Middletown chairman responds to pipeline critic
To the Times: Margie McAboy of Middletown, in her recent letter to the Times, assigned quite a bit of blame to how Republicans have addressed safety regarding the Mariner East 2 (ME2) pipeline, using the word ‘Republican’ no fewer than 10 times in her short dispatch.
Unfortunately, as a leader in the Delco Mid-County Democratic Party and wife to former Democratic Mayor of Swarthmore Richard Lowe, Ms. McAboy did not afford much in the way of transparency about declaring her position. As an elected Republican official in Middletown Township I’d like to address her outrageous accusations that Middletown Council and other leaders county-wide have ignored the public’s safety in dealing with ME2.
When the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission designated the ME2 project with “utility” status it provided Sunoco Logistics the power of eminent domain and with that the ability for Sunoco to choose a path that no local municipality could prevent. When asked last year at a Middletown Council meeting what would happen if Middletown would not grant Sunoco’s requested easements through township-owned land, Bart Mitchell of Sunoco Logistics stated the pipeline was coming either way, through our municipal lands or the private property of adjacent neighbors. In negotiating these easements, the township subsequently secured safety items such as highly sensitive carbon sensors that trigger line shutdowns to be placed on the line next to Glenwood Elementary and the Tunbridge Apartment complex; training for our firefighters at specialized sites in Texas at Sunoco’s expense; and $1.8M that we’ve subsequently used to contract with resources to help us with our emergency response planning. The remainder of those funds will be used exclusively for capital improvements in Middletown and not touch our operating budget.
One of those hired is Robert Drennan, an 11-year Battalion Chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department and Instructor of Emergency Management at both the National Fire Academy and St. Joseph’s University. Bob is building our emergency response plans with the input and guidance of the owner of national pipeline industry specialist Accufacts, Richard Kuperwicz. Their work continues toward a comprehensive plan for our township focusing on the length of the line through Middletown, with particular attention to population-dense areas and Glenwood School. Drills with our first responders against the pipeline behind Glenwood Elementary have already taken place with Mr. Drennan, along with our first responders and County Emergency Response Teams.
As a 38-year and active volunteer firefighter with the Middletown Fire Company, I take personal exception to Ms. McAboy’s characterization that Middletown Council is not concerned about the safety of our residents. My tenure as a firefighter is exceeded by my colleague on Council, Norm Shropshire. Together we were on the lines when a propane tank truck overturned near Chester Creek a few years back and acutely understand the risk … and fear … that these materials can create. Our colleagues on Middletown Council have worked closely with us to ensure that these risks to our community are properly prepared for and that in the event of a pipeline-related emergency our first responders will be well-trained and drilled in their response. We continue to work with our consultants, Delaware County Emergency Management, the state police, local EMS and our indefatigable township volunteer firefighters to be prepared in the event of a pipelinerelated emergency before and well after ME2 is operational.
Middletown Township did not ask for, nor approve this pipeline. Our council and other municipal leaders, both Republican and Democrat, in Delaware County and statewide, are left with limited options on how to deal with the safety risks Mariner East 2 presents due to the immense power Pennsylvania utilities are provided over our local zoning laws. Reality is there is just one politician that can stop, alter or change ME2’s course, our Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and he has given no indication he will back off his support of the project. I would hope that Mrs. McAboy’s partisan letter is not an attempt to run cover for the governor on an issue of such importance to our community.
After ME2 is installed Gov. Wolf, the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, other state regulating bodies and both Republicans and Democrats of the state Legislature would do well to conduct a full ‘lessons learned’ exercise from this installation to apply to future utility projects. Among them: State laws should be revised to allow municipalities such as Middletown to enforce our well-thought zoning laws already in place that support quality of life and public safety of our community. And as one of just two states that does not have a ‘siting’ authority for intra-state pipelines (Alaska being the other), Pennsylvania should immediately establish such a body that can step in on behalf of communities such as Middletown to prevent pipelines from encroaching on schools and other densely populated areas to mitigate associated risks.
We’re happy that Margie and her husband chose to move to Middletown and look forward to them enjoying all the wonderful things that our community has provided my family for over 45 years. And over my years as a volunteer firefighter and community leader and I can assure her that of those things, safety has been and will continue to be paramount.