Pipeline neighbors ask state to end flow of gas
MIDDLETOWN >> Seven petitioners from both Chester and Delaware counties are preparing for the state Public Utility Commission to hear their Nov. 20 Petition for emergency relief on Thursday, and possibly Friday, in Harrisburg.
Petitioners seek an immediate halt to the flow of natural gas liquids through the 80-year-old, 8-inch Mariner East 1 pipeline. By the end of the year, pipeline builder Sunoco plans to connect a mishmash or “workaround” of three different pipelines around incomplete sections, to ship highly volatile liquids 350 miles from western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
Petitioners say in the missive prepared by Michael Bomstein, of Pinnola and Bomstein law firm, of Philadelphia, that Sunoco hasn’t provided a credible public awareness program.
PUC regulations “require that Sunoco give the public adequate notice of procedures to follow in the event of a leak …” reads the petition. Any such public awareness program should state whether or not it is “suitable, applicable, appropriate, and credibly possible to carry out.”
A review by the PUC will determine whether the pipeline is in violation of the PUC code and is “unreasonable, unsafe, inadequate, insufficient, discriminatory.”
Bomstein argued that without an adequate emergency notification system or a credible emergency management plan, then, “as a result (residents) are at immediate risk of catastrophic and irreparable loss including loss of life, serious injury to life and damage to their homes and property.”
Sunoco has suggested that those impacted in the “blast zone” flee a halfmile on foot from the leak and not ignite an ignition source such as a door bell or phone.
The Chester and Delaware county petitioners are located in high-consequence and densely populated areas, with their homes, children’s schools or employers.
“How vulnerable populations such as young children, residents of senior living communities, and persons with disabilities would be able to proceed on foot,” has been debated, the petition reads.
A spokesperson for DelChesco United for Pipeline Safety released the following statement, Monday: “Sunoco has subjected existing densely populated areas to its risky highly volatile liquids pipeline. It now proposes to double and triple down on this hazard just steps from homes, schools, churches and residential subdivisions. In the event of a rupture, hundreds could be killed. And yet, Sunoco has failed to provide any credible plan for the vulnerable populations exposed to this appalling hazard. It’s time for the Public Utility Commission to hold Sunoco to account given the safety risks and economic downsides associated with Sunoco’s recklessly conceived export project.”
Sunoco released this statement:
“The integrity of our Mariner East 1 and Mariner East 2 pipelines has been verified in the last few months by the PUC and PHMSA through numerous tests and data collection along the routes. An example of this specific to the 12-inch section of pipeline temporarily being used for ME2 was cited in a September letter from the PUC to three school districts in which it was stated that ‘Sunoco’s integrity management programs and plans for the affected pipeline facilities have been reviewed and inspected by the PUC Pipeline Safety staff and PHMSA.’ Additionally, the 12-inch section of pipeline went through a $30 million upgrade in 2016, as part of our ongoing Integrity Management Program that applies to all our pipelines. Moreover, the safety of ME2 was acknowledged in that same PUC letter which referenced the two hydrostatic integrity tests, multiple inspections, and strategic valve placement.
“Specific to our public awareness materials, these were reviewed by the PUC as part of the stipulation for release to work in West Whiteland Township earlier this year. Based on the acceptance of these materials, we were released to work. Energy Transfer has a comprehensive, robust Public Awareness Program (PAP) that engages the community through a variety of communications methods, including targeted brochure delivery, face-to-face liaison meetings and specialized trainings.
“All pipeline operators must develop and implement a written continuing public education program that follows the guidance provided in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, which we have done and communicated with emergency response professionals along the line. We use the same wording as PHMSA in our public awareness mailers that go to all parties along the route, explaining how to identify and react to a pipeline emergency.”