The Benicia Independent ~ Eyes on the Environment / Benicia news & views

The Benicia Independent ~ Eyes on the Environment / Benicia news & views

Search
Skip to content
  • Coronavirus
    • COVID19 cases and deaths – daily update for Solano County
    • COVID19 hospitalizations – daily update for Solano County
    • COVID-19 ICU Beds Availability by REGION
  • Benicia Black Lives Matter – Our Voices
  • BENICIA – WHERE TO WRITE!
  • ARCHIVES
    • 2020 Benicia Election
      • The BenIndy on our 2020 Election
      • Valero smears Steve Young to promote it’s preferred candidate
      • Valero PAC Financial Disclosures
    • ISO
    • CRUDE BY RAIL
      • About Crude By Rail
        • Resources
        • Marilyn Bardet interviews
        • Valero CBR Background
      • CBR – Take Action Now!
        • Day After the NEXT BIG ONE – Take Action!
      • CBR – Local Media Coverage
      • CBR – Links
      • Stop the oil trains – Poetry, Song, etc.
      • CBR – CBR Official Project Documents
        • Valero appeal to City Council (and STB)
        • Final EIR
        • REVISED EIR
        • Draft EIR and Mitigated Negative Declaration
      • CBR – 2016 Project Review
        • Formal Comments by Benicians for a Safe & Healthy Community
        • 2015 – Public comments DEIR, RDEIR
        • Highly critical reviews at close of DEIR public comment period
        • 2014 – Public comments DEIR
        • 2013 – Public Comments MND & Scoping
      • Kamala Harris letters
  • RogerStraw.com
  • ABOUT THE BENINDY
Bakken Crude, Crude By Rail, Derailment, Emergency Readiness & Response, Oil spill, Spill, Spill prevention and response, Tar sands crude

Forecast: derailment every other year if oil train terminal is built

November 24, 2015 Roger Straw

Repost from McClatchyDC
[Editor: Reporter Curtis Tate of McClatchy DC was honored last week with a National Press Foundation award for his reporting on crude by rail. The Benicia Independent has reposted many of Tate’s reports, and joins the NPF in honoring him for his many excellent contributions. – RS]

Analysis forecasts derailment every other year if oil train terminal is built

HIGHLIGHTS
•  Wash. state facility would receive 4 trains a day
•  Just one fire department in state said it was ready
•  BNSF among clients of firm that wrote spill study

By Curtis Tate, November 24, 2015
More oil trains could bring more oil train derailments to Washington state, a draft environmental impact statement predicts.
More oil trains could bring more oil train derailments to Washington state, a draft environmental impact statement predicts. Bellingham Herald

WASHINGTON – A proposal to build the largest oil train terminal in the Pacific Northwest could result in a derailment every two years and an oil spill from a derailment once every 12, according to a draft analysis by a Washington state agency.

The document, released Tuesday, indicates that most fire departments along the oil trains’ rail route are not prepared for a spill or fire that could accompany a derailment. Out of the 12 departments that responded to the survey request, only one indicated its firefighters are trained and equipped for such an incident.

Further, only half the departments said they knew the locations of BNSF Railway’s specialized firefighting equipment closest to their jurisdiction. And while three-quarters of them reported having access to personal protective equipment, firefighting foam and foam applicators, only a quarter said they had access to oil spill containment booms.

The draft environmental impact statement from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council said that BNSF would bring four oil trains a day to the Vancouver Energy facility at the Port of Vancouver, Wash., with the loaded trains mostly following the path of the Columbia River and the empty trains returning east via Tacoma, Auburn and Stampede Pass.

With those four daily trains, carrying 100 or more cars each of either light crude from North Dakota or diluted heavy crude from western Canada, the agency forecast “a derailment incident might occur once every two years with a loaded train, and once every 20 months with an empty train.”

The document noted, however, that not all derailments would result in a spill.

Tina Barbee, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Energy, said the company was reviewing the document and “will be able to address specific issues and respond to more detailed questions over the coming weeks.”

Courtney Wallace, a spokeswoman for BNSF, said the railroad had trained 800 firefighters in Washington state this year, and that included giving them the location of BNSF’s specialized firefighting resources.

