CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION _________________
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A RESOLUTION relating to the transport of crude oil by rail through the City of Seattle.
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WHEREAS, new technologies have resulted in the development of unprecedented amounts of both domestic and foreign oil, natural gas, tar sands, bitumen, and other petroleum products and derivatives, which will significantly increase the volume of petroleum and petroleum products moving by rail (oil trains) through Oregon and Washington; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle is deeply concerned about the threat to life, safety and the environment of potential spills and fires from the transport of petroleum by rail;
WHEREAS, at least one million gallons of crude oil currently travel through Seattle every day; and
WHEREAS, if all proposed terminals and refinery projects in Washington State are built and operated at full capacity, the volume of petroleum-by-rail traveling through Seattle could triple in a few years; and
WHEREAS, the primary source of the petroleum transported by rail through Seattle is from the Bakken formation, which is highly flammable and easily ignited at normal temperatures by heat, static discharges, sparks, or flames; and
WHEREAS, as a result of a derailment and oil spill, Bakken crude oil vapors may form explosive mixtures with air and travel to sources of ignition and flash back, making areas up to one-half mile or more from an accident site vulnerable.
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates an average of 13 derailments in the US annually over the next 20 years, according to the 2015 Final Regulatory Impact Analysis prepared in advance of proposed rulemaking on Hazardous Materials: Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains; and
WHEREAS, there have been five oil train derailments resulting in fires in North America since February 2015; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31504, adopted by Council on March 10, 2014, called on state and...
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