Dock Upgrade for Great Lakes Oil Shipping Delayed

SUPERIOR - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says it needs more information before it can approve a $20 million project to upgrade a dock in Superior's harbor that would be used to ship crude oil on the Great Lakes.

ElkhornIndustries wants to refurbish the dock as the industry tries to keep up with sending booming supplies of crude oil from Canada and North Dakota to the east for refinement.

The DNR says Elkhorn Industries hasn't resolved full ownership of the lakefront property in Superior and other development issues.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes released the DNR's letter to Elkhorn.

Alliance spokesman Lyman Welch says tells Wisconsin Public Radio News the DNR should now do a more complete assessment of the project, including the risks of shipping crude oil by water.