Pipeline controversy is continuing

The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board made the right decision to temporarily halt the dangerous drilling Sunoco has undertaken to construct the Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipeline (EDITORIAL: Rulings against Sunoco in state pipeline project, 7/26/17).

This irresponsible drilling has already resulted in at least 90 spills throughout the state, many right here in our communities. Permanently stopping this project under the deficient permits that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued is the only way to protect the families of Chester and Delaware counties from this destructive pipeline slated to slash through nearly 25 miles of our region.

The Clean Air Council is inspired to see the grassroots activism from groups like West Goshen United for Public Safety and concerned citizens (Activists sow ‘seeds of resistance’ at pipeline site in West Goshen, 7/31/17).

Thanks to these groups, along with organizations like the Mountain Watershed Association and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the powerful energy industry is finally being called to answer for its unsafe practices and shoddy compliance efforts. DEP issued a press release on holding Sunoco accountable for threatening local residents’ access to safe drinking water.

But to anyone paying attention, these devastating spills should come as no surprise. Construction of the Mariner East 1 pipeline was fraught with environmental issues that continue to this day. The pipeline just leaked in nearby Berks County in April.

It took Sunoco nearly three weeks to announce that leak to the public. The DEP, despite tough talk recently, looked the other way on issues with Sunoco’s permits for the new pipeline and ultimately helped the energy giant with the application process.

Sunoco recently merged with Energy Transfer Partners, the conglomerate behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. That fact tells you all you need to know about how this giant corporation will react to community demands for safe processes and public input.

The only way to prevent this drilling from inflicting more damage on our drinking water and environment at large is to demand that regulators hold Sunoco accountable and ensure that they will stop harming the public. The DEP must not be allowed to look the other way this time.

It is time they force Sunoco to answer for the wrongdoings they’ve inflicted on the people of Chester County and the Commonwealth. Joseph O. Minott, Executive Director & Chief Counsel

Clean Air Council