Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail: Reducing Risk and Improving Emergency Response

Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Reducing Risk/Improving Response 2 Crude Oil and Ethanol Growth Iowa’s Plan: Understand both Rail and Emergency Response Systems Preliminary Observations

3 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Why Iowa is Concerned Iowa Crude and Biofuels Study Why: Public and political attention to recent incidents Focus: Rail transportation of crude oil, and ethanol in Iowa Schedule: Commenced in August, draft report in January 2016 Stakeholders: railroads, state and local agencies, first responders Study consultant team: HDR Engineering, Inc., and Witt O’Brien’s Goal: An actionable strategy to reduce risk and improve emergency response Ethanol derailment and fire, Baltimore, 2007

4 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Growth in Rail Traffic Iowa’s concerns are complex and broad Iowa is a major ethanol producer – ethanol is an important jobs and economic driver in Iowa Iowa is a major transit state for crude oil, too However, significant spills/fire/loss of life has led to public and political concern, and media attention

4 Iowa Railroad Safety Symposium Prevention - Safety Track inspectors’ area of responsibility

7 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Railroad Perspective Overview Economically speaking, crude oil and ethanol trains are probably here to stay New tank car standards will not reduce risk to zero Public perception of risk is probably not going to diminish Elected and public officials are under pressure to restrict, regulate, or eliminate oil and ethanol trains Emergency responders will still need to respond

8 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail National Impact is Broad Perspective on Volumes Ethanol: From less than 1 to ~ 8 train-starts per day in 15 years Between 30 and 60 ethanol trains operating any given day Oil: From less than 1 to ~ 15 train-starts per day in 5 years Between 50 and 100 oil trains operating in any given day Very large single-train volumes – upward of 3,000,000 gallons per train Many current routes are historically not heavy-volume hazmat lanes Many mid-U.S. rail lines are now carrying oil and ethanol unit trains New routes will likely appear Not really viable to restrict routes

9 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Incidents can be significant Low probability, high impact Casselton, ND, December 2013: 1400 were people evacuated; 34-car train derailment Aliceville, Alabama, November 2013: more than 750,000 gallons of Bakken crude spilled in or near wetlands; 30 cars derailed; some burned Lac-Megantic, Quebec, July 2013: 47 people killed and area of downtown destroyed by fire in crude oil accident involving 63 derailed cars; 2000 people evacuated

10 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Who owns this problem? “It’s a railroad problem” “It’s a federal regulation problem” “It’s a carbon-dependency problem” Not Just a Track and Tankcar Problem Iowa’s Questions : How much risk do we have of an incident? How much risk do we have? How do we reduce risk? Are emergency preparedness programs adequate? How, where, and what do we do to improve our emergency response? How can our railroads and emergency responders improve their communication, planning, and response?

11 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Railroad Volume and Risk Analysis Iowa’s Study – Rail Components: Inform the state about the frequency, routes, and characteristics of crude oil and biofuels by rail within and through Iowa. Assess the risks to public health and safety, and the potential environmental impacts or rail transportation of crude oil and biofuels Document current programs and efforts related to rail incident prevention and management, including access to emergency equipment and services. Understand the limitations of federal rules changes Understand what each railroad’s plans and procedures are

12 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Emergency Response Analysis Iowa’s Study Elements – Emergency Response Realistic risk assessment (requires information sharing between local government/EM and railroads); include routes, material classification, volumes Location matters, so identification and mapping of population and critical infrastructure along routes with crude and ethanol transport (½-mile of rail line) Assessment of hazmat response capabilities along route Ability to operate in spill scenario, including fire, hazmat, evacuation, medical transport, and shelter capabilities? mutual aid? Plans, procedures, and coordination – trained on and exercised

13 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Federal, State, and Industry Resources Information Resources: Rail lines and crude and ethanol terminals operating in your jurisdiction State emergency management and public service/railroad commission Federal Railroad Administration U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration Energy Information Administration (U.S. Dept. of Energy) American Association of Railroads

14 Crude Oil and Ethanol by Rail Outcomes Bottom Line: State agencies, railroads, and local first responders must improve their partnership Improved knowledge of railroads – where, what, how – by emergency management system Training and resources flow to key areas Public awareness of improvements Increased risk in some locations, so increased need for updated risk assessment and leveraging of capabilities to protect human health and safety as well as property and infrastructure.

Questions? Tammy Nicholson Office of Rail Transportation Mark Hemphill HDR Engineering, Inc Phillip Webber Witt O’Brien’s