Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
PUC fines Sunoco, calls for study
HARRISBURG » The Public Utility Commission fined Sunoco $200,000, and called for a remaining life study of the 1930s pipeline Mariner East 1, following an April 2017, 840-gallon pipeline leak of highly volatile gas liquids near Morgantown, Berks County.
The remaining life study of ME1 will be conducted by an independent expert within six months of the expert being selected and contracted and will be used to assess the longevity of the pipeline.
The study will include “calculations regarding the remaining life of the pipeline; corrosive growth rates; a schedule of replacement or remediation work over the next five years; a list of specific threats and highest risks to the pipeline…” reads a Feb. 27 PUC release.
The ME1 pipeline runs along much of the same and original right of way as the 350-mile Mariner East 2 pipeline, which is now under construction with a projected completion date this summer. The project has met much resistance from Chester and Delaware County residents complaining that the pipelines travel through high-density areas, including near schools, the Chester County Library and nursing homes.
The $200,000 civil penalty is due within 30 days of approval of the settlement and payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A spokesperson for Energy Transfer Partners, the Texas-based parent company of Sunoco, did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Annual pipeline reports will be required to be performed by Sunoco as long as ME1 remains in service. Annual progress reports by Sunoco to the PUC for the next three years should guarantee compliance.
“Surveys of ME1 for the next three years to evaluate the effectiveness of Sunoco’s corrosion control program – to be followed by discussions with I&E regarding corrosion analysis and inspection frequencies,” the PUC order states.
The PUC voted 5-0 on Thursday in favor of a motion by Chairman Gladys Brown to approve a joint settlement between Investigation and Enforcement and PUC’s Independent Bureau of Investigation and Sunoco.
The same pipeline suffered a fuel leak in Chester County in 1992.
On Dec. 31, 1992, Sun Oil Company’s 8-inch pipeline (now called Mariner East 1) ruptured near Shoen Road, discharging 645 barrels (39,186 gallons) of fuel oil.
On Jan. 26, 1993, West Whiteland’s Township Manager, Stephen Ross, sent a memo to his supervisors with the following update: “I was advised that DER (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources) was going to request that Sun Oil Company perform a study of its various underground fuel lines to determine whether said lines were capable of continuing to transmit chemical products, and if not, whether replacement of the pipes should be undertaken by Sun Oil.”
“Here we are, 27 years later, and the 88-year-old Mariner East 1 line is still in operation and carrying highly volatile natural gas liquids under high pressure, Jerry McMullen, whose backyard garden was recently clear cut by Sunoco. “In my view, this shows irresponsibility on the part of Energy Transfer/Sunoco, our state agencies, and our governor. The time for the Public Utility Commission to demand a retirement of this ancient line is long overdue.”
The following statement was released Thursday afternoon by Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety (DCU):
“Sunoco’s hazardous, highly volatile liquids pipeline accident in Morgantown was unfortunately just one in a seemingly unending string. Sunoco’s accident last November in a densely populated part of Middletown Township occurred on new, aboveground equipment, so there is no evidence that its new pipelines are any less leaky than its old ones. The PUC’s response is trivial by comparison to the size of the public safety risk. Tellingly, neither the PUC nor Sunoco is willing to discuss the size of the probable fatality zone associated with these pipelines, nor to offer any guarantee against continued accidents.”
State Rep. Kristine Howard, D-167, of Malvern’s spokesman Marty Marks issued the following comment:
“State Rep. Howard has been working on this since the day she got elected,” Marks said. “Gov. Wolf came out a year ago in favor of a remaining life study on ME1 and she has advocated the remaining life study and other reforms. She also believes that the fine levied was to Sunoco a mere pittance and the cost of doing business and didn’t do anything to change behavior or attitude.”
“We await the results of this end-of-life study,” Democratic candidate Ginny Kerslake, for state Rep. in District 167, said. “But in the meantime our communities are without a credible plan to warn and protect us in the event of a leak on the new or old Mariner East pipelines. “The failure of our elected officials and government agencies to act to protect our families and communities is one of the reasons why I am running for office.”
The pipeline crosses Tom Casey’s West Goshen property and his family can clearly hear the clamor of pipeline construction from inside his home.
“After reading today’s ruling from the PaPUC it would appear that the concerns of the public, which we have been hammering home for nearly six years, have finally made an impact,” Casey said. “The ME1 pipeline has been allowed to operate unhindered since 2014 with highly volatile liquids without anyone knowing full well what may happen.
“Or has there been one entity that has known full well what the damages could be and just didn’t care to stop and evaluate the 87-year-old pipeline? Either way this ruling will help to evaluate the safety of the line. And if it’s determined to not be a viable line then hopefully, for the sake of people living, working, going to school, and traveling near this line, that it will be shut down ... permanently!
“It’s a step in the right direction; but this was always viewed as a marathon by those that have devoted themselves to keeping our communities safe. “I find it interesting that the PUC is finally recognizing that this rushed project, which was approved without any thought of the actual condition of the ME1 pipe,” she said. “It’s 80 years old!
“It is common sense, an 80-year-old pipe which the company has failed to maintain for decades, is not suitable for use. The company only cared to maintain it until they realized they can make money off of ethane. If they’re going to look at Sunoco’s old pipes, then maybe they need to also look at the 12-inch pipe which is being used currently.
“And are they considering using the Icedale line, another 80-year-old 8-inch pipe. I also wonder how this will affect their public utility status, since the ME1 is what they used to get public utility status, and therefore the ability to use eminent domain.”