Given Recent Safety Concerns Along Northshore, Senator Formally Requests a Reevaluation by the U.S. Coast Guard
HERMANTOWN, MN. — State Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) is calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to reinstate the Grand Marais Coast Guard Station. Given the recent emergency in Silver Bay, MN that resulted in the death of two Minnesota teenagers along the shore of Lake Superior, Senator Hauschild is pushing the Coast Guard to reevaluate its decision to close the Grand Marais Station. While pushing for reconsideration, Senator Hauschild had conversations with local Coast Guard personnel in Bayfield, WI and Traverse City, MI to thank them for their response.
“Our U.S. Coast Guard personnel have one of the most dangerous jobs out there and I commend them for their response to the incident outside of Silver Bay. Given the dangers Lake Superior poses to residents and tourists along the Northshore, I am requesting that the U.S. Coast Guard reevaluate their decision to close the Grand Marais Station”, Senator Hauschild stated.
Senator Hauschild sent a formal letter requesting the reevaluation and reinstatement of the Grand Marais Coast Guard Station to U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagen on Friday, June 30th, 2023. He also sent the letter to the Minnesota Federal Delegation including U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and U.S. Congressman Pete Stauber.
Given the gap left from the closure of the Grand Marais Station, Senator Hauschild secured $3 million in the 2023 Judiciary and Public Safety Omnibus Bill for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Portage Band of Chippewa to purchase boats, emergency equipment, training, and personnel to respond to emergencies along the Northshore. Senator Hauschild also secured $240,000 to help Grand Portage hire an emergency response coordinator.
Senator Hauschild added, “The emergency response partnership between Cook County and the Grand Portage Band is the first of its kind in the nation. This is a true testament to the relationship these local entities have formed over the years and will help us address the gap in safety response along the Northshore given the departure of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Grand Marais Station. Despite this effort, I will continue to call on the U.S. Coast Guard to reinstate the Grand Marais Station.”
