DOCSLIB.ORG

Economic and Biophysical Impacts of Oil Tanker Spills Relevant to Vancouver, Canada a Literature Review 2013

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Economic and Biophysical Impacts of Oil Tanker Spills Relevant to Vancouver, Canada a Literature Review 2013 Economic and Biophysical Impacts of Oil Tanker Spills Relevant to Vancouver, Canada A Literature Review 2013 Co-authors Jeremy Stone, PhD Candidate UBC School of Community and Regional Planning Marina Piscitelli, PhD Candidate UBC Department of Zoology Kyle Demes, PhD. UBC Biodiversity Research Centre Stephanie Chang, PhD. UBC School of Community and Regional Planning Moura Quayle, D.Sc. (Hons) UBC Sauder School of Business Denise Withers, MSc. Strategic Consultant Commissioned by Vancouver Economic Commission Acknowledgements Matt Jacques, PhD., C.E. Vancouver Economic Commission James Raymond, BSc. Vancouver Economic Commission Daniel Stevens City of Vancouver Oil Spill Impacts: Literature Review Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 6 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 RATIONALE ................................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.1 Relevant industry projects ................................................................................................................................ 15 2.1.2 Recent reports......................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.3 Relevant government activities ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.4 Current events ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 2.2 APPROACH & FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Reference events .................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.3 LIMITATIONS OF REVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 20 3 OIL, BITUMEN AND SPILLS ....................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 CAUSES OF SPILLS ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 FACTORS DETERMINING SPILL IMPACT AND COST.............................................................................................. 26 3.2.1 Type of oil.................................................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.1.1 Composition of crude oil and bitumen .................................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.1.2 Fate of bitumen in the water column ....................................................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1.3 Toxicity.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2 Location of the spill .............................................................................................................................................. 33 3.2.3 Amount of oil spilled and spillage rate ....................................................................................................... 34 3.2.4 Weather and sea conditions at the time of the spill .............................................................................. 34 3.2.5 Response capacity and methodology ........................................................................................................... 35 3.2.5.1 Timing of response ............................................................................................................................................................................ 35 3.2.5.2 Governance ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.2.5.3 Response technology ........................................................................................................................................................................ 36 3.2.5.4 Human capital and volunteers ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 4 BIOLOGICAL IMPACT .................................................................................................................................. 37 4.1 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF BURRARD INLET .............................................................................................. 37 4.1.1 Description of body of water ............................................................................................................................ 37 4.1.1.1 Waterway usage ................................................................................................................................................................................. 38 4.1.1.2 Bordering municipalities and population .............................................................................................................................. 39 4.1.1.3 Connecting waterways .................................................................................................................................................................... 39 4.1.1.4 Drainage and run-off ........................................................................................................................................................................ 39 4.1.1.5 Depth ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 40 4.1.1.6 Tides ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40 4.1.1.7 Currents .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 41 4.1.1.8 Temperature and salinity............................................................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.2 Species diversity of Burrard Inlet .................................................................................................................. 43 4.1.2.1 Plankton.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43 4.1.2.2 Fish ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43 4.1.2.3 Birds ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.2.4 Terrestrial mammals ........................................................................................................................................................................ 45 4.1.2.5 Marine mammals................................................................................................................................................................................ 46 4.2 BIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF AN OIL SPILL IN BURRARD INLET ................................................................................ 46 4.2.1 Plankton .................................................................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.2 Marine plants .......................................................................................................................................................... 48 4.2.3 Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................................................... 50 4.2.4 Fish ............................................................................................................................................................................... 53 4.2.5 Birds ............................................................................................................................................................................ 54 4.2.6 Marine mammals .................................................................................................................................................. 55 2013 Oil Spill
