Martin County's Vulnerability Analysis of Florida East Coast Rail’s Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Martin County Fire Rescue December 2015 Historical • May 2015, Fire Rescue Department (FRD) provided a presentation on our community’s vulnerability to hazardous materials transported on the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) • Requests made to FEC and CSX for access to info on Emergency Response Plans and commodities transported along railways in Martin County • Only provided with commodity info identifying what trains are transporting • Nov 2015, FRD met with FEC reps about transport of LNG through Martin County Liquefied Natural Gas • LNG has increased in use in the U.S. Compared to conventional fuels, it is more readily available and is a cleaner fuel • LNG requires only a third of the space of compressed natural gas • LNG is a flammable and odorless gas • LNG must be transported in cryogenic state at -260 degrees F • Lighter than air Transportation of LNG • Rail transportation of LNG is brand new in the U.S. • A Number of LNG accidents have already occurred • LNG has never before been transported on same tracks as High Speed Rail • FEC plans to begin transporting LNG through Martin County this month (pending regulatory approval) • Est 2-3 tank cars per day (10,000 gallons each) LNG Trains Coming in 2016 In 2016, in addition to transporting LNG as a commodity, FEC will also retrofit three trains to use LNG as an alternate fuel – increasing the transport of LNG through Martin County Source: LNG Could Push Diesel Trains Into the History Books, April 2014 by GE Reports Staff http://www.gereports.com/post/93343698908/lng-could-push-diesel-trains-into-history-books/ Vulnerability Analysis • Uses EPA Software programs to predict chemical movement • Based on chemical properties, toxicity, weather conditions, and release rate • Population impacted according to 2010 Census Data • Does not identify critical facilities • Does not identify potential business or roadway population • Scenario: • Train crash with a single chemical car release • Prevailing weather: temperature 85°F, winds SE at 11 mph, 50% cloud cover, 50% humidity • Release Point: 4” hole Threat Zones Yellow Zone notable discomfort, irritation or sensory effects, but effects are not disabling and are reversible Orange Zone irreversible or other serious, long-lasting adverse health effects or an impaired ability to escape Red Zone experience life-threatening adverse health effects or death Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Railcar Explosion SE Monterey Rd and SE Dixie Hwy Container: 10,000 gallon Container Red Zone: People: 1 Homes: 1 Orange Zone: People: 166 Homes: 61 Yellow Zone: People: 716 Homes: 320 THREAT ZONE: Red: 372 yards Orange: 525 yards Yellow: 817 yards Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Railcar Explosion SE Cove Rd and SE Dixie Hwy Container: 10,000 gallon Container Red Zone: People: 396 Homes: 164 Orange Zone: People: 521 Homes: 243 Yellow Zone: People: 1,493 Homes: 658 THREAT ZONE: Red: 372 yards Orange: 525 yards Yellow: 817 yards Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Railcar Explosion SE Bridge Road and SE Dixie Highway Container: 10,000 gallon Container Red Zone: People: 228 Homes: 73 Orange Zone: People: 231 Homes: 126 Yellow Zone: People: 833 Homes: 401 THREAT ZONE: Red: 372 yards Orange: 525 yds Yellow: 817 yds Summary • LNG is a new hazardous chemical being added to rail transportation • Population centers, neighborhoods are close to these railway corridors • Risk increases as the amount and frequency of hazardous materials are transported through our community • LNG along same rail lines as high-speed passenger rail increases risk of accidents • Increase in potential for accidents to occur = unquantifiable • Such emergencies can exceed local response capabilities • Need for training and preparedness plans to respond to such emergencies