140 likes | 308 Views
Vessel Traffic Risk Assessment (VTRA) Update for North Puget Sound February 13, 2013. Todd Hass*, Ph.D. Program Manager: Marine & Nearshore Special Projects Puget Sound Partnership. *+ Bob McFarland, John Veentjer , Chad Bowechop , Jon Neel…. Why PSP?.
E N D
Vessel Traffic Risk Assessment (VTRA) Update for North Puget Sound February 13, 2013 Todd Hass*, Ph.D.Program Manager: Marine & Nearshore Special ProjectsPuget Sound Partnership *+ Bob McFarland, John Veentjer, Chad Bowechop, Jon Neel…
Why PSP? PSP has a legislative mandate to “independently assess and advise the State’s oil spill programs”
The PSP Oil Spill Work Group established the Puget Sound oil spill strategies & 2-year actions in the 2012 Puget Sound Action Agenda C8.1 Prevent and reduce the risk of oil spills.
As a result… • EPA and Marine/Nearshore LO allocated $385K to oil spill priorities in AA • $200K to PSP to advance risk assessment and update VTRA • More info at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/grants/ps_marine_nearshore/rfp/
Others involved… PS HSCcontributed expert judgment for the BP-Cherry Point VTRA study completed by GWU et al. in 2008…study released and presented to HSC in April 2012 Makah Tribal Councilretained GWU via late-summer grant (other EPA $) to researchers; updating the VTRA baseline traffic scenario from 2005 to 2010 and extending offshore
PSP Oil Spill Work Group & HSC overlap considerably; formed VTRA SC in Fall 2012 • Integrates our WG with HSC, State and Federal regulatory agencies, Tribes and Stakeholders into a VTRA update process • Agreed that GWU VTRA is the common language by which region evaluates relative maritime traffic risk systemwide
Others involved… PSP and PSHSCco chair the SC USCG, Ecology and Makahare the agency leads, guiding the update process
PSP/GWU signed grant/contract in Nov. • GWU and VCU presented on results (for Makah) to SC and HSC in Dec. • VTRA SC directed researchers to simulate the projected traffic from the following potential projects: • Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion in B.C. • SSA Marine Gateway Pacific Terminal • Delta Port expansion in B.C.
Next Steps Near term (winter/spring): • Researchers expanding classes of FVs with 1000s of routes/segments and cleaning VTOSS data • VTRA SC obtains/shares the best available data projections on projects to be simulated
Next Steps Longer term (spring/summer): • Researchers simulate projected changes in risk • VTRA SC proposes mitigation measures to be simulated in model • Researchers produce report on results with review by VTRA SC
Next Steps Long term (fall): • Report/results used in revised Risk Management Strategy for Puget Sound • Changes to Harbor Safety Plan, SOCs, BMPs, etc. • Regulatory changes considered by USCG, ECY (note that 2012 USCG Authorization Act calls for study of Canadian oil sands risks by June 2013) • …
Next Steps Long term (fall): • Report/results used in revised Risk Management Strategy for Puget Sound • Changes to Harbor Safety Plan, SOCs, BMPs, etc. • Regulatory changes considered by USCG, ECY (note that 2012 USCG Authorization Act calls for study of Canadian oil sands risks by June 2013) • How might results translate to preparedness and response issues and NWAC/RRT…?
Good Press… • Sunday January 27, Seattle Times: Page 1