Ann Arbor, Mich. – Three research papers were recently released that focused on key aspects of oil transportation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region, including the current state of crude oil infrastructure, the economic impact of crude oil transportation, and environmental sensitivity of Great Lakes waters to oil exposure. The papers were commissioned by the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) through a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation.

The release of these papers is a continuation of work by the GLC on key issues associated with oil transportation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in the papers are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the GLC or its member states and provinces. For more information on the GLC’s work on oil transportation in the Great Lakes, visit www.glc.org/work/oil-transportation.

“Oil development is booming in the United States and Canada, but this increase has raised many questions about current and upcoming risks and opportunities associated with oil transportation to and through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region,” said GLC executive director Tim Eder. “These papers are aimed at answering some of those risk-related questions so we can appropriately support economic development while protecting the health of our waters.”

The researchers who authored these papers will be speaking at an upcoming symposium on June 8 and 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The symposium entitled “Crude Move: Oil Transportation Infrastructure, Economics, Risks, Hazards and Lessons Learned” will highlight this research and various other topics related to crude oil transportation in the region and will be hosted by the GLC, the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network, Sea Grant state programs from the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, and the International Joint Commission. The symposium is open to the public via webinar, and is presented in part with funding from the Joyce Foundation.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chairman Jon Allan, director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org.