Glenwood parents still concerned about pipeline
MIDDLETOWN » With less than two weeks until the start of classes, one former and two current Glenwood Elementary School parents approached the Rose Tree Media School Board Thursday night to reiterate their concerns about the safety of the building due to its proximity to the Mariner East 2 pipeline.
The system, under construction by Sunoco Pipeline L.P., will transport natural gas liquids such as propane, ethane and butane from the state’s Marcellus Shale regions across the state to Marcus Hook - including the last stretch traversing 11 miles of Delaware County. Parents also noted that a valve station for the pipeline is slated for installation under a road 650 feet from the school playground.
The board’s statement on the district website about “ensuring the continued safety of our students and staff” has apparently done little to assuage their fears.
“The echoing message from the district and township alike has been that you did not ask for this,” said Diane Smith. “But guess what – neither did we and neither did our young, innocent children.”
Each parent focused on a separate concern. Smith provided the directors with a recent photo of the existing exposed 12-inch pipe which, when coupled with the 20-inch and 16-inch pipes of Mariner East and Mariner East 2X, will create a three-pipeline valve station
behind the school. She noted her belief that installing the pipes above ground makes them more vulnerable to corrosion and increases the probability and severity of a leak and the threat of terrorism.
“I would like to know if the district’s safety plans have taken this into consideration,” she said. “I know terrorism is something that is of concern to the district, as you have stated several times it is one of the reasons emergency evacuation plans cannot be made public.”
The statement indicated the school board has reviewed and analyzed the information presented by residents, safety experts and emergency response personnel and the district will work closely with all agencies and district personnel “to ensure every feasible precaution is implemented.” It added the school will remain fully operational “unless and until such time that a government agency declares unsafe
any structure or area of the Mariner East 2 pipeline within proximity to any school district property, including Glenwood.”
The district and seven local municipalities approved resolutions of concern last year outlining numerous issues related to the pipeline. The document specifically mentioned the system has the potential “to increase the risk of catastrophic accidents and jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of the 445 students and 60 staff.”
In reminding the board of its words, Allison Chabot questioned which government agencies the district was contacting to better understand and evaluate the risks and whether there are plans to conduct an independent risk assessment. Chabot and her family, who previously lived in a home within the blast zone, recently moved to a development near
Indian Lane Elementary School.
Bibianna Dussling, whose children will be attending Glenwood, questioned the follow-up to the resolution, such as communication with state agencies. She added parents and members of Middletown Coalition for Community Safety have repeatedly stated no agency in Pennsylvania has authority over the siting of this type of pipeline project with regard to public safety.
“Where does that leave us,” she asked. “If the district does not believe its own resolution is sufficient to act on and is not communicating with another government agency about a safety assessment of Glenwood to include the valve station, the board should see to it this is done.”
Although the school board did not respond to the comments that evening, president Nancy Mackrides provided a statement the following day.
“Superintendent Jim Wigo has been and will continue to be in contact with various government agencies and emergency responders to insure the safety of our students and staff,” she wrote in an email. “He also has made follow-up inquiries to government offices regarding our concerns.”