1. OIL TRAINS IN SEATTLE
Our Community At Risk

2. Oil Trains in Seattle
Oil trains travel through Seattle, putting our community at risk from derailments and explosions
Current level is about six trains per week. Shell Oil is proposing to double that by bringing in six more trains a week for a new oil-by- rail facility in Anacortes.

3. Oil Train Explosion: Near Galena, Illinois
March 6, 2015
"EPA is overseeing efforts to protect the nearby Galena River from leaking oil. ( )" by US Government, EPA is in the Public Domain

4. Oil Train Explosion: Near Mount Carbon, WV
February 16, 2015
Thirteen explosions occurred in ten hours
Nineteen cars caught fire, and burned for four days
Video: ABC News
Photo ” Mount-Carbon-West-Va-2015-train-derailment” by Chief Petty Officer Angie Vallier / US Coast Guard, is in the public domain

5. Oil Train Explosion: Lac Megantic, Quebec
July 6, 2013
1.6 million gallons of crude oil ignited
Flaming oil poured through downtown
42 dead, 5 missing and presumed dead
Contaminated sewer, lake, ground water
$2.7 billion in property damage
"Canada Oil Train Derailment"  The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
"Canadian Transportation Safety Board" by Canadian Transportation Safety Board is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

6. Other Oil Train Explosions
Aliceville, Alabama: November 8, 2013
Casselton, North Dakota: December 30, 2013 
Plaster Rock, New Brunswick: January 8, 2014
Lynchburg, Virginia: April 30, 2014
Timmins, Ontario: February 16, 2015
Gogama, Ontario: March 7, 2015
Heimdal, North Dakota: May 6, 2015
Mosier, Oregon: June 3, 2016

7. New U.S. Safety Standards
In May 2015, U.S. DOT issued new standards for oil trains
Phase out the use of older-model DOT 111 tank cars
Use newer model 1232 cars
New operational requirements, including speed restrictions and braking controls 7

8. Oil Train Explosion: Mosier, Oregon_
June 3, 2016 outside Mosier: population 430
42,000 gallons of Bakken crude oil spilled
Fire burned for 14 hours
The new DOT safety regulations were in place
Newer, 'safer' model 1232 cars
Tracks had been inspected on April 27
"2016 Union Pacific oil train fire""2016 Union Pacific oil train fire" by US Coast Guard is in the Public Domain

9. Fighting the Mosier Fire
The railroad recommended using a special type of fire suppression foam, but it was of no use for the first 10 hours. “Union Pacific said the metal was too hot, and the foam would just evaporate without any suppression effect” -- Jim Appleton, Mosier Fire Chief Crews spent 8 to 10 hours cooling the cars with 1,500 gallons of water per minute, before the final car was cool enough to extinguish with the foam.

10. Mosier: Aftermath
"I don't see how anyone can make an argument for safety or acceptable risks after this. It almost took out my town."
"I hope that this becomes the death knell for this mode of shipping this cargo. I think it’s insane."
- Jim Appleton, Mosier Fire Chief
"Oil Train Explosion: Mosier, Oregon ""Oil Train Explosion: Mosier, Oregon " by Ecology Washington"Oil Train Explosion: Mosier, Oregon " by Ecology Washington is licensed under CC BY 4.0

11. Oil Train Routes, Washington State
Map:

12. Oil Train Evacuation and Impact Zones
Map:

13. North Beach Elementary School, Seattle
Photo by Ellen Jesse
Map:

14. Lawton Elementary School, Seattle
Map:

15. Lawton Elementary School, Seattle
Train Tracks, 150 yards from Lawton Elementary
Lawton Elementary School

16. Seattle Schools in the Blast Zone
Elementary Schools
Adams
Bailey Gatzert
Lawton
Loyal Heights
Maple
North Beach
Rainier View
Van Asselt
Wing Luke
High Schools
The Center School
Cleveland
John Stanford Center 16

17. Oil Train Impact Zone, Seattle
Map:

18. Oil Train Route: Safeco Field
Photo by Terri Suess

19. What Would an Oil Train Fire Do To Seattle?
"An oil train accident that results in fire, explosion and/or spill would be a catastrophe for our community" - Barb Graff, Director, Office of Emergency Management
We have already had a close call. A locomotive and four cars carrying crude oil went off the track beneath the Magnolia Bridge on July 24, Fortunately, there was no fire and no explosion.

20. What Can We Do? Protect Seattle's schools, businesses and people
Submit comments on Shell's Railcar Facility Expansion
Attend the Department of Ecology hearing, expected to be scheduled for November
Sign public letters and comment cards
"SB314 Public Hearing""SB314 Public Hearing" by Jay Williams is licensed under CC BY 4.0 20

21. Appendix: FAQs 21

22. Why Is This Oil So Dangerous?
Bakken Shale: A new source of crude oil
Six times more propane than other crude oils
More volatile than gasoline
Bakken oil is coming through Seattle
Boom in fracked oil from the Bakken Shale
Congress ended restrictions on crude oil export
Washington state has export facilities
"Bakken Formation Producing Wells" by US Government is in the Public Domain

23. How Much Has Oil Train Traffic Increased?
2008
Information Source: CNN News 23

24. Are Oil Trains Necessary?
We can get energy from renewables
New U.S. solar capacity added in 2016 is equal to 24 oil trains per week.
New U.S. wind capacity added in 2016 is equal to 12 oil trains per week.