Load more

Recommended publications
  • BIG TUNNEL IS FINISHED at LAST Researched By: Ralph Drew, Belcarra, BC, August 2013
    BIG TUNNEL IS FINISHED AT LAST Researched By: Ralph Drew, Belcarra, BC, August 2013. Source: Vancouver Province, April 27th, 1905. Drill pierced the wall of rock. Rejoicing at Lake Beautiful [Buntzen Lake] to-day when crews working on Vancouver Power Company’s scheme met under centre of mountain — Facts concerning the Great Work. The Vancouver Power Company’s tunnel is finished. The practical completion of this extensive work took place this morning when a ten-foot drill pierced a hole through the last intervening section of rock in the two-and-a-half-mile bore, which will connect Lakes Coquitlam and Beautiful [Buntzen Lake] for the generation of electrical energy. After two and a quarter years of incessant work, involving an expenditure of $320,000, the drill broke through this morning from the Lake Coquitlam end, and leaving but 10 feet of rock remaining, which will be removed by this evening. This marks an important step in the development of the Hydro Electric Power Scheme which is ultimately intended to develop 30,000 horsepower for distribution in Vancouver, New Westminster and Steveston. The big tunnel forms a silent, but eloquent testimonial for the triumph of modern engineering, for, after working from both portals beneath a mountain four thousand feet high for over two years the two ends of the bore met exactly true. Amid cheers of surprise and delight the workmen employed at the Lake Beautiful heading of the tunnel being driven for the Vancouver Power Co., saw the end of a steel frill break through the wall of rock on which they were engaged at 7 o’clock this morning.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix B: Hydrotechnical Assessment
    Sheep Paddocks Trail Alignment Analysis APPENDIX B: HYDROTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT LEES+Associates -112- 30 Gostick Place | North Vancouver, BC V7M 3G3 | 604.980.6011 | www.nhcweb.com 300217 15 August 2013 Lees + Associates Landscape Architects #509 – 318 Homer Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2V2 Attention: Nalon Smith Dear Mr. Smith: Subject: Sheep Paddocks Trail Alignment – Phase 1 Hydrotechnical Assessment Preliminary Report 1 INTRODUCTION Metro Vancouver wishes to upgrade the Sheep Paddocks Trail between Pitt River Road and Mundy Creek in Colony Farm Regional Park on the west side of the Coquitlam River. The trail is to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic and be built to withstand at least a 1 in 10 year flood. The project will be completed in three phases: 1. Phase 1 – Route Selection 2. Phase 2 – Detailed Design 3. Phase 3 – Construction and Post-Construction This letter report provides hydrotechnical input for Phase 1 – Route Selection. Currently, a narrow footpath runs along the top of a berm on the right bank of the river. The trail suffered erosion damage in 2007 and was subsequently closed to the public but is still unofficially in use. Potential future routes include both an inland and river option, as well as combinations of the two. To investigate the feasibility of the different options and help identify the most appropriate trail alignment from a hydrotechnical perspective, NHC was retained to undertake the following Phase I scope of work: • Participate in three meetings. • Attend a site visit. • Estimate different return period river flows and comment on local drainage requirements. • Simulate flood levels and velocities corresponding to the different flows.
    [Show full text]
  • BC Hydro Dam Safety Quarterly Report
    Confidential - Discussion/Information Board briefing – DAM SAFETY QUARTERLY REPORT Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to update the Capital Projects Committee of the Board of Directors on key dam risk management activities during the period from April 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019, and to provide reasonable assurance that the safety of dams operated by BC Hydro continues to be managed to the established guidelines and criteria of the Dam Safety Program. The Dam Safety Program has been executed in a manner that is consistent with its stated objectives throughout the reporting period. The overall Dam Safety risk profile is shown in Figure 1. There have been no changes in assessed risk this quarter. Risk Profile of BC Hydro’s Dam Dam Safety Contribution to Enterprise Risk Dam Safety is assigned a high “risk priority” within BC Hydro’s Enterprise Risk report, as depicted below. This high rating is arrived at by recognizing that: (1) there can be extremely severe consequences from the failure of a dam; (2) a dam failure can progress quickly without leaving adequate time to take effective actions to reverse the failure; and (3) our ability to mitigate this risk is considered to be “moderate” given that upgrades to existing dams are typically expensive, time and resource intensive and frequently technically challenging. The nature of dam safety risk is that it can only be realistically managed by minimizing to the extent practicable the probability of occurrence through a well-constructed and well-executed Dam Safety Program. Speed Ability F19 Q4 Change from Risk Severity of to Risk Last Quarter Onset Mitigate Priority Likelihood Dam Safety For F20 Q1 the overall H L Fast M H Dam Safety risk is Risk of a dam safety incident stable.
