MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The S.S. Badger was cleared by the feds and made its first voyage of 2015 Friday.
The car ferry makes the daily trip from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, but it was almost swamped by environmental concerns.
The EPA had ruled the coal ash the Badger produced could no longer be dumped into Lake Michigan.
Its owner, Lake Michigan Carferry, spent $2.4 million making upgrades to eliminate the problem. A new combustion control system was installed, along with a coal ash retention system.
The federal government gave it the okay and the service for the summer was restored.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)