1: Oil Transportation by Train
In 2018, 27.8% or
59.6 bbls of all Washington oil was transported by train. Virtually all oil received in Washington previously was
received by ship or pipeline. The development of the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota, Montana, and Canada, has
resulted in oil also now arriving by rail” (WSDOT. pg. 76).
The shift to the transportation of crude oil by train
began in 2012 in Washington (ecology pdf). Compared to pipeline projects, “...rail shipment has provided a
quicker, more flexible alternative. The increased amount of oil transported by trains introduces risk to the
communities surrounding these tracks.
2: Population and Waterway risk
Many of the routes that carry oil by train pass through large cities, populated areas, and culturally
significant natural areas. “Rail routes transporting crude oil enter the state from Idaho near Spokane
and from British Columbia near Bellingham. Large segments of the rail routes travel along the I-5 corridor,
and cross or run next to major waterways, including the Columbia River and Puget Sound'' (WSDOT. pg. 76).
Passing by such large waterways and populated areas introduces extreme risk if a spill were to occur.
3: Impact on Seattle Residential Areas
Oil tankers running in close proximity to residential homes can introduce risk. A half mile evacuation zone is
recomended when a train derails, but it is extended to a mile when oil in spilled. "A one-mile or more evacuation
zone can result when there are explosions and fires involving multiple tanker cars that can produce extensive plumes
of toxic fumes, smoke, particulate matter and heat at significant distances from burning oil tankers." The spread of
oil fires represents a risk to communities living within a mile from the track.
In Seattle alone, 21,287 single and multifamily homes are within a mile radius of the track running through their
city. If an oil tanker were to explode in Seattle, tens of thousands of people and millions of dollars of property damage could
be at risk.
Data Source
4: Spills into Waterways
5: Effects on Wetlands
In Washington State, 6,843 Wetland areas are withing 1 mile of train rails that transport oil. This includes...
1,247 wetlands that are classified as forested wetland, 4,541 clasiffied as nonforested wetlands, 758 nonforested
wetland areas that is greater than 0.25 achres, and 758 classified as other.
6: Tribal Land Intersect
6: Custer
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