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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1362 Packet City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: 06/28/2016 Resolution Urging the Prohibition of Transportation of Crude Oil By Train Through Edmonds (5 min.) Staff Lead: Andrew Pierce Department: City Council Preparer: Andrew Pierce Background/History The recent oil train derailment and fire in the Columbia River gorge area of Mosier, Oregon highlighted the continued risk of trains carrying crude oil via train through populated areas and natural habitats. Due to projected increased in Crude Oil train traffic in the Northwest United States many localities and governments in the region are taking action to address the potential threats posed by the transportation of crude oil via train. Staff Recommendation <Type or insert text here> Narrative (Text Borrowed from the National Conference of State Legislatures) The United States is producing more oil than it has in 30 years, and extraction companies are increasingly relying on railroads to deliver these products to refineries. Recent technological advances such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are driving the increase in oil and natural gas extraction by unlocking access to resources in Canada and the U.S. that were previously considered too costly to develop. In 2014, the U.S. became the No. 1 producer of oil in the world-overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia-and that upward trend has continued into 2015. While the U.S. produced an average of 8.7 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2014, during the first six months of 2015 that number rose to an average of more than 9.4 billion barrels per day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. hasn’t extracted that volume of crude since the early 1970s. Leading the way are Texas and North Dakota, which combined account for almost half of domestic production. In some cases, production levels have reached pipeline capacity, forcing producers to identify alternative transportation methods. Many have turned to the railways, which have experienced incredible growth in crude oil transport. In fact, the number of carloads carrying oil in 2014 rose by more than 5,000 percent when compared with the numbers in 2008, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). North Dakota’s Bakken region accounts for much of this growth, with more than half of its production- around 700,000 barrels per day in early 2015-moving out of the region on rail. That crude oil is moved to refineries predominantly on the East and West Coasts, where it is processed into useful petroleum products like heating oil, diesel fuel or gasoline. 7.2 Packet Pg. 81 According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), just 2.6 percent of petroleum products were transported by rail in 2009. Now, approximately 11 percent of these products are carried on Class I railroads, according to AAR. Although oil still makes up less than 2 percent of total rail freight, the volume of oil transported by rail has grown exponentially. Specifically, it’s the difference between 9,344 carloads terminated on U.S. Class I railroads in 2008, compared with 540,383 carloads in 2014. Despite the fact that almost all of these carloads reach their destination without accidents, several high- profile incidents have brought the issue into the national spotlight and led some to call for greater rail safety standards for crude oil transports. In 2013, a derailment and explosion killed 47 people and spilled 1.5 million gallons of crude oil in Lac Mégantic, Quebec. An analysis of federal data from DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) estimated that 1.15 million gallons of crude oil spilled from rail cars in the U.S. in 2013. The topic came to the forefront again in early 2015 after several derailments and spills occurred within a matter of weeks. However, railroads are carrying a much greater volume of fuel than in preceding decades. According to AAR, railroads carried over 11.5 billion gallons of fuel in 2013, and 99.99 percent of carloads reached their destination without a release caused by an accident. Overall rail safety and accident prevention has also improved dramatically in recent years. Rail accidents are down nearly 85 percent since 1980, and around 25 percent since 2000, according to Federal Railroad Administration data. Similarly, the number of hazardous materials spills has fallen by almost 60 percent since 2000-and this at a time when the number of hazmat cars has risen by nearly 15 percent. Railroad Classes About 570 freight railroads operate in the U.S., according to the AAR. These railroads are classified into categories primarily based on operating revenue, which is adjusted annually for inflation through regulations outlined by the Surface Transportation Board. Class I railroads are those having annual operating revenues of more than $467 million as of 2013. There are two Canadian railroads and two Mexican railroads that have enough operating revenue to qualify them as Class I. There are currently seven Class I railroads operating 94,300 miles of road in the U.S. This accounts for 68 percent of freight rail mileage and 94 percent of revenue. Non-Class I railroads-more commonly known as regional or short line railroads-vary in size from small operations carrying a few loads per month to much larger, multi- state operations. Although crude oil transported by rail primarily occurs on Class I railroads, regional and short line railroads can also be used when moving crude oil shorter distances and as a way to connect to the larger railroad system. 