Middletown approves Sunoco’s plans for pipeline
MIDDLETOWN >> More than 150 township residents filled the seats, lined the walls and spilled into the entranceway Monday night as council voted unanimously to grant easements for the Sunoco Logistics Mariner 2 pipeline project.
The action approved a 50-foot easement to construct, operate and maintain two pipelines, underground facilities and aboveground markers on four township-owned parcels and maximum 12-foot wide perpetual rights-of-way and easements for use as access roads on three township-owned roads. The pipelines would be installed on open space at Sleighton Park, the Hillcrest and Linvill tracts and Old Mill Pointe. The rights-of-way would be on a road adjacent to Glenwood Elementary School and two roads on the Turnbridge parcel.
“Mariner 2 is not something the township asked for and we do not feel good about it,” said Councilman Mark Kirchgasser. “It is in front of us, however, and we want to handle it in the best way possible for our community.”
The vote was postponed from the August meeting due to ongoing negotiations between Sunoco and the township regarding some of the contract language and members of Middletown Coalition for Community Safety attempted earlier in the day to delay the action a second time. They requested an in Delaware County’s Common Pleas Court to defer the vote for at least 90 days to obtain an independent risk assessment and determine if an appropriate emergency response plan could be developed. The case was heard before Judge Charles Burr, who, following deliberations, chose to dismiss it.
Spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, Mariner 2 is a 350-mile pipeline system which will bring natural gas liquids such as propane, ethane and butane to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex. Approximately 11.4 miles would be installed in Delaware County across private and public property in Edgmont, the township, Aston and Upper Chichester, ending at the facility. The first 20-inch pipeline would have an initial capacity of about 275,000 barrels a day with the ability to expand to 450,000 barrels; the second 16-inch line, if needed, would have an additional capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels a day. Both lines would be included as part of the project.
Sunoco Logistics, which has had easements in the township since the 1930s, was not required to approach council regarding the new lines, said Land Project Manager Bart Mitchell. Had the easements been denied, the company would have moved the pipeline from public to private land.
“If you vote no, we will still put the pipeline in,” he added. “This project will be completed.”
In the interest of time and the length of the agenda, Kirchgasser initially allowed questions from five residents, although twice as many ultimately voiced their concerns. Their issues included the need for a safety plan, proximity to Glenwood Elementary School, inability to detect the tasteless, colorless gas should it leak, reason for rerouting the line from Aston and Sunoco’s safety record and past fines.
“The escaped gas can cause asphyxiation and is highly combustible,” said resident Mike Bomstein. “Is it OK that it is so close to the school and parks? How many lives are you willing to risk for your project?”
Project Manager Matt Gordon responded to many of the queries, noting the pipeline near the school will be outfitted with a shutdown valve which can be activated electronically and close in 60-100 seconds. He added the construction and operation phases are regulated by a number of federal and state agencies and the company will have fulltime staff inspecting the pipeline.
Following the vote, Kirchgasser outlined the parameters of the ordinance. The township will be paid $1.8 million which will be placed in the capital fund for improvements. Sunoco Logistics will provide the township with $200 million in liability coverage.
Two additional sensors will be installed near Glenwood Elementary School and Chester Creek for emergency shutdown of the system. Two members each from the Middletown and Rocky Run fire companies will receive training in Texas and local courses will be provided two times a year for five years. An additional $100,000 will be earmarked for risk assessment with a special focus on the school. Kirchgasser also invited three members of MCCS to work with council on other issues.
The township received concessions during and after construction, said special counsel Jim Flandreau. Sunoco Logistics will pay for township engineers to screen the process to protect residents from disruptions such as excessive dust, dirt, erosion, noise, traffic and damage to roads. Pre and post-tests will be conducted on private wells to insure the quality of the water and the method of drilling and pipe installation will be monitored.
Council will also forward a proclamation to Gov. Tom Wolf, the secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection and chairman of the Public Utilities Commission regarding its concerns.
“We request additional public hearings at the state level to insure the safety of Middletown residents,” it read.