Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
DEP OKs Mariner East 2 pipeline project
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection granted approval Monday for the permit applications from Sunoco Logistics for the Mariner East 2 pipeline project. The decision, which considered 17 chapter 105 (water obstruction and encroachment) and three chapter 102 (ero-
sion and sediment control) permits, came “after extensive review,” according to an agency press release.
“This was a huge undertaking – holding five hearings during a 60-day comment period, reviewing permit applications and technical deficiencies for more than 20,000 hours, responding to 29,000 comments and ensuring Sunoco addressed deficiencies identified in its initial applications,” stated Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “The intensive review included input and feedback from scores of DEP biologists, wetland ecologists, engineers, legal staff and permit reviewers.”
The press release added the agency’s obligation is to ensure installation of infrastructure like pipelines is in accordance with the relevant regulations and that concerns raised by commentators
were addressed within the scope of those regulations.
Spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, Mariner 2 is a 350mile pipeline system which would bring natural gas liquids such as propane, ethane and butane from the Marcellus and Utica shale areas to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex. Approximately 11.4 miles would be installed in Delaware County across private and public property in Thornbury, Edgmont, Middletown, Aston and Upper Chichester townships, ending at the facility. The first 20-inch pipeline would have an initial capacity of about 275,000 barrels a day with the ability to expand to 450,000; the second 16inch line, if needed, would have an additional capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels a day. Both lines would be included as part of the project.
Mariner 2 requires a chapter 105 permit for each county and chapter 102 permit for each DEP region it crosses. Part of the review process included revisions to Sunoco’s original permit applications. The final approvals include conditions in both sets of permits to establish environmental protections specific to the project, according to the press release.
The permit approvals are not the end of the process, as DEP will work in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission “to hold the project accountable to regulatory standards that protect the environment and ensure the health, public safety and welfare of local communities,” stated McDonnell.
During the two and a half year process, Sunoco Logistics provided detailed plans to minimize impacts to the environment, protected species and cultural resources, said company
Communications Manager Jeff Shields. Mariner 2 will be built and operated to standards that meet or in many cases exceed federal pipeline safety regulations, he added.
“It is an energy infrastructure system that is critical to Pennsylvania’s economic future,” said Shields. “By keeping the natural resources in Pennsylvania for storage, processing and distribution to local, regional and international markets, Mariner East 2 offers Pennsylvania the opportunity to develop its own manufacturing economy rather than sending jobs and investment elsewhere.”
The announcement was applauded by state Sens. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, labor leaders and members of the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, a coalition of labor, agriculture, manufacturing and other business interests including the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Mariner 2 is an approximately $2.5 billion infrastructure project that will support more than 15,000 jobs annually during a two year-period and once completed, have a $150 million
annual impact on Pennsylvania’s economy, according to the senators’ press release.
“It is a game changer for the entire vommonwealth, especially Delaware County,” said McGarrigle. “It will create thousands of labor jobs and hundreds of permanent, family-supporting jobs and has the potential to turn our region into a 21st century ‘energy hub.’”
“These permits come after a rigorous environmental review process from DEP,” added Killion. “The intense environmental review will ensure this project is done in the most environmentally sensitive way.”
Attempts to reach members of Middletown Coalition for Community Safety, a grassroots group formed to educate residents about the possible risks associated with the proposed pipeline and insure areaspecific emergency preparedness and evacuation plans are in place, were unsuccessful Monday evening.
Sunoco Logistics can now begin construction throughout Pennsylvania in accordance with the permits, with estimated completion in the third quarter of this year, said Shields.