From WBAY
Associated Press - May 27, 2011 8:05 AM ET
MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) - The S.S. Badger car ferry is off and running for another season on Lake Michigan.
Owners say it's the only coal-fired steamship in operation in the United States. But, that might have to change in the near future if the ship wants to continue to operate between Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations will ban the Badger from dumping coal ash in Lake Michigan at the end of next year. The ship dumps the ash waste during its trips across the lake. The Badger generates nearly 4 tons of ash from 55 tons of coal per day during its 5-month season.
The EPA says the water and ash mixture isn't hazardous, but the agency was ordered to regulate vessel discharge under the Clean Water Act.
WLUK-TV (
http://bit.ly/mhEDeK) says the Lake Michigan Carferry Service will have to research, invent and design a new way for the Badger to operate in order to stay in business after December 2012.
Information from: WLUK-TV,
http://www.fox11online.com