Sunoco responds to residents’ complaints

»Jeffrey Shields works in the public relations department for Sunoco. On Wednesday, he responded to several questions concerning the Mariner East 2 pipeline in writing and via email.

Shields said that construction of the 20-inch pipeline is scheduled for completion by the end of the third quarter this year, with construction of a second 16-inch pipeline to be completed in 2018.

“We do not have a more exact date to provide for the second pipeline at this time,” Shields said.

Shields noted that pipeline construction has created many local jobs.

“We have about 475 people working in Spread 6, which includes Delaware and Chester counties,” Shields said. “This is in addition to the 1,500 construction contractors working at Marcus Hook Industrial Complex on Mariner East 2-related construction.”

Shields was asked whether the project would create noise.

“Sound barriers are used in some places for our horizontal directional drills,” he said. “These drills bore holes far underground, for thousands of feet in length, and then pull the welded pipe through the hole. The drill or associated machinery may be heard in close proximity, so we have erected sound barriers in areas close to residences, and work with neighbors to address any sound issues.”

Shields said Sunoco might work late.

“We are currently working within township ordinances but may also do work after hours if needed, such as when we pull the pipe through the drill hole,” he said.

Motorists will continue to be impacted.

“We will … sometimes need to close a lane and deploy flagging crews periodically for work space or hauling large loads,” Shields said. “That is mainly to allow the work trucks to safely enter/exit the roadway and then traffic is immediately restored to normal. We only perform lane closures during non-peak traffic hours.”

Will the work become more extensive? The PR rep was asked.

“We expect the work to gradually pick up over the next couple of months,” he said. “Most of the pipeline will be installed by horizontal directional drilling, and we will begin to pull through pipe in the next few weeks in various locations.”

Sunoco will soon start laying pipe in Chester County.

“There will be open trench construction in eastern Chester County (Elverson Borough, West and East Nantmeal Townships, and Wallace Township) and expect that to happen in the next few weeks,” he said.