BILL H U I Z EN G A

2 n d D i s t r i c t , M i c h i g a n
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES
Coitgresis; oI tIje U nitet
of IXepresfentatibeg
Wnsfljinston, ?BC20515-2202
April 10,2013
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www.huIzenga.housQ.gov
TheHonorableIgnaciaMoreno
AssistantAttorney General
U.S. Departmentof1ustice
EnvironmentandNaturalResourcesDivision
P.O. Box7611
Washington, D.C.
Re: UnitedStatesv. LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut,Inc,,D.1. Ref.No. 90-5-1-1-10771
Deal"AssistantAttorneyGeneralMoreno:
Iwritetoday onbehalfofLakeMichiganCarferryinLudington, Michigan, whichrecently
signedaConsentDecree agreementwiththeDepartmentof1usticeandtheEnviromnental
ProtectionAgency(EPA). TheConsentDecreeagreementinthelawsuitentitledUnitedStates
V . LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut,Inc., Civil ActionNo. l:13-cv-317,requiresthatLake
MichiganCarfeiTyceaseashdischargesaftertheS.S. Badger's2014 operatingseason,perform
otherinjunctiverelief andpaya$25,000civil penalty.
TheConsentDecreeallowstheS.S. Badgerto continuetooperatewhileitdesigns, engineers,
andinstallsasophisticatedashretentionsystem. Thisagi'eement,theproductofalengthy
processofLakeMichiganCarferryworkingwiththeDepartmentof1usticeandtheEPA, is in
thebestinterestofthepublic, andallParties. The agreementsavesthejobs ofLalceMichigan
Carefeny's200plus employees, aswellasnumerousotherjobsinthe states ofMichiganand
Wisconsinthatrelyontheoperationofthe S.S.Badger.
Ibelievethatapprovingthe ConsentDecreethatisendorsedbytheDepartmentof1usticeand
theEPAoffersthebestopportunityto end thedischargeofcoal ashintoLakeMichiganwhile
still servingthepublicandthelocal communitiesofLudington,MichiganandManitowoc,
Wisconsin.
Thankyouforyourtimeandconsideration.
^ t e r e l y .
BillHuizenga
MemberofCongr
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BILL H U I Z EN G A
2 n d D i s t r i c t , M i c h i g a n
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES
Congres^s? of tfje ^niteb States?
of i^epresientattijesi
OTaSftinston,23C20515-2202
April 10,2013
1 2 1 7 LO N G W O R T H H O U S E O FFICE BU I L D I N G
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iJ "1
TheHonorableIgnaciaMoreno
AssistantAttorneyGeneral
U.S.Departmentof1ustice
EnvironmentandNatural ResourcesDivision
P.O.Box7611
Washington, D.C.
VO
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Re: United Statesv. LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut, Inc.,D.1. Ref.No. 90-5-1-1-10771
DearAssistantAttorneyGeneralMoreno;
IwritetodayonbehalfofLakeMichiganCarferryinLudington, Michigan,whichrecently
signedaConsentDecreeagreementwiththeDepartmentof1usticeandtheEnviromnental
ProtectionAgency(EPA). TheConsentDecreeagreementinthe lawsuitentitledUnited States
V . LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut, Inc., CivilActionNo. l:13-cv-317,requiresthatLake
MichiganCarferryceaseashdischarges afterthe S.S. Badger's2014operatingseason,perform
otherinjunctiverelief, andpay a$25,000civilpenalty.
TheConsentDecreeallowsthe S.S. Badgertocontinuetooperatewhile itdesigns,engineers,
andinstallsasophisticatedashretentionsystem. This agreement,theproductofalengthy
processofLakeMichiganCarferryworkingwiththeDepartmentof1usticeandtheEPA, isin
thebestinterestofthepublic, andallParties. The agreementsavesthejobsofLakeMichigan
Careferry's200plus employees,aswellasnumerousotherjobsinthestates ofMichiganand
WisconsinthatrelyontheoperationoftheS.S.Badger.
