For nearly 60 years now, the S.S. Badger has been making twice-daily trips across Lake Michigan. Each day during the five-month sailing season the ship burns 55 tons of coal, generating an estimated 3.8 tons of filthy coal ash pollution.
Incredibly, this ship dumps 7,600 pounds of dirty coal ash directly into Lake Michigan on a daily basis. A rule established by the EPA in 2008 forbids steam ships from dumping coal ash into the great lakes, but last-minute lobbying efforts earned the S.S. Badger an exemption through the end of 2012.
The company that operates the ship now wants the EPA to extend the exemption for another five years, allowing it to dump coal pollution into Lake Michigan through the end of 2017.
Tell the EPA: Stop allowing coal pollution to be dumped in Lake Michigan.