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gov with ESMTP; 17 Aug 2012 07:51:06 -0500 X-Authenticated-Name: badgersmtp MIME-Version: 1.0 From: @gmail.com To: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov Date: 17 Aug 2012 08:58:21 -0400 Subject: =?utf8?B?UGxlYXNlIHN1cHBvcnQgdGhlIFMuUy4gQmFkZ2Vy4oCZcyBhcHBsaWNhdGlvbiBmb3IgYW4gR S5QLkEuIHBlcm1pdC4=?= Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message-Id: <20120817125822.6D94838D48D9@smtp1.dnsmadeeasy.com> Greetings Governor Scott Walker,=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0AToday we submit this letter= to you in support of the historic S.S. Badger. The S.S. Badger is the only= coal-fired passenger vessel operating in regular service in the United= States and in her almost 60 years of service has carried millions of passengers= and countless amounts of cargo between Michigan and Wisconsin. The Badger= is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has numerous= other awards and designations indicative of her proud service on Lake Michigan.= =0D=0A=0D=0AWe are aware of the environmental concerns, however the BADGER= is and has always been fully compliant with the applicable regulations.= The BADGER does discharge the ash that remains from burning coal in its= boilers during the course of its 60 mile voyage between Ludington, Michigan= and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Multiple tests by independent, E.P.A. certified= labratories of the residue have proven there is no harm to the environment.= Please view the following link to the Environmental Protection Agency website= with with the Badger's permit application. www.pa.gov/r5water/npdestek/badger= =0D=0A=0D=0AThe Badger provides services that have a positive impact on= the environment in several ways. Since 2011 the Badger has moved over= 100 million pounds of wind energy cargo, saving the transportation companies= thousands of miles and eliminating the large trucks from the congestion= of the regional highway systems. The cars, motorcycles, RV's and commercial= trucks carried by the Badger each season would require over 1,000,000 gallons= of fuel to drive the distance saved by crossing Lake Michigan. Click the= link to see the details of the fuel savings in the Badger's EPA permit= application. http://www.epa.gov/r5water/npdestek/badger/pdfs/application/badger-apph.pdf= =0D=0A=0D=0AThe BADGER's owners have taken multiple steps to reduce the= amount of ash that is discharged. Lake Michigan Carferry is actively exploring=

alternate fuels, including natural gas. Engineering was recently completed= on converting the boilers to burn Liquefied Natural Gas instead of coal,= and the Badger is the model of a study by the Great Lakes Maritime Research= Institute on clean energy use in the maritime industry. While natural gas= appears to be the fuel of the future, more time is needed to develop this= as a long-term solution.=0D=0A=0D=0AYour commitment for the environment= is matched only by your commitment to keep Americans working. The BADGER= employees over 200 people and has a combined impact of $35,000,000 to the= port cities of Ludington and Manitowoc. Whatever repowering solution is= chosen, the work will be done in an American shipyard by American welders,= electricians and other skilled tradesmen. =0D=0A=0D=0APlease ask the U.S.= EPA to issue the BADGER their individual permit as soon as possible. The= uncertainty is making finding a solution even more difficult. Lake Michigan= is a precious natural resource and it deserves our respect and protection= but it is not necessary to banish the BADGER. The steamship has plied these= waters since 1953 and there is no reason our children's children can't= enjoy an experience on this historic vessel. =0D=0A=0D=0AVery Respectfully,= =0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A

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