ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ROUNDUP: Ocean acidification could disproportionately affect region; oil, ethanol trains expected to derail 10 times a year; Ashland prepares for fiery summer.
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Recent climate change news has not been favorable for the Pacific Northwest. Here is our roundup of that news.
On the coast, the region is expected to be hit hard by the raising acid-levels of the ocean.
OregonLive.com’s Kelly House reports that Oregon and Washington can expect to see high levels of ocean acidification as a result of rising global carbon dioxide emissions.
“It’s the first place that has seen measurable, attributable impacts from ocean acidification,” said Sarah Cooley, a scientist with the Ocean Conservancy who co-authored the report.
Shellfish larvae rely upon calcium carbonate in the water to form their shells. Under normal conditions, the ocean is saturated with the chemical. But the huge amounts of carbon dioxide that have entered the ocean have neutralized much of the calcium carbonate and subsequently made it difficult for larvae to form shells. Oregon and Washington mollusk fisheries produce more than $100 million in annual sales and employ thousands either directly or indirectly. Losing larvae means losing money, and can have a trickle down effect on the entire coastal economy.
The report said that communities like Newport have been long searching for solutions should shellfish larvae be affected by acidic water.
Federal government estimates oil, ethanol trains will derail 10 times a year
The Department of Transportation released a study with ominous findings for those living near railroads.
The Associated Press reports on the study that was conducted in July and recently released in the wake of the derailment in West Virginia:
“This underscores why we need to move as quickly as possible getting these regulations in place,” said Tim Butters, acting administrator for the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
The volume of flammable liquids transported by rail has risen dramatically during the past decade, driven mostly by the oil shale boom in North Dakota and Montana. This year, rails are expected to move nearly 900,000 car loads of oil and ethanol in tankers. Each can hold 30,000 gallons of fuel. Based on past accident trends, anticipated shipping volumes and known ethanol and crude rail routes, the analysis predicted about 15 derailments in 2015, declining to about five a year by 2034. The 207 total derailments during the two-decade period would cause $4.5 billion in damage, according to the analysis, which predicts 10 “higher consequence events” causing more extensive damage and potential fatalities.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) urged the White House to take the accident into consideration when establishing new safety regulations.
In a news release, the senator said:
“This week’s disastrous oil train accidents raise red flags about whether the newer, supposedly safer, rail cars are doing the best job protecting our communities,” Wyden said in a press release.
“I’m going to continue pressing the administration to finish its rule as quickly as possible given the dangers faced by people in Oregon and across the country and looking for other ways to ensure the highest possible safety standards are used when it comes to transporting oil by rail.”
The Portland Business Journal reports on the ramped-up calls for safety be lawmakers:
In a letter to Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget, Wyden notes that the cars have been involved in at least five accidents resulting in leaks, tank ruptures, fires and /or explosions since January 2014. Two, including the recent oil train derailment and fire at Mount Carbon, West Virginia, resulted in catastrophic fires that affected local residents.
“With serious accidents involving CPC-1232 cars continuing to occur, OMB should consult with the (National Transportation Safety Board) and (Department of Transportation) to ensure that a final rule addresses the safety of all tank cars carrying flammable liquids,” he wrote.
Ashland group secures $2.2M to mitigate wildfire threat
Expecting a fiery summer season, a group in Ashland was granted $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Portland Business Journal reports:
Jackson County, which regularly suffers from devastating forest fires, will benefit from the investment in the Ashland Forest All-Lands Restoration Project, which will support work to reduce fire fuels that have accumulated in the Ashland Creek watershed.
The area is under both federal and private ownership. The Nature Conservancy, the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, the City of Ashland, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Lomakatsi Project are partners in the effort.
