Dinniman calls for halt to all pipeline construction

WEST CHESTER » State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th Dist., has asked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to halt horizontal directional drilling associated with the Mariner East 2 pipeline following reports of water quality issues in proximity to the pipeline route in two Chester County communities.

Dinniman said unreliable data was used to identify private wells during the DEP permitting process.

In a letter sent to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell Friday, Dinniman outlined a number of concerns associated with the identification and notification requirements contained in Sunoco Pipeline LP’s (Sunoco) Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit approved in February of this year. Specifically, Dinniman highlighted notification requirements for those citizens in the path of the pipeline who rely on private well water.

The path of the pipeline takes it through numerous communities in Chester and Berks counties. Residents of Uwchlan and West Whiteland townships have complained about contamination of their well water from the pipeline project.

“Following reports of groundwater impact and wells running dry, I immediately began investigating what DEP requires to protect homeowners with well water,“Dinniman said. “I was shocked to discover that while notification is required, Sunoco was taking advantage of a significant loophole in the permitting process by claiming they were unaware that these wells existed.”

It was reported that on June 22, during the horizontal directional drilling process for this project, Sunoco or contractors working under Sunoco’s direction, damaged an underground water supply that fed a local aquifer. Following this incident,

many people residing on Valley View Drive in West Whiteland Township noticed significant sediment and discoloration of their normally private drinking water. Soon after, some homeowners discovered that their wells had

run dry. Only after residents reached out to the company on July 3, was it discovered that the damage caused by Sunoco was responsible for both issues. Drilling has been temporarily suspended in this area by Sunoco.

“The bottom line is, Sunoco submitted an application using bad data, DEP approved it and it is the citizens that are suffering the consequences,” said Dinniman. “I will continue

to work to ensure that our groundwater is protected and I urge DEP officials to do the same.”

On July 13, Sunoco halted horizontal directional drilling headed north of Shoen Road in the impacted area until all water issues are resolved. Drilling continues along much of the 350-mile pipeline route stretching from the Marcellus Shale deposits to the refinery in Marcus Hook, Delaware County.

The Mariner East pipeline project routes ethane and propane from Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania to a processing station in Marcus Hook near Philadelphia. The pipeline cuts through portions of Delaware, Chester and Berks counties.