2012 Position Paper
Continued Operation of Historic Great Lakes Steamship Badger
GOAL: Ensure the continued operation of the S.S. BADGER, a historic steamship, built in the U.S. and crewed by Americans, which has operated on the Lakes for more than 50 years, and generates 200 direct jobs.
BACKGROUND: The S.S. BADGER is believed to be the last coal-fired steamship still operating in the U.S. in regular commercial service. The vessel ferries passengers and cargo, including oversize vehicles like semi-trucks, across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating discharges from vessels for the first time and, because of the unique nature of the BADGER, put in place special rules for the vessel. Those EPA-approved rules limit the areas of the BADGER's discharges, define the sulfur content of coal that can be burned, establish effluent limits, define the speed of the vessel as it discharges, set water depth limits for discharges, and minimize ash content of the coal. In addition, the BADGER is subject to numerous other EPA rules for vessel discharges. Coal ash discharges from the BADGER are tested regularly by an independent EPA certified laboratory. The tests have confirmed that the coal ash lacks the presence of anything at or near levels that would qualify as hazardous under any law.
The EPA rules are set to expire in December 2012. The BADGER's owners/operators have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars seeking new repowering or other options to make the vessel "greener." In addition the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute and the U.S. Maritime Administration are investing $800,000 to explore environmentally friendly ways to repower steamships and the BADGER is the model vessel for the study. In the meantime, the owners of the BADGER have taken 22 specific steps to reduce discharges and have upgraded the vessel to reduce coal use by 20%. Efforts are underway to extend the historic ship's operations beyond 2012.
BENEFITS: The BADGER carries semi-trucks, large over-dimensional trucks, cars, and other vehicles across Lake Michigan. By one estimate, the BADGER saves 1 million gallons of fuel each year from these vehicles that can avoid driving around the Lake. This directly translates to reduced air pollution, including a 4.3 ton reduction in hydrocarbons, a 100 ton reduction in carbon monoxide, a 20 ton reduction in NOx (oxides of nitrogen) and a 1,089 ton reduction in particulate matter (i.e., dirt in the air).
The BADGER's historic uniqueness is recognized by a designation on the National Register of Historic Places and by historic site designations by both the States of Michigan and Wisconsin. Its propulsion system is a mechanical engineering landmark, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition, the National Park Service has nominated the vessel as a National Historic Landmark.
In addition, the BADGER is the single most important maritime element of an emergency response plan under formation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of contingency planning for a terrorist attack on Chicago. The vessel is uniquely suited for emergency evacuation.
Finally, the economic impact of the BADGER is enormous for the States of Michigan and Wisconsin. The BADGER is responsible for 200 direct and 500 indirect jobs, including dozens of seafarer jobs. Economic impact studies show that the BADGER contributes $21 million annually to the port city of Ludington, MI, and $14 million to Manitowoc, WI. This equates to more than $570 million total in both cities since 1992 when the current owners of the BADGER took over operations. Loss of the BADGER would be devastating to both communities.
ACTION: Encourage EPA and Congress to freeze in place rules that allow the BADGER to operate on Lake Michigan.
