's vessels but with an eye to whatever future transportation needs may come."

New York will fight any renewed efforts to expand the Seaway. The measure in question is not in the best interests of Northern New York or the Empire State.

Our U.S. senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand must ensure that this legislation does not get through the Senate. If necessary, New Yorkers will join forces again to block any ill-advised efforts to expand the St. Lawrence Seaway.