She said BNSF has equipment and personnel staged in Everett, Seattle, Longview, Wishram, Pasco and Spokane.

“We will continue to work with first responders to ensure they have information about BNSF’s resources,” Wallace said.

EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE

There have been seven derailments of oil trains in North America this year that have resulted in spills or fires. Though none of those events took place in Washington state, derailments in West Virginia, Illinois, North Dakota and Montana released hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil.

The rail spill analysis portion of the Washington state draft document was written in part by three consultants who are former employees of BNSF and its predecessor, Burlington Northern. In addition to the state agency for which they prepared the analysis, their clients include BNSF and the Port of Vancouver.

Neither the state agency, nor its consultants could be reached to comment late Tuesday.

Wallace, the BNSF spokeswoman, said she knew of no work or input from the railroad on the rail spill analysis.

Read McClatchy’s award-winning coverage of oil trains


Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/economy/article46350165.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/economy/article46350165.html#storylink=cpy

 

Auburn WABakken crudeBNSF RailwayColumbia RiverCrude by RailDerailmentEmergency Readiness & ResponseEnergy Facility Site Evaluation CouncilEverett WALongview WAoil spillPacific NorthwestPasco WAPort of VancouverSeattle WASpillSpill prevention and responseSpokane WAStampede PassTacoma WATar sands crudeVancouver Energy ProjectWashington StateWishram WA

Post navigation

Previous PostThree derailments are three too manyNext PostOil train safety concerns cast shadow over cross-border rail deal

Subscribe to BenIndy News & Views

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive email notifications of new posts.

Join 1,085 other subscribers

The occasional BenIndy Newsletter

Sign up for the OCCASIONAL Benicia Independent newsletter.  The newsletter comes out once a month on average, by email.

CLICK HERE to join over 1,300 other Newsletter subscribers…

BenIndy on Facebook

BenIndy on Facebook

Buy a BenIndy hat, mug, t-shirt…

Enjoy our cool designs…
your dollars will support the BenIndy!

