Sunoco pays $12M fine; Pa. puts pipeline back on track
While Sunoco Pipeline got the green light Thursday to resume construction on the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, it came with a cost.
Sunoco and the state Department of Environmental Protection agreed to a $12.6 million civil penalty, as part of a settlement agreement that lifted a Jan. 3 suspension stopping most work on the 350-mile-long project.
The $12.6 million penalty will go to the Clean Water Fund and the Dams and Encroachments Fund. The penalty is one of the largest civil penalties collected in a single settlement.
Plans call for the pipeline to deliver hundreds of thousands of barrels of ethane, propane and butane across the full width of Pennsylvania from Marcellus Shale sites, through large highdensity swaths of Delaware and Chester counties, to the former Sunoco refinery in Marcus Hook.
The DEP referred to the fine as a historic civil penalty and a stringent compliance review, while lifting the order suspending DEP-permitted operations.
“Throughout the life of this project, DEP has consistently held this operator to the highest standard possible,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “A permit suspension is one of the most significant penalties DEP can levy. Our action to suspend the permits associated with this project, and the collection of this penalty, are indicative of the strict oversight that DEP has consistently exercised over this project.
“Today’s announcement is by no means the end of DEP’s oversight. Since the permit suspension over a month ago, Sunoco has demonstrated that it has taken steps to ensure the company will conduct the remaining pipeline construction activities in accordance with the law and permit conditions, and will be allowed to resume. DEP will be monitoring activities closely to ensure that Sunoco is meeting the terms of this agreement and its permits.”
Jeff Shields, Sunoco Pipeline communications manager, said Thursday that the pipeline builder will be mobilizing, but to not expect actual construction to begin immediately. Shields also said that mainline construction is approximately 93 percent complete and horizontal directional drilling is approximately 64 percent complete for in-service.
Shields released this statement:
“Today we entered into a consent order and agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that allows us to resume construction on the Mariner East 2 pipeline. While we strongly disagree with their legal conclusions that our conduct was willful or egregious, we felt it was important to our unit holders and to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that we move forward rather than engage in continued litigation.
“We are committed to fully complying with the DEP order, which includes following all permit requirements. Our willingness and ability to comply was acknowledged by the DEP in the consent order and agreement. Safety is paramount for any energy infrastructure project we do – the safety of the communities in which we work and operate the safety of our employees, and the safety of the environment. Mariner East 2 is critical to Pennsylvania’s economy, and resumption of construction will put thousands of workers back on the job. We look forward to completing the Mariner East 2 project safely and beginning service in a timely manner.”
Mariner East 2 has been under consistent attack by ever-growing community groups opposed to its routing through densely populated areas and in close proximity to elementary schools, churches and senior centers.
Food & Water Watch organizer Sam Rubin blasted the agreement.
“This outrageous deal sacrifices the health and safety of Pennsylvanians for mere pocket change from Sunoco. Gov. (Tom) Wolf’s message to the thousands of schoolchildren living within the blast zone of the Mariner East 2 is simple: Your safety is less important than Sunoco’s profits.
“But make no mistake: The communities threatened by this pipeline will protect themselves from this danger, with or without Gov. Wolf’s support,” he said.
Critics have been seeking an independent risk assessment study of the project. Delaware County Council is considering performing such a study. State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19 of West Whiteland, has been pushing Wolf for a similar
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