2014 Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study
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-5- 15 – Washington State 2014 Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study March 1, 2015 Publication Number: 15-08-010 Publication Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology’s website at: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/1508010.html More details about the study are available at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/OilMovement/2014MRStudy.html Contact Information Spill Prevention, Preparedness & Response Program P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Phone: 360-407-6251 Washington State Department of Ecology - www.ecy.wa.gov o Headquarters, Olympia 360-407-6000 o Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue 425-649-7000 o Southwest Regional Office, Olympia 360-407-6300 o Central Regional Office, Yakima 509-575-2490 o Eastern Regional Office, Spokane 509-329-3400 Cover photo: Mt. Rainer, oil train, Columbia River, and oil tanker. Accommodation Requests: To request ADA accommodation including materials in a format for the visually impaired, call Ecology at 360-407-7455. Persons with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. Persons with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341. Washington State 2014 Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study Dr. Dagmar Schmidt Etkin Environmental Research Consulting 41 Croft Lane Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567-1160 Mr. John Joeckel, Ms. Ann Hayward Walker, and Ms. Debra Scholz SEA Consulting Group 325 Mason Avenue Cape Charles, VA 23310 Dr. Colin Moore and Mr. Cameron Baker Herbert Engineering Corp. 1040 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 200 Alameda, CA 94501 Mr. David Hatzenbuhler, Mr. Robert G. Patton, and Mr. Eric Lyman MainLine Management, Inc. 109 Bellwood Drive Garland, TX 75040 Mr. David Culpepper Culpepper Group 1441 Canal Street, Suite 407-L New Orleans, LA 70112 Under the Direction of: Spill Prevention, Preparedness & Response Program Washington State Department of Ecology Olympia, Washington Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study - Page 1 Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. 6 List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 10 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................... 17 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 18 Key Recommendations to the Washington State Legislature for the 2015-17 Biennium ........ 21 Key Recommendations for the Federal Government ................................................................ 23 The Changing Oil Transportation Picture ............................................................................... 25 National Changes in Oil Production and Transport .................................................................. 25 Crude Oil Types Transported by Rail ....................................................................................... 29 Changes in Oil Transport in Washington State ......................................................................... 30 The Oil Transport Model for Washington State........................................................................ 35 Crude-by-Rail Traffic ................................................................................................................ 42 Tank Vessel Transport of Crude-by-Rail Oil ............................................................................ 45 Crude-by-Rail-Related Facilities............................................................................................... 48 Summarizing Major Changes with Crude-by-Rail Transport ................................................... 48 Crude-by-Rail and Marine Transport Risk Concerns ............................................................ 51 Public Safety Risks: Fires and Explosions ................................................................................ 51 Public Safety Risks: Wildfires .................................................................................................. 61 Public Safety Risks: Crossing Accidents .................................................................................. 61 Health Risks .............................................................................................................................. 63 Tribal Treaty Risks .................................................................................................................... 65 Environmental Risks from Spills Related to Crude-by-Rail .................................................... 67 Climate Risks ............................................................................................................................ 74 Socio-Economic Risks .............................................................................................................. 74 Probability of Oil Spills from Trains ........................................................................................ 76 Mitigating Risk ............................................................................................................................ 82 Mitigating Crude-by-Rail Risks by Prevention ....................................................................... 84 UTC Railroad Safety Program .................................................................................................. 84 Federal Partnerships .................................................................................................................. 85 Regulatory and Statutory Framework Governing Rail Industry ............................................... 86 Findings on Crude-by-Rail Prevention-Based Risk Mitigation Measures ................................ 90 Mitigating Potential Risks from Marine Transport through Prevention .............................. 94 Current Marine Traffic Carrying Crude-by-Rail Cargoes......................................................... 94 Potential Future Marine Traffic Carrying Crude-by-Rail Cargoes ........................................... 94 Impact of Crude-by-Rail on Future Vessel Traffic ................................................................... 95 Safety Concerns with Crude-by-Rail Vessel Traffic................................................................. 96 Findings on Crude-by-Rail Marine Prevention-Based Risk Mitigation Measures ................... 97 Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study - Page 2 Mitigating Risks at Terminals, the Interface between Crude-by-Rail Transport and End Users or Marine Transport – Prevention ............................................................... 104 Findings on Crude-by-Rail Terminal Risk Mitigation ............................................................ 104 Mitigating Risks through Preparedness and Response ........................................................ 106 Findings on Oil Spill Planning and Emergency Response for Crude-by-Rail ........................ 106 Findings on Local, County, and State Emergency Preparedness Response Capabilities ....... 109 Findings on Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) ................................................................... 112 Findings on Oil Spill Response Resources: Rail and Vessels ................................................. 113 Mitigating Future Risk through Understanding Oil Transport Changes .......................... 116 Findings on Risk Mitigation Through Understanding of Oil Transport Changes................... 116 Study Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 120 Rail-Based Risk Mitigation Measures..................................................................................... 120 Marine-Based Risk Mitigation Measures ................................................................................ 122 Facility-Based Risk Mitigation Recommendations................................................................. 124 Oil Spill Planning and Response Recommendations .............................................................. 125 Local, County, and State Response Recommendations .......................................................... 127 Geographic Response Plan (GRP) Recommendations............................................................ 128 Oil Spill Response Resources: Rail and Vessel Recommendations ....................................... 128 Mitigating Future Risk Recommendations ............................................................................. 129 References .................................................................................................................................. 130 Glossary, Acronyms, and Abbreviations ................................................................................ 143 Appendix A: In Depth: Crude-by-Rail Transport ................................................................. 173 Overview of the Rail Network in Washington ........................................................................ 173 BNSF Mainline Rail Network in Washington ........................................................................ 174 BNSF Operations in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia ........................................