For safe and healthy communities…

Recent Posts

  • Solano County revises reporting of COVID in Latinx community – cases up from 16% to 30% March 1, 2021
  • Benicia City Council to consider whether to discuss BUSD recall effort February 28, 2021
  • Solano reports 56 new COVID-19 cases overnight, no new deaths February 26, 2021
  • This Saturday on zoom – BENICIA CITY COUNCIL GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP 2021 February 26, 2021
  • Appointments available! COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Saturday, Solano Fairgrounds, Vallejo February 26, 2021
  • Smart and funny … How one city is defunding the police February 26, 2021
  • Solano County reports 14 previously unreported COVID hospitalizations February 25, 2021
  • Center For Biological Diversity submits comment letter – opposing gas drilling in Suisun Marsh February 25, 2021
  • ALERT – TIME SENSITIVE! Need to send letters to stop drilling project in Suisun Marsh February 25, 2021
  • Benicia Author Stephen Golub – The Four Covid Questions, Israel and Good Vaccination News February 25, 2021
  • COVID deaths continue to mount as Solano County reports 4 new deaths February 24, 2021
  • A COVID-19 Mystery in Benicia / Solano County February 23, 2021
  • Benicia records no new COVID cases, first time since October 30! Spread continues in Solano County February 22, 2021
  • Solano County update on new State guidance for youth and recreational sports February 22, 2021
  • 500,000 COVID deaths – 4 ways to visualize an almost unimaginable toll February 22, 2021
  • TODAY, SHORT NOTICE! Benicia Black Lives Matter Poetry Reading February 21, 2021
  • COVID in Solano County: Case count and positivity rate back up, 39 deaths in last 19 days February 19, 2021
  • Benicia Author Stephen Golub – To Beat Trump’s Big “Stolen Election” Lie, Promote the Big Truth February 19, 2021
  • Solano COVID update: number of new cases down, but 6 of our elders hospitalized February 18, 2021
  • Solano County reports 34 COVID deaths in first 16 days of February February 17, 2021
  • Long weekend gives Solano County 9 new COVID deaths, total of 27 dead in first 2 weeks of February February 16, 2021
  • Good explanation of requirements for coming expansion of housing stock in Benicia February 15, 2021
  • Don’t take pain meds before your COVID shot?? Questions… February 15, 2021
  • Your 2nd COVID vaccine shot – What not to do BEFORE and what to expect AFTER… February 15, 2021
  • Open letter to City and County officials – Benicia Black Lives Matter, on right-wing extremism in Sheriff Dept. February 14, 2021
  • Solano County COVID-19 update: 79 new infections, 12 new hospitalizations February 11, 2021
  • Solano Supervisor Monica Brown – update on vaccines and more February 11, 2021
  • Benicia School Superintendent: Goal to begin in-person learning on March 22 February 11, 2021
  • Two mass vaccination events coming up on Feb. 12 & 13 at Vallejo Fairgrounds February 10, 2021
  • Solano County COVID-19 Update: 132 new cases overnight, 81 currently hospitalized February 10, 2021
  • Investigation: Solano Sheriff officer promoted far-right imagery February 10, 2021
  • Benicia gets new Police Chief, 30-year veteran Mike Greene February 10, 2021
  • Benicia Mayor and Solano County Public Health Officer disagree whether teachers should get vaccine sooner February 10, 2021
  • Solano County COVID numbers on Tuesday Feb. 9: fewer new infections, but 6 new deaths February 10, 2021
  • South Africa coronavirus variant that reduces vaccine efficacy found in two Bay Area counties February 10, 2021
  • LIVE: Chevron oil spill in SF Bay prompts health advisory for Richmond, nearby cities February 9, 2021
  • Stacey Abrams: Our democracy faced a near-death experience. Here’s how to revive it. February 9, 2021
  • 308 Solano County residents got COVID over the weekend… February 8, 2021
  • Benicia Author Stephen Golub – Norway?? February 8, 2021
  • ANALYSIS: School reopening becomes the new partisan wedge issue February 8, 2021
  • OPEN VALLEJO: Solano deputies, Vacaville councilmember promote anti-government militia February 6, 2021
  • About Benicia Black Lives Matter February 6, 2021
  • Benicia Black Lives Matter letter opposes School Board recall effort February 6, 2021
  • Latest news in the funny papers February 6, 2021
  • COVID in Solano County: 175 new cases today, 1 youth under 18 hospitalized February 5, 2021
  • Benicia Mayor Steve Young opposes recall – Don’t sign the petition! February 5, 2021
  • New York Times on how to plan for a safe Super Bowl party February 4, 2021
  • COVID hitting Solano County hard: 12 dead in first 4 days of February February 4, 2021
  • Benicia Author Stephen Golub – From Russia, With Love February 4, 2021
  • Sign up for your Solano County COVID-19 vaccination February 4, 2021
  • Report that Solano County will open mass vaccination site this Friday-Saturday Feb. 5-6 February 3, 2021
  • Solano County records 7 coronavirus deaths in first 3 days of February February 3, 2021
  • Benicia School Board Trustee Ferrucci: ‘I do not believe a recall vote is in the best interest of our community.’ February 3, 2021
  • Five dead in Solano County – COVID-19 report on February 2 February 2, 2021
  • COVID-19 in Solano County – January totals, and 485 new cases over the weekend February 1, 2021
  • Don’t sign the Benicia recall petition! February 1, 2021
  • Benicia COVID vaccine clinic – This Tuesday is full, but you can sign up for a future clinic February 1, 2021
  • Many who have received the coronavirus vaccine wonder: What can I safely do? February 1, 2021
  • Benicia COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Now Full (As of late Saturday 1/30) January 31, 2021
  • Benicia Author Stephen Golub – Get the Whole World Vaccinated! January 31, 2021
  • Forget Trump: Biden is undoing harmful rules that have been in place since Reagan January 31, 2021
  • Coronavirus still spreading in Solano County – 220 new cases overnight January 29, 2021
  • COVID19 Vaccine offered in Benicia for seniors over 75 January 29, 2021
  • Solano COVID-19 UPDATE: Jan. avg of 296 new cases per day, avgs for Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun, Rio Vista, Vacaville, Dixon January 28, 2021
  • Solano COVID-19 update: shocking but predictable result of holiday surge: 16 deaths in last 8 days January 27, 2021
  • COVID-19: As deaths spike, other curves begin to bend January 27, 2021
  • On a personal note… WOOHOO! I’m getting the vaccine tomorrow! January 26, 2021
  • Solano County COVID-19 update: Some good news, some not-so-good January 26, 2021
  • Four new COVID-19 deaths in Solano County, shrinking availability of ICU beds January 25, 2021
  • So we’re back in the COVID Purple Tier – what’s that mean exactly? January 25, 2021