    [Show full text]
  • Revised Draft Experiences with Inter Basin Water
    REVISED DRAFT EXPERIENCES WITH INTER BASIN WATER TRANSFERS FOR IRRIGATION, DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT ICID TASK FORCE ON INTER BASIN WATER TRANSFERS Edited by Jancy Vijayan and Bart Schultz August 2007 International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) 48 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021 INDIA Tel: (91-11) 26116837; 26115679; 24679532; Fax: (91-11) 26115962 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.icid.org 1 Foreword FOREWORD Inter Basin Water Transfers (IBWT) are in operation at a quite substantial scale, especially in several developed and emerging countries. In these countries and to a certain extent in some least developed countries there is a substantial interest to develop new IBWTs. IBWTs are being applied or developed not only for irrigated agriculture and hydropower, but also for municipal and industrial water supply, flood management, flow augmentation (increasing flow within a certain river reach or canal for a certain purpose), and in a few cases for navigation, mining, recreation, drainage, wildlife, pollution control, log transport, or estuary improvement. Debates on the pros and cons of such transfers are on going at National and International level. New ideas and concepts on the viabilities and constraints of IBWTs are being presented and deliberated in various fora. In light of this the Central Office of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has attempted a compilation covering the existing and proposed IBWT schemes all over the world, to the extent of data availability. The first version of the compilation was presented on the occasion of the 54th International Executive Council Meeting of ICID in Montpellier, France, 14 - 19 September 2003.
    [Show full text]
  • Reduced Annualreport1972.Pdf
    PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND CONSERVATION HON. ROBERT A. WILLIAMS, Minister LLOYD BROOKS, Deputy Minister REPORT OF THE Department of Recreation and Conservation containing the reports of the GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, FISH AND WILDLIFE BRANCH, PROVINCIAL PARKS BRANCH, BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL MUSEUM, AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES BRANCH Year Ended December 31 1972 Printed by K. M. MACDONALD, Printer to tbe Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1973 \ VICTORIA, B.C., February, 1973 To Colonel the Honourable JOHN R. NICHOLSON, P.C., O.B.E., Q.C., LLD., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: Herewith I beg respectfully to submit the Annual Report of the Department of Recreation and Conservation for the year ended December 31, 1972. ROBERT A. WILLIAMS Minister of Recreation and Conservation 1_) VICTORIA, B.C., February, 1973 The Honourable Robert A. Williams, Minister of Recreation and Conservation. SIR: I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Department of Recreation and Conservation for the year ended December 31, 1972. LLOYD BROOKS Deputy Minister of Recreation and Conservation CONTENTS PAGE Introduction by the Deputy Minister of Recreation and Conservation_____________ 7 General Administration_________________________________________________ __ ___________ _____ 9 Fish and Wildlife Branch____________ ___________________ ________________________ _____________________ 13 Provincial Parks Branch________ ______________________________________________
    [Show full text]
  • Hop-On Hop-Off
    604-451-1600 Attractions westcoastsightseeing.com + Activities pass today! pass Hop-Off Tour Hop-Off your Buy Hop-On, Tours Fully Guided Guided Fully *Plan for 45 minutes 45 for *Plan May 1 – October 14, 2019 14, October – 1 May SUMMER 19 • MAY 1 – OCTOBER 14,2019 1–OCTOBER SUMMER 19•MAY Pass Classic your 604-451-1600 Experience All Ages All commentary 30 min* 30 $29 Add-On option to to option Add-On westcoastsightseeing.com Multilingual $118 Child $107 Child You save $20 save You $18 save You frequency pass today! pass $234 Adult $211 Adult You save $40 $40 save You $37 save You minute 10-15 Harbour seawall Harbour your Buy Westin Bayshore hotel along Coal Coal along hotel Bayshore Westin 5:45pm – 9:45am Gardens Day Tour Day Gardens Tour Day Gondola ATTRACTIONS Electric Harbour Tour • Evening Tour of Vancouver of Tour Evening • Tour Harbour Electric of waterside - Drive Bayshore 1601 departures Multiple and 30 Stops 30 and • Book Coupon Value-added • ticket Ferries Creek TOURS & TOURS Victoria + Butchart Butchart + Victoria • Sky to Sea + Whistler • 4 3 Point Departure Start Tour Routes 2 48-Hour, Hop-On, Hop-Off Classic Pass • One-way False False One-way • Pass Classic Hop-Off Hop-On, 48-Hour, VANCOUVER Classic Pass Classic Pass Classic 24 H Hop-On, Hop-Off Hop-Off Hop-On, H 24 • Hop-Off Hop-On, H 24 • and the bustling cruise ship terminal. ship cruise bustling the and $50 $79 Pass Premium taking off, harbour wildlife such as seals and blue herons herons blue and seals as such wildlife harbour off, taking 2 Day Bundle Day 2 • Bundle Day 2 • Amazing front row seats to view seaplanes landing and and landing seaplanes view to seats row front Amazing • Victoria Whistler Indigenous history.
