Forum to address Superior shipping concerns

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Concerns over Lake Superior shipping will be aired in a Superior, Wis. forum Friday afternoon.

The Lake Superior Bi-National Forum hosts a panel discussion on the shipping industry.

Ship ballast water is considered a major source of non-native plants and animals moving into Lake Superior.

Forum spokeswoman Lissa Radke says she expects to hear some sympathy for the companies involved in lake shipping.

"I think people are very very worried about the economy right now, obviously, and the shipping industry is the lifeblood of the Twin Ports economy. So, I'm sure that we'll probably hear from people who are concerned that we make sure than nothing is done to jeopardize the strength of the industry,"Radke said.

The Bi-national Forum is funded by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and its counterpart in Canada.

It serves as a conduit to bring public concerns over the lake's environmental issues to governmental agencies around the lake basin.

The forum meets at Superior's Barker's Island Inn Friday and Saturday, with public input sessions Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 11:30 a.m.