1believethatapprovingthe ConsentDecreethatisendorsedbytheDepartmentof1usticeand
theEPAoffersthebestopportunitytoendthedischarge ofcoalashintoLakeMichiganwhile
still servingthepublicandthelocalcommunitiesofLudington, MichiganandManitowoc,
Wisconsin.
Thankyouforyourtimeandconsideration.
SjnQerely,
BillHuizenga / \
MemberofCongre^ 1
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From: Gebhardt, Debbie
To: ENRD. PUBCOMMENT-EES (ENRD)
Sent: 4/18/2013 1:51:36 PM
Subject: United Statesv. Lake MichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut, inc., D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-10771
Attachments: BadgerPubiicCommentPetri4-13.pdf; image003.png
At t ached and bel ow is a l et t er f r om Rep. Thomas E. Petri re: above-r ef erence consent decree.
Thankyou
DebraGebhardt
Chi eI o I St aI I
U.S. Rep. Th o m a s E, Petri
2462 Raybur n , W a s hi ngt on, D.C. 20515
20 2 - 2 2 5 - 2 4 7 6
TRANS-LAKE-LMTLS-COMMENTS002736
THOMAS E. PETRI R ` r a u R N t t o u s E O F F
S T H D IS T B I C T , V i ' i s c o N S i h W * 3 H W 4 0 ' T C l , D C 2 C 6
0625226-247(
Congress oI tIie mteIi g~tates
j [ o u S c of ilEitpreSentatitieS
6IIi DBilMSXOttll
f o n t - Oil L A C. V
I9J0)922-11a
Oswosn,Wl
I92)231-638;
Wasltiiitoii, H e 20515-4906
April 17,2013
TlieHonorableIgnaciaS. MorenO'
AssistantAttorneyGeneral
U.S. DepartmentofJustice
EnYironmeiitandNatural ResourcesDivision
P.0, Box7611
Washington,D.C. 20044-7611
Re: United Statesv. LakeMichiganTrans-LakeShortcut,Inc.,DJ. ReI.No. 90-5-1-1-10771
DearAssistantAttoraeyGeneralMoreno:
ItunwritingtocommentontheCometttDecreeenteredintobetweenLakeMicMgan
CarIerryinLudington,Michigan,theDepart:mentoIJustice,andtheEnvironmentalProtection
Agency.
Inadditiontopayinga$25,000civilpeiialt)'andperIormingotherinjunctiverelieI,in,
accordancewith,theternsoIdieagreement,coalashdischargesIrom,theS.S. Badgerwillcease
a,Iterthe2014operatingseason. ItismybelieIthatthisagTecmentisIairand,reasonableand
thatapprovaloItheagreementisinthepublicinterest TheCityoIM,aiiitowoc,Wisconsin,isin
myCo,tigressionaldistrict,andtheS.S. Badgercontributes substantiallytotheecoiio,myoI
Manitowocand,thesurroundingregion. ItisavaluedpartoIourhistory,culture,andtradition.
TheIeiiyisanimportanttransportationlink, sen'iiigasamarineextensionoIHwy. 10 across
La,keMichigan.
Undertheagreement, theS.S. BadgerwillcontinuetosailandthedischargeoIcoal ash
willendioareasonabletimeIrame. Theconsentd,ecreeascuiTentlywrittenisa.Iairresolution.
Thankyou,IoryourconsiderationoItl,iis,ni,a1:ter,whichis oIgreatimportancetomy
Congressiomldistrict.
