Physical Processes and Critical Biological Areas in the Vicinity of a Proposed Petroleum Transfer Facility

The Northern Tier Pipeline Company proposes to locate a major crude oil transfer facility along the Strait of Juan de Fuca at or west of Port Angeles, Washington. The facility would receive tankers carrying primarily Alaska North Slope crude oil and transport this crude to Midwest refineries via a 1500-mile long pipeline. A portion of the pipeline would pass through the eastern end of the Strait. Most of the critical marine biological areas in the vicinity of the proposed facility are located in the nearshore habitats to the east of the transfer facility site. These areas are highly important to migratory and breeding marine birds, marine mammals, nearshore fishes, and benthic invertebrates. Nearshore currents along the south shore and local winds in the vicinity of the site are frequently from the west, resulting in a probable eastward transport of any oil spills that may occur during the operation of the facility. Thus, though the critical areas are not immediately adjacent to the proposed facility site, they could be affected by oil spilled at the site being transported eastward. Also, the under- water portion of the proposed pipeline passes directly through or very near some critical bio- logical areas. This paper describes and interrelates the major physical processes that would influence the fate of spilled oil and the major biological communities that exist within the influence of the proposed facility.