Harbor Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC)
The Harbor Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) is one of two advisory committees to the MIC. Its mission is to:
Aerial photo of the Duluth-Superior harbor and Duluth hillside. Photo credit: USDA Forest Service, Superior National Forest, Gary Lidholm
  • Provide a forum for the discussion of issues and concerns pertaining to the Duluth-Superior harbor;
  • Promote the harbor’s economic and environmental importance to the community; and
  • Provide sound planning and management recommendations to the Metropolitan Interstate Council
    • The HTAC meets quarterly (see Meetings section, below) and brings together a large group of stakeholders to discuss and formulate recommendations addressing issues relevant to the Duluth-Superior harbor. Current topics include dredged material management, environmental restoration and enhancement activities, and land use development activities in the St. Louis River Bay and Estuary.


    HTAC Members
    The 30 voting members of the HTAC represent a wide range of harbor stakeholders including business owners, environmental groups and local, state and federal officials who are directly concerned with the planning, programming and implementation of issues pertaining to the harbors of Duluth and Superior. In addition, non-voting technical advisors from any member agency, organization or local government are encouraged to attend and participate in HTAC meetings.

    HTAC Meetings
    The HTAC meets quarterly, on the first Wednesday of March, June, September and December at locations that alternate between Duluth and Superior.

    View Current Year Meeting Schedule

    View March 3, 2010 Meeting Materials

    Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    HTAC meeting agendas and meeting summaries are posted on this site as they become available:

    Browse Current Year

    Browse Previous Years

    Duluth and Superior Port Land Use Plans
    The Duluth and Superior Port Land Use Plans examine current land use and development issues along the waterfront in the Duluth and Superior harbors...more

    HTAC Subcommittees and Working Groups
    The HTAC has several active subcommittees dedicated to addressing specific issues:
      Dredging Subcommittee/Erie Pier Management Plan
      The Dredging Subcommittee has recently completed a management plan for Erie Pier with the goal of extending the life of the facility...more

      Great Lakes Ports Advocacy Coalition
      The Great Lakes Ports Advocacy Coalition is working toward organizing advocacy efforts in Washington D.C. targeted at increasing funding for maintenance dredging and other water transportation infrastructure...more

    Harbor Related Research
    This section includes research reports that follow up on presentations at past HTAC meetings.

    "Tax Systems and Barriers to Great Lakes Maritime Commerce" by Randall Skalberg and James Skurla of the Labovitz School Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth. This research project inventoried the tax impact on the Great Lakes marine transportation system imposed by federal regulations focusing specifically on the Harbor Maintenance Tax. The findings suggest methods for increasing efficiency in the relationship between tax policy and commercial maritime operations. The study was funded by a grant from the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute. Click here to view the report.

    For More Information
    Contact MIC Principal Planner Andy McDonald by phone at (218) 529-7514 or send a message by email.
    Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council
    221 West First Street
    Duluth, MN 55802
    www.dsmic.org
    (218) 529-7541
    Guiding the Future of Transportation for the Twin Ports Area