    [Show full text]
  • Media Relations
    at your service your at Media Relations This primer sheet offers What We Can a quick snapshot of Do for You: the Granville Island Here at Granville Island, experience. our team is happy to help with your travel, tourism, Granville Island entertainment and culinary Nestled in the centre of feature stories. We can: Canada’s most beautiful city is a more than a market, more than • Offer interesting solid leads breathtaking island oasis that will to prepare stories first-hand. an entertainment district, more capture your heart and seduce your than an artists’ neighbourhood, • Provide contacts for senses. This gathering spot for more than a marina, more than a interviews. both locals and tourists draws 10.5 visitor attraction. It’s a thriving • Provide, digital images to million visitors each year (71% of community that pulses and hums supplement your story. Granville Island’s tourists are from with energy. outside of British Columbia). • Provide a specialized guide A couple of landmark years: More than a destination, Granville to show you Granville Island’s In 2004, the Granville Island Island is an urban haven spilling sights and sounds. Public Market celebrated its 25th over with fine restaurants, theatres, Anniversary. That same year, galleries and studios, and all things Hours of Operation the Island was named “Best fresh: seafood, fruit, vegetables, Neighbourhood” in North America Granville Island plants, flowers, candy, fudge, by Project for Public Spaces, a Public Market breads and baked treats. Bring New York-based non-profit agency. Open 7 days a week your appetite. Indulge in fresh, In 2002, it garnered a PPS award 9am to 7pm daily tantalizing fare from local clams of Merit when Great Markets and crab to a Mexican lunch.
    [Show full text]
  • BC Hydro-Party Response
    BC Hydro—Party Response A14/SEM/97-001/05/RSP DISTRIBUTION: General ORIGINAL: English EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On April 2, 1997, the Sierra Legal Defence Fund and the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (the "submitters") made a submission under Article 14 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) alleging that the Government of Canada is failing to enforce its environmental law effectively. Specifically, the submission asserts that Canada fails to enforce s.35(1) of the Fisheries Act and fails to utilize its powers pursuant to s.119.06 of the National Energy Board Act to protect fish and fish habitat from damage caused by hydroelectric power generation in British Columbia by BC Hydro (BCH), a provincial Crown corporation. CANADA'S POSITION Canada supports the NAAEC process for submissions on enforcement matters, and considers Articles 14 and 15 to be among the most important provisions of the treaty. Canada submits that it is enforcing its environmental laws, and is in full compliance with its obligations under the NAAEC. Therefore, Canada submits that, in this instance, the development of a factual record is unwarranted as: · the assertions concerning the enforcement of the Fisheries Act are the subject of pending judicial or administrative proceedings within the meaning of Article 14(3)(a); · Canada is fully enforcing the environmental provisions of the Fisheries Act, and the National Energy Board (NEB) has properly exercised its power under the National Energy Board Act; · the provisions of the NAAEC cannot be applied retroactively to assertions of a failure to effectively enforce environmental laws prior to the coming into force of the NAAEC on January 1, 1994.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of Data Reflecting Vancouver's Waterfront
    A Comprehensive Assessment of Available Data Reflecting the State of Vancouver’s Waterfront Prepared for: Georgia Strait Alliance 412 – 207 W Hastings St Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 Prepared by: Tianna Peller, MEnvSc Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the following people/agencies for their assistance in providing guidance and data used in the creation of this report: Lance Barrett-Lennard, Vancouver Aquarium Qinghan Bian, BC Ministry of the Environment Sonya Botwinski, Port Metro Vancouver Peter Davidson, Bird Studies Canada Bridget Doyle, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Janice Dudas, Metro Vancouver Alan Duncan, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Catherine Jardine, Bird Studies Canada John Konovsky, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sabrina Lau Texier, Translink Patrick Lilley, Kerr Wood Leidal Andrew Ling, City of Vancouver Steve Litke, Fraser Basin Council Patrick Murphy, Port Metro Vancouver David Robertson, City of Vancouver Peter Ross, Vancouver Aquarium Julie Saxton, Metro Vancouver Diane Sutherland, BC Ministry of the Environment Lastly, a big thank you to all of the stakeholders who have attended the Waterfront Forums and shared their ideas. Cover page photo credits: Tianna Peller i List of Acronyms AVSs Acid volatile sulphides BC British Columbia BC FLNR British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations BC MOE British Columbia Ministry of Environment BIEAP Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program CCG Canadian Coast Guard CH4 Methane CMN Community Mapping Network CO Carbon monoxide CO2 Carbon dioxide COSEWIC
