‘Catastrophic problem’ fears

Neighbors ask about pipeline safety during meeting

UWCHLAN» An audience of about 200 concerned residents heard from an eight-member panel composed mostly of county emergency responders about pipeline safety during Wednesday’s meeting at Lionville Middle School.

Dozens of public officials attended the three-hour long pipeline-preparedness safety meeting moderated by county Commissioner Kathi Cozzone.

For more than two hours the audience peppered experts with questions, with several voicing concerns.

One resident said she was “positively terrorized” by the now-under-construction Sunoco Mariner East 2 pipeline.

“You scare the living hell out of me that this is going to be a catastrophic problem,” another Marchwood resident said.

Cozzone lives in the Marchwood area and suggested that residents work together and lobby their legislators to get issues addressed on a statewide level.

“I know you’re scared,” Cozzone said. “I’m scared. I’m not excited about this.”

The panel went to great lengths to let residents know that county and municipal emergency responders are well trained and ready for all possible emergencies.

A Uwchlan mother of a Boy Scout asked what her son could do in case of a pipeline leak or rupture.

Beau Crowding, deputy director of fire services, told parents to tell their children to go to a teacher or parent when they see or hear something unusual such as strange noises, hissing, pools of product and dead or brown vegetation.

Bobby Kagel, director of emergency services, told residents see-

ing something odd to call the 911 department and to call “100 times” if they feel the need.

Crowding said it is important for 911 callers to be knowledgeable.

“We urge you to be a prepared citizen,” he said. “As much valid information you can give us is critical. If we can get good information early we can get emergency responders out there faster.”

In case of an emergency, residents were told to follow

directions from emergency responders about whether to shelter in place or evacuate. Emergency responders will use air monitoring detectors to help size up the situation and determine if the product is toxic or flammable.

The job of emergency responders is to protect people, property and the environment, Crowding said.

In case of a leak or rupture, automatic safety valves should shut down the pipeline and the pipeline owner would be notified almost immediately.

The Mariner East 2 pipeline is designed to ship volatile liquids, ethane,

butane and propane 350 miles from the Marcelus Shale deposits in West Virginia, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania to the former Sunoco refinery in Marcus Hook, Delaware County.

Following the fouling of several wells in West Whiteland Township and other construction missteps, horizontal directional drilling was halted by court order, statewide. A Monday hearing is scheduled.

Several members of the panel asked residents to enroll in the “Smart 911” program. After registering, when a resident calls, emergency responders will be aware of important

information, including health issues, such as whether a resident uses a wheelchair, current location and even information about pets.

More information is available from the Department of Emergency Services at www.chesco.org/des.

Residents can also sign up for emergency alerts at www.readychesco.org

Alerts concerning a major crisis or emergencies such as a severe weather event and health or community issues will be sent to an email account at work or home, a cell phone, via text or TTY, or a pager and

Smartphone.

Residents can also now text 911 operators.

“Call if you can, text if you can’t,” is the Department of Emergency Services’ logo for the program. County officials caution that texts will take longer to process and do not have the same location accuracy. Go to www.chesco.org/des for more information.