See the PDF: ocean_noise_in_canadas_pacific_workshop_2012
Daily Archives: November 4, 2014
Areas to Be Avoided- Why Not in Canada Also?
When we look at the protection afforded along the Rugged coast of the Olympic Peninsula, one might quite easily question why we in Canada cannot have an equivalent level of protection for our rugged and sensitive areas.
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is one of 14 marine sanctuaries administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It includes 2,408 square nautical miles of marine waters off the rugged Olympic Peninsula coastline.
This reference provides a good explanation of the history and process of having the International Maritime Organization declare this area an ATBA, (Area To Be Avoided) Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Area to be Avoided (ATBA) Education and Monitoring Program
Dave Shannon of Terrace BC has provided his notes and aid to the testimony on December 2012 which he provided as an intervenor in the cross examination in the Northern Gateway Joint review Panel.
The images below are included in the PDF:
ATBA Reference During Transcript #115 Prince Rupert Dec. 2012
Review of Canada’s Ship-Source Oil spill Preparedness and Response Regime
This report is available from the Tanker Safety Secretariat in Ottawa.
It is also included here as a PDF : transport_canada_tanker_report_accessible_eng
Changing Risk Picture in the Pacific Northwest
This report from the BC government is currently available at:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/symposium/pdf/changing_risk_pac_northwest.pdf
Down;loaded internal copy available here: changing_risk_pac_northwest
Two sample slides are included below:
Federal Government Technical Report Properties, Composition and Marine Spill Behaviour, Fate and Transport of Two Diluted Bitumen Products from the Canadian Oil Sands
This report is currently available at http://crrc.unh.edu/sites/crrc.unh.ed/file/1633_dilbit_technical_report_e_v2_final-s.pdf
Federal Government Technical Report
Properties, Composition and Marine Spill Behaviour, Fate and
Transport of Two Diluted Bitumen Products from the Canadian
Oil Sands
Environment Canada
Emergencies Science and Technology
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Centre for Offshore Oil, G
as and Energy Research
Natural Resources Canada
Canmet ENERGY
November 30, 2013
Executive Summary
Effective spill response depends on good scientific understanding of petroleum product behaviour in the environment (e.g., movement and changes in physical properties and chemical composition of the oil). This study reports the early research simulating diluted bitumen products spilled at sea. This work was undertaken by the Government of Canada as part of the first phase of a strategy to implement a world class prevention, preparedness and response regime for oil spills from ships.
The behaviour of the diluted bitumen products was studied under laboratory conditions in three phases. First, the properties and composition of two samples representative of products currently being shipped in Canada were measured before (fresh) and after (weathered) exposure to environmental conditions. Secondly, the potential for evaporation, exposure to light, mixing with saltwater, and sediments in the salt water to affect whether diluted bitumen products float or sink
in saltwater was examined. Finally, the effectiveness of two existing spill treating agents meant to disperse spilled oil products was evaluated.
This work is a collaborative effort between the Emergencies Science and Technology
Section, Environment Canada; the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research, Fisheries and Oceans Canada ; and Canmet ENERGY, Natural Resources Canada. As well as the laboratory and wave-tank experiments, a literature review was conducted to identify knowledge gaps on the physical and chemical properties of conventional and non-conventional heavy oils, and their fate and behaviour in marine environments. The use and effectiveness of oil spill treating agents is
also reviewed for heavy oils. Two diluted bitumen products, Access Western Blend (AWB) and Cold Lake Blend (CLB), were selected for study as the highest-volume products transported by pipeline in Canada for 2012–2013. The physical characteristics and chemical composition of each product were m easured to aid in potential spill preparation and response.
The major results of the studies were:
- Like conventional crude oil, both diluted bitumen products floated on saltwater (free of sediment), even after evaporation and exposure to light and mixing with water
- When fine sediments were suspended in the saltwater, high-energy wave action mixed the sediments with the diluted bitumen, causing the mixture to sink or be dispersed as floating tarballs; The use of the term “tarball” in this report follows convention in the literature and refers to the consistency of floating, heavily-weathered oil. It does not describe the chemical composition of the product.
Internal copy of this report:1633_dilbit_technical_report_e_v2_final-s
The Gainford Study: Done at 15 degrees C??
One of the most infamous reports used by Trans Mountain Pipelines comes from the Gainford study : A Study of Fate and Behaviour of Diluted Bitumen Oils on Marine Waters: See the PDF: http-_www.transmountain.com_uploads_papers_1391734754-astudyoffateandbehaviourofdilutedbitumenoilsonmarinewater
The fact that it was done under very artificial conditions has been widely criticized. For me, the fact that they used 15 degrees C was enough to make me very dubious given the fact that Strait of Juan de Fuca waters as measured at Race Rocks now for 90 years has rarely in August risen to 13 degrees C.
US Reference #5: Oil transportation and spill risk in Washington State
This presentation has a number of graphics which show the details of where the expected increase in tanker traffic is to come from on the NW Pacific Coast:
Oil transportation and spill risk in Washington State
Below are a few exampleds of the slides form that site:
US reference #4 Gateway Pacific Terminal Vessel Traffic and Risk Assessment.
A major concern here in Metchosin is the incremental increase in Ship Traffic projected in the next few years. This reference shows the added impact from the Pacific Gateway Terminal Development.
Reference:Gateway Pacific Terminal Vessel Traffic Assessment
Ship Noise and its Effect on Killer Whales
In April, 2014 I attended the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Seattle. One of the presentations which surprized me showed the risk to the Southern resident Killer Whale populations from Noise Imapcts in the Salish Sra under Commercial shipping growth Scenarios. Following is a reference to Beam Reach which carries a summary presentation of this. — Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science & Sustainability; Val Veirs, Colorado College; Jason Wood, Sea Mammal Research Unit
Emazing talk on fossil fuel ship noise & killer whales
This afternoon I’m giving a talk at the 2014 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in which I present our estimates of sound pressure levels from commercial ships in Haro Strait, the core of the summertime critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whales. I also take a first look at noise impacts of the current tanker and bulk carrier fleets and ask how those impacts may change if a suite of proposed fossil fuel export facilities are added to the Salish Sea.
– See more at: http://www.beamreach.org/2014/04/30/emaze-talk-fossil-fuel-ship-noise-killer-whales
US Reference #3: Improving Oil Spill Prevention and Response in Washington State.
IMPROVING OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IN WASHINGTON STATE
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BP DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL