Durbin Statement on Possible National Historic Landmark Status for S.S. Badger

Statement

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after being assured by the Environmental Protection Agency that, a National Historic Landmark designation would not affect EPA's ability to implement any of its environmental regulations related to the S.S. Badger. Earlier today, the Department of the Interior announced the S.S. Badger would be designated a National Historic Landmark almost a year after the ship's owners completed the necessary steps to prevent coal ash dumping in Lake Michigan.

"I was pleased that after years of hard work by environmental groups and the Environmental Protection Agency, the dirtiest ship on the Great Lakes finally cleaned up its act," said Durbin. "Now that the S.S. Badger has received National Historic Landmark status, it still bears the legal responsibility and should provide a true accounting of the historic and disastrous environmental damage that this vessel caused by dumping tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan. Protecting Lake Michigan--the primary source of drinking water for millions of people in and around Chicago--and the economic and environmental impact it has on our state has always been one of my top priorities."

Durbin worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and groups -- such as the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club -- for four years to stop the ship from dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan

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