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North Dakota Crude Oil Response Preparedness Report

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North Dakota Crude Oil Response Preparedness Report NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT This page is intentionally blank. NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT This page is intentionally blank. DECEMBER 1, 2015 PAGE i NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT ABOUT WITT O’BRIEN’S Witt O’Brien’s is a global Crisis and Emergency Management, Risk Mitigation, Safety and Security consulting firm with offices in Mandan, Houston, Washington, Great Britain, and Brazil. The firm was originally founded by James Lee Witt, the well respected former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director. Leaders call Witt O’Brien’s when faced with major crises including Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, as well as the Deepwater Horizon incident. Witt O’Brien’s has been involved in enhancing safety associated with the transport of oil for years, most recently focusing on transport by train. Witt O’Brien’s works with oil and gas companies, railroads, and government agencies to enhance the safe transport of oil. DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURE This report, prepared by Witt O’Brien’s, was done under contract with the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are provided solely for the use and benefit of the requesting party. Any warranties (expressed and/or implied) are specifically waived. Any statements, allegations, and recommendations in this assessment should not be construed as a governing policy or decision, unless so designated by other documentation. This report is based on the most accurate and current data available to Witt O’Brien’s at the time of publication, and is therefore subject to change without notice. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Witt O’Brien’s acknowledges and appreciates the cooperation of North Dakota state and local officials, tribal officials, representatives of the major railroads transporting crude oil, and others for their input and ideas. First responders, public and private sector, dedicate their time on the behalf of the rest of us and for this we are so grateful. DECEMBER 1, 2015 PAGE ii NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT This page is intentionally blank. DECEMBER 1, 2015 PAGE iii NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY North Dakota has become one of the world’s largest sources of crude oil. Incidents, both within North Dakota and elsewhere, associated with the transport of this resource to refineries and terminals, has led to an increased concern about safety. The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services engaged Witt O’Brien’s to prepare this report. This North Dakota Crude Oil Transportation Response Preparedness Report (the Report) was developed for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) as a tool to assist North Dakota’s state, local, and tribal government departments in determining the status of current incident-response preparedness for crude oil transportation incidents across the state. The geographic, administrative, and operational areas identified in the Report were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed for risks, vulnerabilities, and capabilities. Results of the assessments then provided findings and recommendations to reduce risk and vulnerability through policy change, planning, training and education, communication, and additional resources. The Report includes assessments of three modes of crude oil transportation in North Dakota: pipeline, railroad, and roadway. Based on state and national historic events, transportation routes, volumes, distance, and frequency, railroad transportation of crude oil presents the greatest potential challenges for response preparedness activities. Motor carriers (roadway transportation) and pipelines present risks, and communities along their transportation paths have related vulnerabilities, but those vulnerabilities are limited by route, volume, and frequency compared to rail transport. Summary of Scope of Work A Scope of Work was provided by NDDES prior to the development of the Report. Under this Scope of Work, Witt O’Brien’s was instructed to: . Identify and engage stakeholders . Recognize and understand the risk and vulnerabilities . Determine the desired prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities . Identify the gaps and areas for improvement . Review documents and develop a final report . Develop an action/preparedness enhancement strategy DECEMBER 1, 2015 PAGE ES-1 NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT The process of identifying the study area and stakeholders are described below. Study Area The Report focuses on geographic areas along crude oil transportation corridors, off the well pads, and within the state’s borders. Risk and vulnerability assessments were based on national standard initial evacuation zones related to petroleum accidents with and without fire. That standard, provided in the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Emergency Response Guide, denotes a 0.5 mile buffer zone, which was applied to pipelines, Class I railroads, and roadways that carry crude oil. Participants and Stakeholders Witt O’Brien’s worked with NDDES to identify primary stakeholders in state government departments and in local governments along the crude oil transportation routes throughout North Dakota. State government department administrators, elected officials, and subject matter experts, as well as local emergency managers, police officers, and firefighters were engaged through in-person interviews, surveys, working sessions, phone calls, and email correspondence. Primary stakeholders provided leads for additional interviews. Guided discussions focused on crude oil as a hazard and the prevention, planning, preparedness, and response actions that state and local authorities utilize to maintain situational awareness and readiness. Additionally, railroad, pipeline, and private response contractor representatives provided details about their operations and interaction with government entities before, during, and after a crude oil transportation incident. Interviews included representatives from 76 state and local government organizations, local interest groups, and transportation industry companies operating in North Dakota. Hazard Profile of Crude Oil Light sweet crude oil, classified and shipped as a flammable liquid, presents a significant hazard when accidents cause ruptures, spills, and leaks. Light sweet crude oil has ignited into fire and explosions after train derailments in North Dakota and across the country, posing dangers to lives and property. Spilled oil with or without fire can create environmental hazards, contaminating soil and water, and impacting agriculture and wildlife. Water contamination can also impact drinking water and irrigation supplies that are vital to human and economic sustenance. By working to ensure that the best safety and preparedness measures are in place, North Dakotans can mitigate the potential impacts to life, property, and environment when an incident occurs. DECEMBER 1, 2015 PAGE ES-2 NORTH DAKOTA CRUDE OIL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REPORT History of Accidents in North Dakota North Dakota has experienced crude oil transportation accidents in all three modes: pipeline, rail, and roadway. According to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) records, from 2010 through April 3, 2015, there were 159 pipeline, railroad, and roadway, crude oil incidents resulting in 42,199 barrels of spilled crude oil in North Dakota. Table ES-1: Crude Oil Incident Data for 2010 - April 3, 2015 Total Spilled # of Incidents (in Barrels) Pipeline 33 29,494 Railroad 43 11,343 Roadway 83 1,282 Among the incidents recorded in Table 1: Crude Oil Incident Data for 2010 - April 3, 2015, the pipeline incident resulting in the greatest volume of release occurred July 29, 2013, with a release of 20,600 barrels along the Tioga to Black Slough pipeline in Mountrail County. The incident resulted in soil contamination requiring remediation and an estimated cost of $16.9 million. According to the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH), Division of Water Quality, the impacted material is being thermally treated on site. Storm water that collects in the excavation area is pumped through a carbon filter and then utilized in the Thermal Desorption process. As of September 8, 2015, 333,993 tons of soil had been thermally treated. The Tesoro Corporation is currently utilizing a 40-ton Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) that processes 40 tons of material per day. They also have a 20-ton TDU and a 60-ton TDU on site but the current natural gas supply infrastructure is only sufficient to operate the 40-ton TDU. Efforts to increase natural gas supply to accommodate the 60-ton TDU and the 40-ton TDU will provide the capability to complete excavation, treatment, and backfilling in an estimated 16 months. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and NDDES recorded two train derailments with impacts in December 2013, and May 2015; the derailments near Casselton and near Heimdal, respectively, resulted in large oil fires. The Casselton derailment occurred when an eastbound Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) oil unit train struck a westbound grain train that had derailed onto the eastbound tracks moments before impact. Twenty oil cars exploded and burned over a 24-hour period. The accident occurred just outside of the town of Casselton where 1,400 residents were evacuated, but there was no loss of life or property. The Heimdal incident involved the derailment of six crude oil cars of a BNSF train. There were no explosions, but
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