Smcerelv,
riiomasE.Yeiri
Mein,berofCongress
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RICHARD J. DURBIN
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
ILLINOIS
ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER
April 25, 2013
HnitalStatesStnatt
iliaahingtaii, 20510-1301
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE ON RULES
AND ADMINISTRATION
TheHonorableIgnaciaS. Moreno
AssistantAttorneyGeneral
U.S.DO1-ENRD
P.O. Box 7611
Washington, DC20044-7611
RE; United Statesv. LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut, Inc.,D.1. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-10771
DearAssistant Attorney General Moreno :
Iurgeyouto useallofyourauthorityto protectLakeMichiganfrom harmful pollutionbythe SS
Badger. LakeMichiganis anenvironmentaltreasure,and all ofuswho liveontheshoresofthe
lakewanttoprotectitforgenerationsto come. LakeMichiganprovides drinkingwaterand
recreationformillionsofpeopleandshouldnotbeusedasadumpingground. Itisunfortunate
thattheSS Badgercontinuestooperate, usingdecadesoldtechnologywithoutmakingany
significantupgradestoeitherretaincoal ashonboardforproperdisposal on shoreorconverttoa
newcleanerfuel source.
Asaresultofawaiverthatwasincludedinthe Vessel General Permit(VGP), theS.S. Badger
wasgivenadeadlineofDecember20, 2012,to upgradeitsboilerandstopdumpingmore than
500tonsofcoal ashintoLakeMichiganeach year- aquantitygreaterthanthetotalwaste
dumpedannuallybythe 123 otherlarge shipsoperatingontheGreatLakes. Thecoalash
containsmercuryandotherpollutantsthatcanbeconsumedbyfishanddistributedthroughout
theGreat Lakes foodweb. Unfortunatelyduringthe fouryearsthatthe SS Badgerwas givento
convertandupgrade theferry, itisnowclearthattheownersdidnothingtomeetthatdeadline
andcleanupthe operation. Instead,theownersappeartohavespentmoretime seekinga
statutorywaiverfrom CleanWater Actregulations,while simultaneouslyfilingforacleanwater
permittocontinueoperationswhiledischargingcoal ash intoLakeMichigan.
Ihavecarefullyreviewed the draftconsentdecreethattheUS Departmentof1usticeand
Environmental ProtectionAgencyhave entered intowiththeownersofthe SS Badger,andwhile
Iampleasedthatall partieshaveagreedtoadate certainafterwhichtheferrywill no longer
dumpcoal ash intoLakeMichigan, Irequestthatthisconsentdecreebestrengthenedina
numberofareas:
711 HART SFNATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON. OC 20510- 1304
[, * , 2 2 4 ' 2 1 5 2
TTY (202) 224-81BQ
2 30 SOUTH DEARBORN. 38TH FLOOR
CHICAGO, IL 60604
1312) 353-4952
525 SOU 1H EIGHTH STREET
SPRINGFIELD. IL 62703
(2 1 7 ) 4 9 2 4062
d u r h m . s e n a t e g o v
1504THIRD AVENUE
SUITE 227
HOCK ISLAND. IL 61201
(309) 786-5173
PAUL SIM ON I-tDIcRAL BUILDING
250 W CHERRY STREET
SUITE 11&-D
CARBONDALE, iL 62901
(618 35 1 -1 1 2 2
TRANS-LAKE-LMTLS-COMMENTS004910
Include anexplicitagreementthatnomoreextensionswill be grantedto the SS Badger
tocontinue dumpingcoal ashintoLakeMichiganafterthe endofthe2014 shipping
season.
Include significantpenalties fornon-complianceto ensure thatBadger`sownersdonot
justchoseto ~paytopolluteratherthancomplywiththebenchmarks includedin the
consentdecree. Strongpenalties areappropriategiventhevalueofthe GreatLakes
drinkingwatersupplyandthe seriousthreatfrom coal ash containingmercury andother
pollutants.
Specify largerreductionsofcoal ashdischargestobetterprotectLakeMichigan.
Currently,theproposeddecreecontainsnospecificpercentage reductionin2013 and
onlya 15 percentagereductionin2014. Thiswould stillallowtheSS Badgertodump
morethan400tonsofcoal ashintothelake in2014. Significantreductionsarerequired
toprovide aclearlydefinedpollutionreductionpathtowardcomplianceandendingcoal
ashdumpinginto LakeMichigan. Ipropose a40reductionin2013 anda60
reductionin2014. These limitswill literallyreducebyhalfthedamagethe SS Badger
wouldcauseto LakeMichiganoverthenexttwoseasons,
Finally, the final consentdecreeshouldrequire moretransparencyofreporting. The S.S.