7.2 Packet Pg. 82 RESOLUTION NO. [####] A RESOLUTION URGING THE PROPHIBITION OF THE TRANSPORT OF CRUDE OIL BY RAIL THROUGH THE CITY OF EDMONDS WHEREAS, the City Council has a responsibility and a duty to protect the health and safety of its citizens; and WHEREAS, as a signatory member of the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance (“SELA”), Edmonds has committed itself to being a regional and national leader in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change unequivocally linked to the burning of fossil fuels; and WHEREAS, Edmonds has committed itself to protecting the environment and natural resources of our community, the State of Washington, the United State of America, and the Earth; and WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels in the production of energy is unsustainable and is in stark contradiction to the goals of Edmonds to mitigate and combat the effects of climate change; and WHEREAS, the transport and use of large volumes of crude oil is not compatible with the City of Edmonds’ role as a regional and national leader in addressing climate change; and WHEREAS, trains carrying crude oil frequently traverse the rail lines that run through the City of Edmonds; and WHEREAS, the volume of crude oil developed and transported by rail, emanating mainly from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota, through and into the state of Washington is estimated to increase approximately three-hundred percent from the current level of approximately 19 trains weekly to 57 trains weekly by 2020; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has determined that crude oil from the Bakken shale formation may be more flammable, with a lower flash point, than traditional heavy crude oil; and WHEREAS, rail incidents involving crude oil have increased nearly fifteen-hundred percent between 2010 and 2014, and current trends show no evidence of the number of incidents diminishing; and WHEREAS, recent derailments, spills, and fires, such as the recent derailment and fire in the Columbia River Gorge area of Mosier, Oregon, as well as the multiple recent derailments, fires, and oil spills resulting in devastating destruction to both communities and the environment, including the derailment and subsequent explosion and fire in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, which caused the deaths of 47 people, the evacuation of thousands of people, and the destruction of 7.2.a Packet Pg. 83 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n D r a f t ( M ) ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) many homes and businesses evidence the necessity to take appropriate measures to safeguard our residents and environment; and WHEREAS, the rail lines that transport crude oil from the Bakken shale formation run through and by Edmonds’ residential, natural, and commercial areas, including: parks, neighborhoods, businesses, a ferry terminal, a senior center, and along Edmonds’ waterfront, marshes, and other natural areas; and WHEREAS, a potential similar derailment, fire, evacuation, and loss of property and life would be devastating to the City of Edmonds and its residents; and WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds is deeply concerned about the threat to life, property, and the environment resulting from derailments leading to oil spills, explosions, and fires from the transport of crude oil by rail; WHEREAS, prior resolutions passed by this Council addressing the issue of the transportation of fossil fuels via rail have not been adequately addressed by the governments of the State of Washington or the United States of America, have not led to a decrease in the transportation of coal and other fossil fuels through our community, and did not account for the increases in transportation of fossil fuels via rail through Edmonds. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, THAT: Section 1: The City Council of the City of Edmonds strongly urges the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Congress to prohibit the transportation of crude oil by rail through the City of Edmonds. Section 2: Copies of this resolution shall be transmitted by the City Clerk to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State, including: Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Jim McDermott; Governor Jay Inslee ; each member of the Washington State delegation representing the City of Edmonds from Districts 21 and 32 , including: Senator Maralyn Chase, Senator Marko Liias, Representative Cindy Ryu, Representative Ruth Kagi, Representative Strom Peterson, and Representative Lillian Ortiz -Self. 7.2.a Packet Pg. 84 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n D r a f t ( M ) ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 85 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 86 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 87 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 88 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 89 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 90 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 91 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 92 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 93 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 94 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 95 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 96 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 97 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 98 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 99 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 100 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 101 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 102 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 103 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 104 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 105 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 106 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 107 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 108 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 109 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 110 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 111 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 112 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 113 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s ) 7.2.b Packet Pg. 114 At t a c h m e n t : O i l T r a i n R e s o l u t i o n B i n d e r 2 ( 1 3 4 6 : R e s o l u t i o n U r g i n g t h e P r o h i b i t i o n o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f C r u d e O i l B y T r a i n T h r o u g h E d m o n d s )