Comitta joins call for halt to construction

WEST CHESTER » Add state Rep. Carolyn Comitta to the list of those calling for a halt to construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline.

Comitta, D-156, cited several of what she claims are safety issues related to the Sunoco Logistics’ project in Delaware and Chester counties in making her decisions.

More than a dozen West Whiteland well water users first complained of damage to their tap water sources on July 3. Sunoco has agreed to hook up impacted residents to public water and pick up their water bill tab for 20 years.

Comitta wants Sunoco to stop drilling until a Department of Environmental Protection investigation is complete. Yesterday the DEP indicated they have filed four notices of violation against Sunoco in conjunction with pipeline work across the state.

“I am deeply concerned about making sure our drinking water is safe,” Comitta said in a press release. “Yesterday, (it was) reported there have been 61 incidents during the construction of the Mariner East 2 in Section 6 (including Chester and Delaware counties) since pipeline construction began in April, with the vast major-

ity of those incidents resulting in water problems.

“I understand it is abnormal for there to be this number of problems on one pipeline.”

Jeff Shields, Sunoco Pipeline Communications Manager, declined to comment on the latest call by a public official to halt construction work.

Comitta joins state Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168, and Rep. Leanne Krueger Braneky, D-161, in seeking a moratorium on pipeline drilling and construction.

Comitta wants the DEP to find answers.

“We need to know what is causing such a high number of incidents and how to make sure private and

public water wells are protected,” she said.

On Wednesday, Comitta announced three new pieces of legislation she will introduce in support of her announcement calling for a state Pipeline Safety and Communication Board.

Comitta believes the three-bill package would bolster the state’s ability to protect private wells for its citizens, enhance interagency communication and create pipeline siting authority.

These bills follow her recent announcement calling for a state Pipeline Safety and Communication Board.

“After reading the Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force Report from February 2016 and speaking with residents, municipal officials, first responders, the secretary of Department of Environmental Protection and the chair of the Public

Utility Commission, it was clear to me that we could be doing a lot more to ensure better communication and safety as it pertains to pipelines,” Comitta said. “Talking with these agency heads helped to identify what was needed and areas where legislation would be helpful to them. I am happy to respond to this need.”

Comitta said that the first bill would address the PUC’s lack of siting authority for intrastate pipelines.

The second would amend the PUC Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act in order to permit agencies to communicate sensitive information with each other.

The disclosure act was passed after 9/11 with the intent to protect information from getting into the wrong hands; however, it overreaches and restricts sharing of certain information between agencies, an unintended consequence, Comitta said.

A third bill would grant the DEP enforcement of drilling regulations around private wells.

Comitta wants to ensure long-term solutions for public safety and communications

when pipeline construction is performed in the state.

Dinniman recently called for a similar stop to horizontal directional drilling in Chester County.

The senator said that homeowners using well water in West Whiteland Township were not notified at least 72 hours in advance that drilling would take place, as is required. For more than a dozen homeowners, tap water turned brown and some lost water service completely.

“Sunoco’s lack of knowledge associated with these well sites in such close proximity to horizontal directional drilling activities places Chester County citizens in direct and immediate harm and demonstrates the incomplete nature of the original application,” Dinniman said. “I request the department require an immediate and full suspension of construction activity until the safety of our Commonwealth ground water is assured.”

According to a release from the office of communications at the governor’s office, Gov. Tom Wolf has asked the Department of

Environmental Protection to “use every tool they feel appropriate to hold (pipeline) operators accountable to the conditions of permits and relevant state environmental protection laws.

“I have heard concerns directly from local legislators, including in-person meetings where they have shared concerns of their constituents, along with residents who have written and called my office,” Wolf said. “I have directed DEP to do what they are legally able and feel is appropriate to ensure the operator is held accountable to addressing these incidents and taking additional steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring.”

State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9, announced Friday through a release that he has called on top officials involved with the Mariner East 2 /Sunoco Pipeline project to attend regular weekly briefings for local municipal representatives to increase accountability and the exchange of critical information between all those along the project.

Representatives from the municipalities in 9th Senatorial District will be invited to the briefings. The briefings will include representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, emergency

responders and Sunoco. Invitations will also be sent to other regulators involved in oversight including the Public Utility Commission and federal agencies as deemed necessary by the group.

“Recent problems with the drilling activities related to the pipeline project have raised questions and concerns by local municipalities and residents along the project,” Killion said. “We need to make sure those responsible for regulating and overseeing this project are held accountable.

“In the many conversations I have had with local elected officials on this topic, one common frustration expressed is the need for additional and more frequent communication from all those involved with the project.”

Killion indicated he is also concerned about accountability and prevention.

“There are many regulatory and public safety agencies involved in monitoring the pipeline project and we are expecting them to keep a close eye on all activity related to the project and make sure it does not jeopardize the health, safety, or welfare of the people in our communities,” Killion said. “If there are adverse impacts, we expect those responsible to address them.”

State Rep. Carolyn Comitta