Badgershould berequiredtoreportits monthlyprogresstowardeliminationofcoal ash
dumping. Eachreportshouldinclude both self-reportedandextemallyverifiedevidence
ofprogresstowardeliminationofdumping, suchasproofofexpenditures forashcapture
technology, draft contractsforlandfilling,etc. Thevolume andmercurycontentofash
dischargedthrough2014mustbepubliclyreportedtoensuretransparencyandpublic
accountability. Thesereportsshouldbe certifiedbyanindependentthirdparty andshould
be madepubliclyavailableon aneasilyaccessiblewebsite. Confidentialityclaimsmust
notpreventthepublicfrombeingfully informedoftheamountofpollutionthe S.S.
Badgerdumps into Lake Michigan,
Thankyou foryourattentionto this important issue.
Sincerely,
a
CC; EPA ActingAdministratorBobPerciasepe
TRANS-LAKE-LMTLS-COMMENTS004911
DAN BENSHEKM.D. W \ ! # W c o m m i t t e e o n a g r i c u l t u r e
FIRST DISTRICT, MICHIGAN ` COMMITTEEON NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
514 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515-2201
(202)225-4735
WVW.BENISHEK.HOUSE.GOV
Congres1si of tlje States;
^ouj^e of i^epresfentatibesi
April 16,2013
TheHonorable IgnaciaS. Moreno
AssistantAttorneyGeneral
U.S. Departmentof1ustice
EnvironmentandNatural ResourcesDivision
P.O.Box7611
Washington, D.C. 20044-7611
Re; United Statesv. LakeMichiganTrans-Lake Shortcut,Inc., D.1. Ref.No. 90-5-1-1-10771
DearAssistantAttorneyGeneralMoreno:
The Departmentof1usticeandtheEnvironmental ProtectionAgencyrecentlyenteredintoa
ConsentDecreeagreementwithLakeMichiganCarferryinLudington, Michigan, inthematter
ofGXS^ONE^K^O]`( ?KUO@SMRSQKX F\KX]'?KUOERY\^M_^&<XM(& D.1. Ref.No. 90-5-1-1-10771. I
amwritingtoexpressmyviewthattheagreementisfair,reasonable, andinthepublicinterest.
Theagreementallowsthe S.S. Badgerto continuetooperateandalsorequiresLakeMichigan
Carferryto eliminatethedischarge ofcoal ashfromthevesselatthecloseofthe2014 sailing
season. The S.S. BadgerisanessentialpieceofGreatLakes` historyandcultureandapprovalof
this agreementis importanttotheeconomicfutureoftheportcommunitiesitfrequents.
Thankyouforyourtime andconsideration.
Sincerely,
DanBenishek
MemberofCongress
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GWEN MOORE
4 T H D I S T R I C T , W I S C O N S I N
COMMITTEEON
FINANCIAL SERVICES
C a p i t a l M a r k e t s , I n s u r a n c e , a n d G SES
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o n e t a r y P o l i c y a n d T r a d e
O v e r s i g h t a n d I n v e s t i g a t i o n
COMMITTEEON BUDGET Congress ottljemtciiStates
Hottsfe o f i^epresientatibe^
April26,2013
W A S H I N G T O N O F F I C E ;
1239 L o n g w o r t h H o u s e O I I i c e B u i l d i n g
W a s h i n g t o n , DC20515
(202)225-4572
F a x : (202)225-8135
D I S T R I C T O F F I C E ;
219 N o r t h M i l w a u k e e S t r e e t
S u i t e 3A
M i l w a u k e e , W I 53202-5818
(414)297-1140
F a x ; (414)297-1086
TheHonorableIgnaciaS.Moreno
AssistantAttorneyGeneral,
U.S.Departmentof1ustice- EnvironmentandNaturalResourcesDivision
P.O. Box7611
Washington, DC20044-7611
DearAssistantAttorneyGeneralMoreno,
Inresponsetoyoursolicitationforpubliccommentsontheproposedconsentdecreeinthe
matterofGXS^ONE^K^O]v.?KUO@SMRSQKX F\KX]'?KUOERY\^M_^& <XM(& D.1. Ref.No. 90-5-1-1-
10771,1writetoexpressmydeepandcontinuingconcernsaboutallowingthe continuing
dumpingofcoalashintoLakeMichiganasthisconsentdecreeproposestodo.
