Killion supports Wolf Administration pipeline actions

WEST CHESTER >> State Sen. Tom Killion applauded the actions taken this week on pipeline safety by Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

On Friday, DEP halted its permit review process for pipelines owned by Energy Transfer, parent company of Sunoco Pipeline. DEP said this action resulted from the company’s noncompliance of a DEP order related to an explosion in Beaver County last September.

The order effects 27 Mariner East 2 Pipeline permits needed for work on this project.

“DEP has done the right thing by suspending permit reviews of Energy Transfer pipelines,” said Killion, R-9. “This agency should continue to demand that the pipeline company takes all corrective environmental measures outlined in their original order and that operations not resume until full compliance is strictly followed,” he added.

Killion was most pleased by Wolf’s call for pipeline safety in a statement issued by the governor on Friday.

“Governor Wolf has called for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to take a series of long overdue actions to help ensure the public’s safety near pipelines, and he voiced support for new pipeline legislation in the General Assembly. I thank the Governor for his strong words today,” said Killion.

In January, Killion and Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, announced a legisla-

tive package of 12 pipeline safety bills.

“It is incredibly helpful

that the governor is urging the legislature to pass pipeline oversight bills. Our bills will help protect families living in pipeline communities across the state. These are commonsense, bipartisan legislative proposals

that ensure the public’s safety,” said Killion.

Last year, Killion strongly urged the PUC to uphold an administrative law judge’s decision shutting down the Mariner Pipeline until an array of safety precautions were taken, but the PUC allowed pipeline operations to resume.

Killion said, “With the governor’s statement today, I hope the PUC finally understands that they can and should do more to protect pipeline communities, and that the legislature starts passing pipeline safety bills.”

For more information, contact Shannon Royer at sroyer@pasen.gov or 717787-4712.