    [Show full text]
  • Vancouver Tourism Vancouver’S 2016 Media Kit
    Assignment: Vancouver Tourism Vancouver’s 2016 Media Kit TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 4 WHERE IN THE WORLD IS VANCOUVER? ........................................................ 4 VANCOUVER’S TIMELINE.................................................................................... 4 POLITICALLY SPEAKING .................................................................................... 8 GREEN VANCOUVER ........................................................................................... 9 HONOURING VANCOUVER ............................................................................... 11 VANCOUVER: WHO’S COMING? ...................................................................... 12 GETTING HERE ................................................................................................... 13 GETTING AROUND ............................................................................................. 16 STAY VANCOUVER ............................................................................................ 21 ACCESSIBLE VANCOUVER .............................................................................. 21 DIVERSE VANCOUVER ...................................................................................... 22 WHERE TO GO ............................................................................................................... 28 VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOOD STORIES ...................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nearshore Natural Capital Valuation Valuing the Aquatic Benefits of British Columbia’S Lower Mainland: Nearshore Natural Capital Valuation
    VALUING THE AQUATIC BENEFITS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA’s LOWER MAINLAND Nearshore Natural Capital Valuation VALUING THE AQUatIC BENEFITS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA’S LOWER MAINLAND: NeaRSHORE NatURAL CAPItaL VALUatION November 2012 David Suzuki Foundation and Earth Economics By Michelle Molnar, Maya Kocian and David Batker AcknOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the extremely helpful contributions received during the preparation of this report. First and foremost, the authors wish to acknowledge the Sitka Foundation, who made this report possible. In addition, we would like to thank VanCity, Pacific Parklands, and Vancouver Foundation for their early and ongoing support of our natural capital work. We would like to thank Kelly Stewart (San Jose State University), Heidi Hudson (DSF), Zac Christin (EE), Lola Paulina Flores (EE) and David Marcell (EE) for their research assistance. Thanks to peer reviewers Sara Wilson (Natural Capital Research and Consulting), David Batker (EE), Jay Ritchlin (DSF) and Faisal Moola (DSF) for their advice, guidance and support in strengthening this report. Many thanks to Hugh Stimson (Geocology Research) who provided spatial data analysis and produced all of the maps within this report, and Scott Wallace (DSF) for sharing his fisheries data analysis. Copyedit and design by Nadene Rehnby handsonpublications.com Downloaded this report at davidsuzuki.org and eartheconomics.org Suite 219, 2211 West 4th Avenue 107 N. Tacoma Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6K 4S2 Tacoma, WA 98403 T: 604.732.4228 T: 253.539.4801 E: [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • NATIVE LEGENDS of the INDIAN ARM AREA in 1934 Tsleil-Waututh
    NATIVE LEGENDS OF THE INDIAN ARM AREA – Compiled and edited by Ralph Drew, Belcarra, B.C. In 1934 Tsleil-Waututh hereditary Chief George Sla-holt recalled hearing the older natives talk of the legendary history: ‘The Great Flood’, ‘The Great Snowfall’ — a period of acute starvation — then the last great tragedy “Smallpox”, which took such a heavy (1) toll of Indian life all up the West Coast. “During the long, dark leisure months of winter on the Pacific Coast, master story tellers of the Coast Salish clans often would entertain groups ... with colourful legends based on history and mythology. The listeners would gather around the central fire … in a cavernous plank house of red cedar as the story teller spoke and acted out his legend with theatrical flare.” – Nick Booth (2) This anecdote about the arrival of the first train in Vancouver in May of 1887 was told to Major J.S. Matthews, City of Vancouver archivist, by Chief Andrew Paull of the North (3) Vancouver Indian Reserve: “You know the story of the Qoitchetahl (Serpent). Well, I have always been told that when the train first came down from Port Moody to Vancouver, the Indians along the south shore of the inlet took fright and ran. A great long black snake of a thing with a big black head came twirling around the curves blowing long blasts, Hoooo, Hoooo, Hoooo, and the Indians thought it was a Qoitchetahl coming back.” – Chief Andrew Paull Legend of the First Man and Woman (4) As told to Leonard George by Josephine Charlie who worked with Leonard on the CBC series The Beachcombers: “The wolf was very important to us because in a bad salmon year a wolf brought us half a deer, only keeping half for himself.
    [Show full text]