2706 Economic Impacts of Crude Oil Transport Final Report.pdf

The report evaluates the economic risks posed by the Westway, Imperium, and Grays Harbor Rail Terminal (GHRT) projects. It models three oil spill scenarios (rail derailment and two marine accidents) and analyzes their effects on commercial fisheries, subsistence harvests, traditional plant gathering, and QIN-owned businesses. Findings indicate that a major spill could lead to significant losses in direct jobs, personal income, and business revenue for the QIN and the broader Grays Harbor County economy, while also impairing the cultural and nutritional security provided by Treaty resources.

• The three proposed projects at the Port of Grays Harbor—Westway Bulk Liquid Facility, Imperium Bulk Liquid Facility, and GHRT Bulk Liquid Logistics Terminal—would cumulatively result in an average of 3.75 new crude-by-rail (CBR) unit trains daily and 2.08 new tanker or barge transits daily at full build-out.
• In 2013, Treaty fishery-based activities and select QIN-owned businesses generated a total economic impact of 907.7 jobs (668.5 direct, 107 indirect, and 132.2 induced) and $36,843,622 in total personal income for the local and regional economies.
• A hypothetical oil spill in Scenario 3 (marine vessel accident off the harbor entrance) is projected to cause the most severe economic losses between 2020 and 2022, including an average annual loss of 229.4 total jobs and a $70.5 million decrease in business revenues for fisheries-based activities.
• The average yearly value of Treaty commercial fisheries from 2004 to 2013 was estimated at $9,223,236, with the Dungeness crab fishery being the most valuable at an average of $6,794,288 per year.
• Replacing the calories and protein provided by the subsistence harvest of seafood for a population of 1,380 people would cost $155.16 and $260.16 per person per year, respectively, at a 20% estimated subsistence harvest level.
• Oil contamination of salt marshes in the Bowerman Basin could result in an annual loss of $29,600 in commercial value for woven products made from sweetgrass stems.
• Increased rail traffic could cause an estimated annual loss of $763 per fisher (approximately 5.0% of per capita income) due to a hypothetical 10% reduction in the ability to fish or transport catch caused by railroad crossing delays.
• Increased marine vessel traffic is estimated to cause an annual loss of $442 per fisher (approximately 2.9% of per capita income) based on a hypothetical 5% reduction in the ability to fish.
• The loss of 25 crab pots is estimated to cost $5,875, which represents approximately 1/75 of the 2013 season's average revenue for a Treaty crab fisher.
• A potential QIN commercial aquaculture pilot project for Pacific oysters on 80 acres of tidelands is projected to generate 4.9 total jobs and $443,448 in business revenues.
• Diluted bitumen crude oil, likely to be transported by the projects, is characterized as highly persistent in the environment (five to ten years or more) and highly adhesive, which increases the risk of mechanical injury to organisms through smothering.
• Research indicates that embryonic exposure to crude oil can lead to a 25% reduction in survival and a further 15% decrease in marine survival, resulting in 40% fewer mature adults in the population.

APA

Gustanski, J. A., & Scarsella, D. (2015). 2706 Economic Impacts of Crude Oil Transport Final Report.pdf. Earthjustice. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/letter20maia20bellon20at20ecology20re20economic20report20attachment.pdf

Chicago

Gustanski, Julie Ann, and David Scarsella. 2706 Economic Impacts of Crude Oil Transport Final Report.pdf. Earthjustice, 2015. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/letter20maia20bellon20at20ecology20re20economic20report20attachment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gustanski |first1=Julie Ann |last2=Scarsella |first2=David |title=2706 Economic Impacts of Crude Oil Transport Final Report.pdf |publisher=Earthjustice |date=April 2015 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/letter20maia20bellon20at20ecology20re20economic20report20attachment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gustanski20152706, author = {Gustanski, Julie Ann and Scarsella, David}, title = {{2706 Economic Impacts of Crude Oil Transport Final Report.pdf}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/letter20maia20bellon20at20ecology20re20economic20report20attachment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }