By Carla E. Kinder
Menominee, MI and Ontonagon, MI – The House of Representatives passed legislation last week that will ensure that small ports stay in business. Congressman Bart Stupak's amendment to the Water Resources Development Act will prevent small harbors from being overlooked because they don't meet tonnage criteria. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers defined a harbor as high use only if it moves 1 million tons of cargo per year but Stupak's amendment eliminates the tonnage requirement. He says that rural harbors would suffer if they weren't funded for an annual dredge. Under the amendment, the Menominee Harbor and Ontonagon Harbor Walkway are included in upcoming USACE projects.