Activists sow ‘seeds of resistance’

Group of residents opposes construction of Mariner East 2 pipeline

WEST GOSHEN » About 50 activists were busy Sunday morning planting wildflower seeds and two trees at an approximately five-acre tract recently cleared for Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 pipeline construction and a safety valve station installation.

The group of local residents opposing the pipeline planted “seeds of resistance,” at the Boot and Greenhill road intersection, where statewide and local temporary injunctions have shut down horizontal directional drilling.

The event was organized by West Goshen United for Public Safety.

“We’re here to plant seeds, both for our safety and for this land. Sunoco has been destroying, water and lives across the state of Pennsylvania; we’re here to help this land regrow and heal,” said Mercedes DeLaguardia, a resident of West Goshen. “We also know that we have a lot more to do to stop this dangerous pipeline, and we’re here to take another step in that work we need to do to keep our families and communities safe.”

Activists said the pipeline that will carry volatile gas liquids, including ethane, butane and pro-

pane in a high-density area is dangerous.

The site is immediately next to the Goshen Fire Station. The township sued to enforce a 2015 settlement agreement, and on July 25, the PUC granted a temporary injunction.

On July 26, an order was issued by an Environmental Hearing Board judge that stopped drilling statewide, at the least, until an Aug. 7 hearing.

“We call upon the DEP to revoke the hastily issued permits of a company that has a terrible safety record,

has been dishonest with our community, and shown they just want to go as fast as they can to please their investors,” said Caroline Hughes, a member of West Goshen United for Public Safety. “They have made mistake after mistake, which leaves our communities with contaminated water and an uncertain future.”

Sam Rubin, of the Food & Water Watch in southeastern Pennsylvania, helped Sunday to toss seeds.

“It felt good to plant seeds at a place that Sunoco has destroyed,” Rubin said. “Obviously this is just one step in what promises to be a long journey.

“We hope these seeds will help restore land, but also remind us that we have to stop this pipeline.”

The Sunoco Mariner East 2 Pipeline is planned to stretch 350 miles from western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to the former Sunoco refinery at Marcus Hook, Delaware County. It will zig-zag for 23 miles through Chester County.

SUBMITTED PHOTO As part of “Seeds for Resistance,” demonstrators plant wildflower seeds and a couple of pine trees Sunday at the area cleared by Sunoco for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline.

As part of “Seeds for Resistance,” demonstrators plant wildflower seeds and a couple of pine trees Sunday at the area cleared by Sunoco for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS “Seeds for Resistance” demonstrators plant wildflower seeds Sunday at the West Goshen site for a planned Mariner East 2 safety valve.