Minnesota Legislature
HF 74
as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
1.1A resolution
1.2memorializing the President and Congress and others to protect the Great Lakes from
1.3aquatic invasive species.
1.4WHEREAS, the Great Lakes are a tremendous value to Minnesota as an environmental and
1.5economic resource, both as the world's largest body of fresh water and as a crucial international
1.6shipping channel; and
1.7WHEREAS, aquatic invasive species have caused significant damage to native
1.8environments and industrial operations in the Great Lakes and around the world; and
1.9WHEREAS, Minnesota's Lake Superior ports provide Minnesota farmers, miners, and
1.10manufacturers with access to foreign markets through the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway,
1.11with nearly 41.7 million metric tons of maritime cargo through the Port of Duluth-Superior in
1.122005; and
1.13WHEREAS, current federal laws governing the introduction of aquatic invasive species into
1.14United States waters via ballast water of ocean-going ships and other sources are inadequate; and
1.15WHEREAS, because of the detrimental effects of imposing regional restrictions on an
1.16international shipping channel, there is a need for federal regulation; and
1.17WHEREAS, there is currently no nationally accepted standard for ballast water quality nor
1.18any approved ballast treatment technologies available to ship operators; NOW, THEREFORE,
1.19BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
1.20That the Minnesota Legislature has a great concern for the protection of its environmental
1.21and economic resources;
2.1That the Minnesota Legislature urges the United States Congress to acknowledge the
2.2national urgency of this problem and move quickly to enact federal legislation to establish a
2.3strong ballast water regulatory program sufficient to prevent future introduction of aquatic
2.4invasive species into all United States waters;
2.5That the Minnesota Legislature declares its support for the efforts of the United States
2.6Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization to put in place an international ballast
2.7water treatment and regulatory program; and
2.8That the Minnesota Legislature declares its support for the "Great Ships Initiative," a
2.9research and development project funded jointly by the Indiana Port Commission and other Great
2.10Lakes ports, the U. S. Department of Transportation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
2.11and other federal agencies with the goal of accelerating the development and availability of
2.12ballast water treatment technology.
2.13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.14directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
2.15the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the
2.16United States House of Representatives, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress,
2.17federal agencies that regulate maritime transportation, and the Great Lakes Commission.
1.2memorializing the President and Congress and others to protect the Great Lakes from
1.3aquatic invasive species.
1.4WHEREAS, the Great Lakes are a tremendous value to Minnesota as an environmental and
1.5economic resource, both as the world's largest body of fresh water and as a crucial international
1.6shipping channel; and
1.7WHEREAS, aquatic invasive species have caused significant damage to native
1.8environments and industrial operations in the Great Lakes and around the world; and
1.9WHEREAS, Minnesota's Lake Superior ports provide Minnesota farmers, miners, and
1.10manufacturers with access to foreign markets through the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway,
1.11with nearly 41.7 million metric tons of maritime cargo through the Port of Duluth-Superior in
1.122005; and
1.13WHEREAS, current federal laws governing the introduction of aquatic invasive species into
1.14United States waters via ballast water of ocean-going ships and other sources are inadequate; and
1.15WHEREAS, because of the detrimental effects of imposing regional restrictions on an
1.16international shipping channel, there is a need for federal regulation; and
1.17WHEREAS, there is currently no nationally accepted standard for ballast water quality nor
1.18any approved ballast treatment technologies available to ship operators; NOW, THEREFORE,
1.19BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
1.20That the Minnesota Legislature has a great concern for the protection of its environmental
1.21and economic resources;
2.1That the Minnesota Legislature urges the United States Congress to acknowledge the
2.2national urgency of this problem and move quickly to enact federal legislation to establish a
2.3strong ballast water regulatory program sufficient to prevent future introduction of aquatic
2.4invasive species into all United States waters;
2.5That the Minnesota Legislature declares its support for the efforts of the United States
2.6Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization to put in place an international ballast
2.7water treatment and regulatory program; and
2.8That the Minnesota Legislature declares its support for the "Great Ships Initiative," a
2.9research and development project funded jointly by the Indiana Port Commission and other Great
2.10Lakes ports, the U. S. Department of Transportation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
2.11and other federal agencies with the goal of accelerating the development and availability of
2.12ballast water treatment technology.
2.13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.14directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
2.15the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the
2.16United States House of Representatives, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress,
2.17federal agencies that regulate maritime transportation, and the Great Lakes Commission.