Congress may keep SS Badger afloat

A Lake Michigan ferry that travels between Northeast Wisconsin and lower Michigan may stay afloat. Even though it dumps 500 tons of coal ash into the lake each season.

A provision added by Congress to a U.S. Coast Guard bill could save the SS Badger. It is run by Lake Michigan Carferry, and transports cars and passengers between Manitowoc and Ludington, Michigan.

Without a renewal of its federal permit, or an investment to end the ash dumping, the ferry will have to shut down December 19th.

It's the last coal-burning steamship on the Great Lakes. But the Environmental Protection Agency will no longer allow the SS Badger to drop ash into Lake Michigan.

One option to stay in operation is the special provision approved by the House. It would require the EPA to green light any coal-fired vessel that is a National Historic Landmark. Congressman Tom Petri (R-6th District) helped author the measure.

"If we don't do it, hundreds and thousands of cars and trucks will drive around the great lakes emitting pollution while they drive that would not do so if they were carried by the Badger and their engine were shut off," said Petri in a phone interview with FOX 11.

Despite House approval, Rep. Petri said the provision is in jeopardy. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is blocking it as the final details of the bill are being negotiated between the House and Senate. Durbin did not respond to FOX 11's request for comment.

"Senator Durbin has said he would put a hold on the bill, he would not allow it to come forward, and would in effect filibuster the bill procedurally unless this was taken out," Petri said.

Senator Durbin isn't the only critic. The Sierra Club's Wisconsin chapter said it wants to see the SS Badger continue operating, but not at the cost of dirtying Lake Michigan.

"It's just another handout to a polluter. This is just one attempt in a string to exempt the SS Badger from a regulation that is there to protect one of our most precious water resources," said conservation programs coordinator Elizabeth Ward by phone Friday.

The Badger's Milwaukee-based competitor, Lake Express ferry, said in a statement Friday: "Lake Express opposes special favors to the SS Badger owners because such efforts are unnecessary and serve only to extend unfair subsidy advantages by allowing a single operator to work outside the laws and compliance costs that apply to all other companies."

Lake Michigan Carferry also issued a statement. It reads: "We are pursuing all of our options and are very confident that we will be sailing in 2013. We have no comment while the legislature is considering the amendment."

There are other options for the SS Badger. Company officials are waiting on an EPA permit application that would give the company more time to find a cleaner way to operate.