West Goshen taking on Sunoco:

Township files petition to stop construction of above-ground valve.

WEST GOSHEN » The township has filed a petition to stop construction of an above-ground valve for the Sunoco Mariner East 2 pipeline that township Special Counsel David Brooman says “breached the terms” of a May 2015 settlement agreement.

An emergency hearing with the Public Utility Commission is scheduled for July 18 in Harrisburg.

While the lawsuit was originally filed in February, Brooman said that the township did not think Sunoco would start construction of the pump valve at this time.

“We can get emergency relief to maintain the status quo quickly,” Brooman said about the emergency hearing.

The township is not trying to shut down the entire 350-mile long pipeline slated to carry volatile Marcellus Shale product from western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to the refinery in Marcus Hook.

“The township is trying to prevent them from putting a valve next to the firehouse,” he said. “West Goshen Township is not looking to stop the Mariner East 2 pipeline.

“The township is seeking to enforce its settlement agreement with Sunoco. Sunoco promised they wouldn’t build any more above-ground facilities in West Goshen Township.”

Township Manager Casey LaLonde said the township will continue to fight for its residents.

“We urge Sunoco Logistics to honor the terms of the agreement and to provide the township with proper notice,” LaLonde said. “We will not be stonewalled.”

All five township supervisors voted in February to file the suit against Sunoco.

The township release states that Sunoco’s plans were always contrary to the settlement agreement.

“The plans pre-date the settlement agreement and indicate that Sunoco Logistics planned to site an aboveground valve in the township all along while agreeing to contrary terms,” reads the release.

Sunoco had agreed to build an above-ground valve on the north side of Route 202 on Boot Road, rather than the south side, at the Boot Road and Route 202 intersection, as they now are, Brooman said.

“The township believes that Sunoco Logistics is acting in a cavalier manner not in the best interest of the township and its residents,” reads the township release.

As of Tuesday afternoon, much of the site near the West Goshen Fire Station had been cleared of trees and brush.

The release states that construction of the valve station started in violation of the settlement agreement, without required notice, any construction of erosion barriers, other site construction and safety protocols and engineering justification.

Brooman said the pipeline company and the township met Monday morning at 10 a.m.

“Sunoco tried to race to get the work done before the PUC would act,” he said. “They’re trying to get it all done.”

Township officials also complained that as recently as July 6, Sunoco employees parked vehicles at the firehouse lot, which would have prevented emergency responders from parking and emergency vehicles from exiting.

An unrelated appeal of a dismissed June 15 lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Tom Casey and fellow West Goshen resident Eric Grote.

Casey sued Sunoco in Common Pleas Court to uphold local township ordinances.

West Goshen Township’s 2014 ordinances require pipelines to be built not in residentially zoned areas, but only through commercial and industrial zoned districts, and only then with the township’s conditional use approval.

“I have confidence in the judicial system to recognize and to give back local communities control,” Casey said.