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