11.09.11

Durbin Opposes Landmark Status that Would Allow SS Badger to Continue Dumping Coal Ash in Lake Michigan

After meeting with EPA Administrator, Durbin calls on Interior Secretary and Commerce Committee to block attempts to circumvent environmental standards

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Following a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to oppose efforts to protect the SS Badger from having to comply with EPA standards. 

 

“Lake Michigan is the primary source of drinking water for more than ten million people and a key component of the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry.  We cannot let Historic Landmark Status be used to evade the federal regulations we rely on to protect public health and the environment,” Durbin wrote in his letter to Salazar.

 

In a series of articles, Chicago Tribune has drawn attention to the S.S. Badger, the only coalfired ferry still operating in the United States.  As the ship travels from its home port of Ludington, MI, to Manitowoc, WI, it dumps 509 tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan each year – a quantity greater than the total waste dumped annually by the 125 other largest ships operating on the Great Lakes. The coal ash contains arsenic, lead, and mercury, all of which can cause cancer when consumed in drinking water, cause serious damage to fish populations, and poison fish that are part of our food supply.

 

“This is more than a car ferry with a venerable tradition,” Durbin continued.  “This is a vessel that generates and dumps four tons of coal ash laced with mercury and arsenic into Lake Michigan every day.  Lake Michigan cannot take any more toxic dumping, no matter how historic or quaint the source may be.”

 

Under an agreement negotiated between the owners of the SS Badger and the US EPA, the current EPA vessel general permit gives the SS Badger a December 2012 deadline to retrofit the ferry with a new boiler that would prevent further coal ash dumping.  In an attempt to circumvent these standards the owners of the S.S. Badger have attempted to secure both the designation of the SS Badger as a National Historic Landmark and legislative language that would exempt “vessels of historic significance” from EPA regulation of discharge. 

[Text of the letters below]

 

November 9, 2011

 

 

 

The Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary

Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240

 

Dear Secretary Salazar:

 

I write today in strong opposition to the designation of the S.S. Badger as a National Historic Landmark. 

 

Operated by the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Service, the 58 year-old S.S. Badger is the last coal-fired ferry operating in the United States.  As the ship sails from its home port of Ludington, MI, to Manitowoc, WI, it dumps more than one ton of coal ash into Lake Michigan on each crossing.  That is more than 500 tons of coal ash each year.  Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, and mercury.  All of these chemicals can cause cancer when consumed in drinking water, cause serious damage to fish populations, and poison fish that are part of our food supply. 

 

Under an agreement negotiated between the owners of the SS Badger and the US EPA, the current EPA vessel general permit gives the SS Badger a December 2012 deadline to retrofit the ferry with a new boiler that would prevent further coal ash dumping. While the Michigan Car Ferry Service had over four years to make upgrades to the ferry, it now appears it has quietly been working to either extend this deadline or gain a permanent waiver from EPA regulation. 

 

The National Historic Landmark designation was created to commemorate properties that have special significance in American history.  The designation has been appropriately used to protect sites including the home of President Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, IL, and the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper, a retired steamship in Muskegon, MI.  It appears Lake Michigan Car Ferry Service may be attempting to use this designation to circumvent efforts by EPA to ensure that the ferry stops dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan.  The National Historic Landmark designation was never intended to allow polluters, like the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Service, to avoid complying with federal regulations. 

 

Lake Michigan is the primary source of drinking water for more than ten million people and a key component of the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry.  We cannot let Historic Landmark Status be used to evade the federal regulations we rely on to protect public health and the environment. 

 

This is more than a car ferry with a venerable tradition.  This is a vessel that generates and dumps four tons of coal ash laced with mercury and arsenic into Lake Michigan every day.   This Great Lake cannot take any more toxic dumping, no matter how historic or quaint the source may be. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Richard J Durbin

 

November 9, 2011

 

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller

United States Senate

531 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

 

Dear Senator Rockefeller:

 

I am writing today to express my strong opposition to language that was included in the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act, that would exempt “vessels of historic significance” from EPA regulation of discharge. 

 

The amendment directly applies to the 58 year-old S.S. Badger car ferry, which is the last coal-fired ferry operating in the United States.  As the ship sails from its home of Ludington, MI, to Manitowoc, WI, it dumps 509 tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan each year.  The coal ash contains arsenic, lead, and mercury.  All of these chemicals can cause cancer when consumed in drinking water, cause serious damage to fish populations, and poison fish that are part of our food supply. 

 

Under an agreement negotiated between the owners of the SS Badger and the US EPA, the current EPA vessel general permit gives the SS Badger a December 2012 deadline to retrofit the ferry with a new boiler that would prevent further coal ash dumping. While the owners of the SS Badger had over four years to make upgrades to the ferry, it now appears that they have quietly been working to either extend this deadline or gain a permanent waiver from EPA regulation. 

 

Lake Michigan is the primary source of drinking water for over 10 million people and is a key component of the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry.  If the House language were to become law, the Badger will receive the permanent exemption from EPA regulation that its owners have been seeking and the ship will be allowed to continue polluting Lake Michigan. 

 

I urge the Commerce Committee to oppose this effort to provide statutory protection for the Badger to continue dumping coal ash.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Richard J Durbin