Sec. 6008. Saint Lawrence Seaway modernization
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In this section: The term Great Lakes region means the region comprised of the Great Lakes States. The term Great Lakes States means each of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. The term Seaway means the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The Comptroller General, in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities, shall conduct a study to— assess the condition of the Seaway; and evaluate options available in the 21st century for modernizing the Seaway as a globally significant transportation corridor.
In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— assess the condition of the Seaway and the capacity of the Seaway to drive commerce and other economic activity in the Great Lakes region; detail the importance of the Seaway to the functioning of the United States economy, with an emphasis on the domestic manufacturing sector, including the domestic steel manufacturing industry; evaluate options— to modernize physical navigation infrastructure, facilities, and related assets not operated or maintained by the Secretary along the corridor of the Seaway, including an assessment of alternative means for the Great Lakes region to finance large-scale initiatives; to increase exports of domestically produced goods and study the trade balance and regional economic impact of the possible increase in imports of agricultural products, steel, aggregates, and other goods commonly transported through the Seaway; increase economic activity and development in the Great Lakes region by advancing the multimodal transportation and economic network in the region; ensure the competitiveness of the Seaway as a transportation corridor in an increasingly integrated global transportation network; and attract tourists to the Great Lakes region by improving attractions and removing barriers to tourism and travel throughout the Seaway; and evaluate the existing and potential financing authorities of the Seaway as compared to other Federal agencies and instrumentalities with development responsibilities.
The Comptroller General shall complete the study under paragraph
(1)as soon as practicable and not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. The Comptroller General shall conduct the study under paragraph
(1)with input from representatives of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the Economic Development Administration, the Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, the Department of Homeland Security, and State and local entities (including port authorities throughout the Seaway). The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study under paragraph
(1)not later than the earlier of— the date that is 180 days after the date on which the study is completed; or the date that is 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act.