Thisisamatterofdirectpublicinterestformeandmyconstituentswhoareamongthe
millionswho live,work,andrecreatenearLakeMichigananditswatershed. Lake
Michigan-^whichdirectlyabutsmycongressionaldistrict-istheprimarysourceofdrinking
waterformorethan 10millionpeople-^notjustinmyStateofWisconsin,butinIllinois,
Indiana,andMichigan.
Asyouknow.LakeMichiganCarferry,Inc. operatestheS.S.Badger(Badger),acoal-fired
steamshipferrythattransportscarsandpassengersacrossLakeMichigan. Eachtimethis
ferrymakesatripacrossLakeMichigan,itdischargestonsofashmixedwithwaterintoLake
Michigan. AdischargetheEPAdescribedin2008aslikelytocontain~avarietyof
pollutants, someofwhichinsignificantquantities(e.g. Suspendedsolids),andtheAgency
believesthatitisappropriatetoeliminatethisdischargetype.dC\YZY]ON H;C39C5%]
DO]ZYX]O^YC_LVSM7YWWOX^]& G(E( 9X`S\YXWOX^KVC\Y^OM^SYX5QOXMb3 IK^O\CO\WS^]
8S`S]SYX& BPPSMOY P IK]^OaK^O\@KXKQOWOX^48OMOWLO\+2&2008)
Itisalsorelevanttothoseofuswhobelievethatthe enactmentandstrongenforcementofthe
CleanWaterActhasbeenkeytoprotectingLakeMichigan,theGreatLakes, andother
threatenedwaterbodiesnationwideandwillbecrucialtomaintaininghardfoughtgainsin
improvingwaterquality. Assomeonewhohasopposedrepeatedattempts inCongressinthe
pastfewyearstoimderminetheCleanWaterandCleanAirActsanditsenforcementbythe
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),Iwouldberemisstostandbynowandallowthe
governmenttoenteraconsentagreementthat-inthisparticularcase-wouldappearto
accomplishthatsameobjective.
IbelievetheEPAandDepartmentof1ustice(DO1)hadconsiderabletoolsatyourdisposalto
bringtheharmfuldumpingofcoalashinLakeMichigantoanend-includingfederallaw-
1
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TRANS-LAKE-LMTLS-COMMENTS005421
butarefailingtoadequately andeffectivelyexercisethem. TheBadgerdidnotbecomethe
lastremainingcoal operatingferryonLakeMichiganbyaccident. Ithasbeenthedeliberate
policyjudgmentandobjectivebytheCongressandtheEPAtoendthisactivity. Whichwith
theexceptionoftheBadger, hasbeenachievedthroughthedeliberateandappropriateuseof
ourlawswhichhaveconvincedorincentivizedothercoaloperatedvesselstofindmore
environmentallyfriendlyaltematives.
Asnotedbyoneofmyconstituents,LakeExpressEEC,intheirconraientsonthisconsent
decree, ~Thepollutionissueswiththe S.S. Badgerareneithernew,novel,northeresultof
evolvedornewlyintroducedrulesorregulations. Yet, whenitcomestotheBadger,the
governmentseemsreluctanttouseitsconsiderableauthoritiestobringthisharmfulpracticeto
anend. Inthisconsentdecree,thegovernmenthaschoseninsteadtopursueanavenuethat
continuestodependonthegoodwillofLakeMichiganCarFerrytoendthisharmfulpractice.
Ifpastexperienceisanyguide,thisisopeninganotherunneededchapterinasagathatseems
toknownoend. IhavesubmittedacopyofLakeExpressEEC`scommentswithmy
testimony.
