Sunoco assurances don’t satisfy safety issues

In response to 12/3 comment: Jeff Shields, Sunoco Pipeline Communications Manager, released the following comment: “We support everyone’s right to protest peacefully. We understand that there are differing opinions on infrastructure projects. Safety is our company’s first priority and we have shown our commitment to safety by exceeding federal requirements with thicker pipe, enhanced testing, and X-ray inspection of welds far beyond what regulations call for. We have operated safely in Chester County for nearly a century, and we will continue that tradition with Mariner East 2.”

There are key points to be made and questions to be answered about “safety” claims made by Sunoco that need to be brought to the attention of our leaders who took an oath to protect the health, safety & welfare of Pennsylvanians.

While at one point, it may not have been as painfully obvious, now, these issues are loudly screaming and can no longer be ignored:

If Sunoco looked into what they were required to, prior to construction, why are we dealing with damaged aquifers, contaminated wells, sink holes, and over 100 frac-outs?

Why are they now, after multiple warnings prior to permits being issued, rethinking their method of installation?

If Sunoco didn’t do the homework to find out what they could destroy underground, what makes anyone think they even gave a second thought to the lives they are putting at risk above ground (including what they’re claiming “safe” to drink)?

Anyone or any company that has safety as their “first priority”, needs to be honest. Considering Richard Kuprewicz, president of Acufacts, warns against companies that only fall back on “we meet and exceed standards” paired with their risk assessment being their most guarded secret, people should be more than terrified.

They and the people that took an oath to protect them should be furious, passionate and adamant about stopping this.

Why has no one been able to point me in the direction of a project comparable to this? Same method of installation, same content/ pressure, same regulations and same population density?

Do we wonder why they need to attempt to go the extra mile with x-rays and PIG tests? Would it have anything to do with the fact that they have no idea what is happening to those pipes while they’re being pulled through an area that they can’t see and only assume that they damaging or even scratching them?

If they didn’t know the geology enough to realize what their HDD would do to certain areas, most likely, they didn’t bother to look into what could happen/ is happening under ground WHEN there is a leak/rupture or spill.

If no other argument held up for some unknown reason, they can’t argue this: if safety was such a top priority, they would, at the VERY LEAST, make sure that an odorant was running through the lines to give those in the impact radius a fighting chance to survive.

The currently operational Mariner 1 and proposed 2 and 2X pipelines are not like the ones that Mr. Shields boasts about “operating safety for nearly a century”.

After all, Mariner 1 has had multiple leaks in under 3 years of operating. With that said, I’ll be generous and let him change his comment to “operating safety for almost a year”. I’ll be even more generous and not mention how long they’ve gone safely constructing their pipelines. Mr. Shields and Sunoco, I respectfully ask that you stop insulting our intelligence with these quotes containing false information.

Until these questions can be answered and statements can be clarified, I will fiercely fight to protect my children, my community and our rights. I hope you all consider doing the same. Governor Wolf, can you hear us now? Melissa DiBernardino West Chester

Fully fund EPA

How many rain-bombs, supercells, forest fires and flooding does it take to wake up Congress to the fact that global warming is real.

It is primarily caused by carbon emissions. Pennsylvania contributes 1 % of those emissions globally according the The Nature Conservancy. We need the EPA to be fully funded to protect the citizens of this great country.

More resources and policies need to be implemented to develop ‘green energy’.

Future generations need to inherit a safe, clean, healthy planet and it’s up to us to Act Now. The new budget must include funds for a fully funded EPA! Judy Walker West Chester