Science Response 2017/006
Technical review of the M/V Marathassa fuel spill environmental impact assessment report
Context
Starting April 8, 2015, an estimated 2800L of intermediate fuel oil (Bunker C) was discharged by the M/V Marathassa into English Bay, and subsequently spread over areas of inner Vancouver Harbour, both of which form part of Burrard Inlet, British Columbia. An on-water recovery and clean‐up operation was immediately commenced by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), lasting a total of 16 days. The polluting vessel was boomed in the early morning on April 9, skimming of the oil was conducted and completed on April 12, and shoreline clean‐up continued until April 23, 2015.
Upon completion of the initial response operations, a Project Management Office (PMO) was set up to continue the collaborative working relationship with parties that had participated in the Unified Command. The scope of the PMO was to oversee the continued sharing of information; coordinate the completion of specific project activities; and foster a longer term relationship in response activities between the parties. In addition to the CCG, the Project Management Office is comprised of partners from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, Squamish Nation, City of Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, and the City and District of West Vancouver.
The CCG requested that the Marathassa Shipping Corporation (the “Polluter”) conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the spill. An EIA was prepared by Hemmera Envirochem Inc. and provided to CCG by the Marathassa Shipping Corporation on September 18, 2015. The purpose of the EIA was “to assess the potential environmental effects from the M/V Marathassa oil spill event and determine whether there are any residual environmental effects that need to be addressed in addition to oil spill cleanup efforts and/or through natural attenuation processes” (Hemmera Envirochem Inc. 2015).
To scope oil distribution, extent of exposure and efficacy of clean-up efforts, post-spill monitoring efforts were undertaken from overflights, shoreline assessments and boat surveys. To detect potential ecological effects from the oil spill, environmental sampling was done to study Intermediate Components (ICs) and biological Valued Components (VCs). Regarding fish and fish habitat specifically, the post-spill monitoring efforts, associated observations, and conclusions in the EIA are generated from the following:
- aerial surveys;
- Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) and seafloor sorbent drag surveys;
- the collection and sampling of weathered product (i.e tar balls);
- the collection and sampling of water, intertidal sediment and smelt embryos;
- the collection and sampling of tissue from mussels, crabs, flounders and prawns;
- intertidal habitat surveys; and
- information on marine mammals.
This review focuses on components of the EIA within DFO Science (Pacific Region) expertise; namely, those related to fish and fish habitat, species ecology and ecological survey design. Note that information outside of the scope of this Science Response relates to the fate, analysis, detection, and toxicity of contaminants; potential effects of human and bird exposure to contamination; and the intent, selection or applicability of endpoint criteria. While information gaps, uncertainties and recommendations were sought from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Response (SR), there is no recommendation to undertake any new impact assessment relating to this incident. Rather, advice arising from this review will help inform CCG and other agencies in the development of future post-spill monitoring programs and impact assessments.
This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of October 2016 on the Technical review of the M/V Marathassa Fuel Spill Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
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