Washington’s First Railway Oil Spill Response Plan Approved

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In a move that has been touted as an important step toward protecting Washington’s natural resources, the Department of Ecology recently approved the state’s first railway oil spill response plan.

The precedent-setting plan relates specifically to BNSF Railway Company, the largest freight train operator in the state, which owns 1,332 miles of track in Washington. Those routes allow BNSF to makes regular deliveries to oil refineries at Cherry Point and Ferndale, truck racks in Seattle and Spokane, and terminals in Anacortes and Pasco. 

The newly approved oil response plan puts BNSF in compliance with the Department of Ecology’s protective requirements. The passage of those regulations makes Washington the second West Coast state, after California, to require spill contingency plans for railroads. While railroads are already required to comply with federal safety regulations those stipulations do not cover oil spill preparedness specifically.

“This plan is a significant step forward for the protection of Washington’s communities and environment,” said Dale Jensen, Ecology spills prevention program manager, in a press release. “Oil by rail has expanded significantly in recent years, and it’s imperative railroad companies are prepared to work with the state to respond to a spill in a rapid, aggressive, and well-coordinated manner.”

Last year approximately two billion gallons of crude oil were transported by rail through Washington. That traffic accounts for roughly 25 percent of the crude oil transportation conducted in Washington and the main oil train rail routes are located along major highways, as well as the Columbia River and Puget sound.  



The Oil Transportation Safety Act of 2015 dictates that all railroad lines have contingency plans in place for quick and effective response to oil spills. Identical requirements are in place for transportation vessels, pipelines, and oil facilities. 

The Department of Ecology noted several highlights from the plan. Those stipulations include a requirement to clarify how notifications are made in the event of an oil spill response situation along with a requirement that equipement, personnel and resources are strategically positioned statewise, and that teams are prepared to respond to any impacts to wildlife and communities. The plan also requires annual training on fast-water response techniques for local and tribal first-responders and contract response teams, as well as the implementation of general oil spill response drills.

According to the Department of Ecology crude oil train traffic increased significantly beginning in 2012. Prior to that year most in state oil transportation was conducted by shipping vessel or pipeline. Due to the increase in traffic the Oil Transportation Safety Act identified new risks in Washington. The Department of Ecology is in continuing discussion with eight railroad companies in order to create oil spill contingency plans. Three of those companies, including BNSF, transport unrefined crude oil.

Additional information can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/y82jsr7s.