ThisdecreeessentiallyallowstheS.S. BadgertocontinuetodumpcoalashinLakeMichigan
inviolationoffederallaw. Thedecreeitselfmakesclearthatitisnotapermitotherwise
requiredbylaw. TheEPAhasnotedthatitwillnotactfurtheronthependingpermit
applicationfromLakeMichiganCarferry,Inc.whichleadstothequestionofhowcan
theDO1endorseadecreethatsanctionsunpermitteddumpingto continue?
AtatimewhentheEPAistighteningstandardstoprotectournation`swaterwaysand
improvewaterquality,allowingunlimiteddumpingofdangerouscoalashtocontinueseems
countertoyouragency`spriorities.
Underthedecree,by1uneofthisyear, EMCisrequiredto submitaplanfordesigning,
constructing, andimplementinganalternativetoendthedumping. Therearehoweverno
penaltiesassociatedwithfailureto submitthatplanortoprovidetheEPAwithappropriate
authoritytoapproveordisapprovethatplanortimelineotherthanrequiringregularlyreviews
andupdatesfromEMC. Thisisagrievousoversight. Withoutanincentivetoprovideareal,
achievableplanbackedbysoundfinancialcommitments,EMCwillnottakeserious stepsto
evenmeettherathergeneroustimelinesallowedthemundertheconsentdecree.
TheEPAandDO1shouldnotallowthe S.S. Badgertoagainreceiveanunwarranted
extensiontocomplywithgenerallyapplicableenvironmentallawandregulationsthathave
beenineffectfordecades. Moreover,the S.S.Badgerhas, andappears settocontinueto
receiveundertheConsentDecree, specialtreatmentevenfollowingyearsoffailedpromises
tocomeinto compliancewithexistinglawsandstopusingLakeMichiganasareceptaclefor
thepollutiongeneratedbyitsoperations.Again,anytimetheEPAfailstoupholdthelawand
itsownpolicies, itfailsinitsobligationtoprotectthepublicinterest.
Iamalsoconcernedthattheproposedconsentdecreemayalsocreateperverseincentives
encouragingthe S.S. Badgertoacceptthelimitedpenaltiessetbytheconsentdecreeasa
~costofdoingbusinessratherthanincurcostsrequiredtoinstallanyofthewidelyavailable
technologiesthatwouldbringitintocompliancewithfederalandstatelaws.
TRANS-LAKE-LMTLS-COMMENTS005423
Intermsofthisconsentdecree,Iaskyoutoensurethatithasstrongandenforceable
provisionsfornoncompliance. IremindyouofthebrokenpromisesbytheBadgerinwhat
hasbecomeasadspectacle. In2008,theEPAnotedthatLakeMichiganCarferryindicated
thatitwouldpursueeffortstoeliminateitscoal ashdischarge andhopedtoachievethisgoal
priortoits2008VGPpermitexpiringinDecember2012. Yet,today.LakeMichiganCar
Ferryisnocloserto stoppingthispollutingactivity.
Ialsonotethatthedraft2013VGPmadeavailableforpubliccommentsbytheEPAin2011
eliminatdeanyfurtherexemptionforthedumpingofcoalashintoLakeMichigan,amove
whichIapplaud. Yet,theverytermsofthisconsentdecree seemindirectconflictwiththe
EPApolicypronouncedintheVGP.
Again,in2008,youragencynotedthat~most,ifnotall, othercoalpoweredvesselshave
convertedtootherfuelusesortheyhaveeliminatedtheirCoalAshslurrydischarge. The
failureto stopthecoaldumpinghasnotbeenaboutlackofoptions,butthe lackofwillto
committimeandresourcesbytheBadgertoimplementsolutionsthatarewidelyavailableas
notedbytheEPA.
Myfearisthatthisconsentdecreewilldonothingtoresolvewhatappearstobealackofwill
bytheownersoftheBadgertocomplywithfederallawandensureprotectionofthepublic
healthandenvironmentfromthecontinueddispersal ofthesecontaminantsintoacritical
bodyofwater. 1ustlastyear. LakeMichiganCarFerrysubmittedanapplicationtotheEPA
foraNationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)permittoallowitto
continuetodumpcoalashinLakeMichiganuntil2017.
