State gives OK to resume drilling for Sunoco pipeline

The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board signed off on the deal reached between Sunoco Pipeline LP and several environmental groups, meaning horizontal directional drilling associated with the project can resume at a number of sites throughout the state.

The agreement was struck the day before the Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association and Delaware Riverkeeper Network were expected to appear

in court to argue their case against Sunoco Pipeline.

The agreement will provide protection to the public in connection with the operation.

Sunoco will be required, however, to reassess select locations, including several in Delaware and Chester counties, before work can continue at those sites. They include spots where an inadvertent return, or leak of drilling fluid, has occurred or could happen in the future.

The settlement agreement strengthens plans to prevent and respond to problems during construction, requires Sunoco to use experts to evaluate and improve drilling plans at more than 60 locations prior to starting or restarting work and expands the identification and free testing of private water supplies. Affected landowners will have stronger protections against spills and water contamination, improved spill response plans and opportunities for people on water wells living near many of the sites to weigh in on drilling plans.

The signature by board Judge Bernard A. Labuskes Jr. prompted comments from the involved parties.

“Though Sunoco’s horizontal directional drilling has already caused significant harm to communities and ecosystems throughout Pennsylvania, the settlement takes necessary actions to protect from further damages,” said Melissa Marshall, attorney with Mountain Watershed Association.

Joseph Minott, executive director and chief counsel of Clean Air Council, renewed his concerns about the operation.

“The harms that Sunoco’s recklessness is causing the public and the environment should have never happened,” he said. “Unless our elected officials start taking the public health threat from building natural gas infrastructure seriously, this is bound to continue to happen.”

A statement from Sunoco noted the company was pleased to have reached a settlement that will allow it to proceed “in a manner that demonstrates our commitment to the commonwealth and our neighbors to protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources during construction.”

“We will continue to adhere to the strict conditions of our permits, including the enhanced standards for planning, outreach and reporting,” it added. “The agreement will put hundreds of workers back on the job as we complete this transformational infrastructure project.”

While the agreement was reached the day before the board was slated to begin hearings on the petition from the environmental groups, it does not affect the portion of the appeal related to DEP issuing the permits for the project, the method of installation and other issues, said Clean Air Council attorney Alex Bomstein. Those issues will still move ahead toward trial, he added.