In the 1970s and 1980s we gradually came to accept the wholesale destruction of working communities in ship building, coal mining and textiles.

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Failure to analyze the effects of transporting the coal via ship to Asia.

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The agreement between Lake Michigan Carferry, which operates the S.S. Badger, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would require the ship to retain its coal ash during trips across the lake and dispose of it on land.

NPR: Deal Requires Ferry To Stop Ash Dumping In 2 Years

Vast ship-borne imports of iron ore, coal and bauxite make up other raw ingredients for Chinese growth.

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Palmer, who is funding construction of the ship himself, built his fortune in real estate and coal.

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His ship, the Terra Nova, sailed from the city's docks laden with Welsh coal, fuel, and supplies.

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"The S.S. Badger, the filthiest ship on the Great Lakes, has been given two more years to dump hundreds of tons of dangerous coal ash into Lake Michigan, " Durbin said in a statement.

NPR: Deal Requires Ferry To Stop Ash Dumping In 2 Years