Itisalsouncleari f thisdecreewoulddo anythingtolimittheabilityofLMCtopursue-^at
anytime-aNationalPollutionDischargeEliminationPermittocontinuetodumpcoalash
evenbeyondthetimeframe envisionedbythe decree. Howwouldanysuchpermitinteract
withtheconditionsimposedbythedecree?Willseekingapermitremainanavenueavailable
forLMCtopursuetocontinueitscoaldumpingduringthecourse ofthisconsentdecree?
Lastly,theEPAarguesthattheconsentdecreewillbringanendtothedumpingwhile
avoidingexpensiveandtimeconsuminglitigation. Idisagree. Giventhepotential for
disagreementoversomeofthekeybutvaguelydefinedprovisionsofthisconsentdecree,it
couldresultinmorelitigationespeciallywhereitcreatesprocessesbywhichLakeMichigan
CarFerrycanpetitiontheEPAtokeepdumpingbeyondthedeadlinessetinthedecreeandto
challengeEPAdeterminations.
Itismybelief, andthatofsomeofmyconstituents,thattheBadgerhashadsignificant
opportunityandmorethanfairwarningthatitneededtofindasolutionfordealingwiththe
coalashitsoperationsgenerates. Atthistime,Isupportthestrongestenforcementoffederal
protectionsforourwatersthatwereputinplacetoendpollutant-filledpracticeslikethose
beingcarriedoutbytheBadgerferry. Ifyouaretoenteraconsentdecree, itshould be
appropriatelystrengthenedtomakeclearthattherewillbestiffpenalties, including
immediatelysuspensionofBadgeroperations, forfailuretocomply. Youragencyhasan
obligationtoenforcethelawandprotectthepublic`shealthandenvironment.
SomestepsthatIwouldurgetheDO1andEPAtotaketostrengthenthisdecree:
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o SpecifywhatcriteriatheU.S.willusetodecidewhethera~ForceMajeureeventhas
occurred. Iamconcemedthatthislanguageprovidesavagueloopholethatwould
allowcontinueddumpinginabroadrangeofunspecifiedcircumstances. Without
greaterclarity,wewillnotknowuntilthelitigationaboutthosetermsbegins.
o Requirethatallreports,notifications,andothercommunicationsbetweenLMCand
theEPAandDO1asaresultofthisconsentdecreebemade availableonapublicly
accessiblewebsitewithin24hoursofreceiptbythefederalgovernment, includingany
decisionbythefederalgovernmenttoagreethata~Forcemajeureeventhasoccurred
andthespecificjustificationforreachingsuchaconclusion.
o Ifa~ForceMajeureeventhasbeenagreetohaveoccurredbybothparties,the
ConsentdecreemustrequiretheEPAtoonlygrantspecificallyidentified
extensionsoftimetoLMCtocomplywiththedecreeinthoselimited
circiunstancesandtomakethatinformation-includingthespecificlengthof
timewhichnoncompliancehasbeenextended-publiclyavailable.
o Toensuretheutmosttransparency, anymodificationtotheconsentdecreeagreedto
byeitherpartyshouldbe subjecttopubliccommentandthenCourtapproval.
Stakeholders alongLakeMichigan,includingelectedofficialslikemyself,businesses,private
citizens,andothersallhaveagreatinterestinthismatterandshouldhavetheopportunityto
commentonandchallengeviolationsofthisdecree. Theywillnotbeabletodo soiftheyare
notawareofthevariouscommunicationsgoingonbetweentheparties.
Again,thankyouforyourconsiderationofmycommentsonthismatter. Ifyouhavefixrther
questionsorconcerns,pleasecontactChrisGoldsoninmyWashingtonofficeat(202)225-
4572orchris.goldsonmail.house.gov
Sincerely,
GwenMoor^
MEMBEROFCONGRESS
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