Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations
by James A. Jacobs, Stephen M. Testa
Appendix GExposure Planning, Emergency Response, and Toxicity Tables
Much of this appendix has been sourced from MassDEP (2015) and used with permission.
Exposure Planning, Response Actions and Environmental Impacts
Possible exposure to hazardous chemicals, most notably, Bakken crude oil, can occur not only at the well site but also along transportation routes to the refineries or to the end user. Bakken crude oil is relatively less dangerous compared with other chemicals regularly shipped. More dangerous chemicals shipped by rail, for example, include those identified as toxic inhalation chemicals (TICs). However, in a rail incident with a unit train consisting of 80–120 railcars (2.4 million gallons to 3.6 million gallons) containing Bakken crude oil, the overall potential release volume is significant. In evaluating responses and preparing for rail, pipeline, and tanker truck shipments through a community, the responders need to evaluate the probability of a release, the toxicity and volume of the potential spilled compounds, and maps of the most vulnerable areas, sensitive environments, or at‐risk populations through which the crude oil is transported (MassDEP 2015).
Preparing for Shipments
Responding to an emergency requires planning ahead and considering the impacts of an unfolding accident or of a potential future disaster. As described in Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2015) study, an Energy East Pipeline Ltd. (2014) report described a crude ...