Archives

  • March 2021 (1)
  • February 2021 (57)
  • January 2021 (50)
  • December 2020 (74)
  • November 2020 (55)
  • October 2020 (55)
  • September 2020 (57)
  • August 2020 (48)
  • July 2020 (82)
  • June 2020 (83)
  • May 2020 (91)
  • April 2020 (129)
  • March 2020 (89)
  • February 2020 (16)
  • January 2020 (23)
  • December 2019 (10)
  • November 2019 (12)
  • October 2019 (10)
  • September 2019 (31)
  • August 2019 (34)
  • July 2019 (9)
  • June 2019 (21)
  • May 2019 (28)
  • April 2019 (31)
  • March 2019 (60)
  • February 2019 (21)
  • January 2019 (16)
  • December 2018 (5)
  • November 2018 (39)
  • October 2018 (49)
  • September 2018 (20)
  • August 2018 (11)
  • July 2018 (17)
  • June 2018 (19)
  • May 2018 (15)
  • April 2018 (23)
  • March 2018 (17)
  • February 2018 (15)
  • January 2018 (4)
  • December 2017 (5)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (22)
  • September 2017 (15)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (4)
  • April 2017 (8)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (3)
  • December 2016 (7)
  • November 2016 (25)
  • October 2016 (34)
  • September 2016 (29)
  • August 2016 (51)
  • July 2016 (40)
  • June 2016 (27)
  • May 2016 (47)
  • April 2016 (49)
  • March 2016 (73)
  • February 2016 (46)
  • January 2016 (11)
  • December 2015 (40)
  • November 2015 (56)
  • October 2015 (26)
  • September 2015 (45)
  • August 2015 (52)
  • July 2015 (71)
  • June 2015 (48)
  • May 2015 (82)
  • April 2015 (100)
  • March 2015 (101)
  • February 2015 (85)
  • January 2015 (61)
  • December 2014 (72)
  • November 2014 (66)
  • October 2014 (60)
  • September 2014 (71)
  • August 2014 (78)
  • July 2014 (78)
  • June 2014 (99)
  • May 2014 (80)
  • April 2014 (69)
  • March 2014 (78)
  • February 2014 (48)
  • January 2014 (21)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • July 2013 (2)
  • June 2013 (1)
  • May 2013 (1)

Categories

Tags

  • 2020 elections
  • Air Quality
  • Bakken
  • Bakken crude
  • Benicia CA
  • Benicia City Council
  • Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)
  • Climate change
  • Coronavirus COVID 19
  • count
  • COVID19.CA.GOV
  • Crude by Rail
  • CSX
  • Derailment
  • Dixon CA
  • DOT-111
  • Emergency Readiness & Response
  • explosion
  • Fairfield CA
  • Federal Railroad Administration
  • Federal Regulation (U.S.)
  • Fire
  • Hazmat notification
  • Hospitalizations
  • ICU
  • Lac-Megantic Quebec
  • Lac-Mégantic
  • Massive increase in crude-by-rail
  • North Dakota
  • Oil Industry
  • oil spill
  • Rail safety
  • Rio Vista CA
  • Solano County CA
  • State regulation
  • Suisun City CA
  • Tank car design
  • Tar sands crude
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Union Pacific Railroad
  • Vacaville CA
  • Valero Benicia Refinery
  • Valero Crude by Rail
  • Vallejo CA
Proudly powered by WordPress