IL SR0098

S.S. Badger, a 410-foot steam-powered car ferry operated by Lake Michigan Car Ferry, Inc., operates between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan approximately 134 days annually.

The vessel dumps nearly 4 tons of coal ash daily into Lake Michigan, containing arsenic, lead, mercury, and other toxic metals that damage aquatic ecosystems.

Coal ash discharge from S.S. Badger exceeds the combined coal, iron, and limestone discharges of 125 other large Great Lakes freighters.

Lake Michigan Car Ferry, Inc. committed to eliminating coal ash discharges before the 2008 NPDES General Permit expired on December 19, 2012, but failed to take action and sought EPA approval to continue dumping for four additional years.

Illinois Senate urges the EPA Administrator to deny Lake Michigan Car Ferry, Inc.'s individual NPDES permit application for the S.S. Badger to protect Lake Michigan's aquatic ecosystems.