Pols plot ways to turn up heat on pipeline construction
MEDIA » Deb Ciamacca, Democratic candidate for state representative in the
168th District, urged residents to get involved and fight Sunoco Mariner East construction.
A four-person panel of experts met during Thursday evening’s Zoom presentation, “Mariner East Pipeline: Communities at the Breaking Point.”
George Alexander, author of the Pipeline Dairy blog, educated more than 40 residents who logged on to the Zoom presentation.
Alexander said that two large pipes carrying “hazardous” fuels are being added to an existing 350mile long pipeline rightof-way that carries a 1930s pipeline. The gas sinks, is heavier than air and is odorless.
“This type of pipeline is far more dangerous than any other pipeline in the state,” Alexander said.
The panel discussed several ways to get involved.
“We are for safety, not necessarily against pipelines,” said David Shuey, East Goshen supervisor, who noted that he was not speaking for the township.
Sunoco has consistently maintained it is meeting all safety requirments.
Shuey encouraged people to join coalitions and get involved with local and state politicians. He said that change can happen in Harrisburg.
Bibianna Dussling, Middletown supervisor, noted that she was speaking only for herself, and said those interested should go online to keep up to date, while engaging with local and state politicians.
Dussling called for legal action, political pressure and direct action.
“Civic engagement is huge,” she said. “We need to keep the pressure on.
Melissa DiBernardino is a mother of children who attend a school which is 100 feet from pipeline construction.
“We need more change at the state level because the local municipalities can only do so much,” DiBernardino said.
Alexander said that residents should support the Safety 7 Complaint, a legal challenge. He also said that permitting and noise ordinances should be enforced.
Alexander also noted that Sunoco workers are not social distancing, which is a “big” safety risk and those distancing rules should be enforced.
Shuey said the pipeline project might fail if it is found to be financially unviable.
“People say it cost so much, they can’t abandon it,” Shuey said. “I don’t buy that argument.”
He then said that when people stop using plastics and the demand lessons, the project would become unviable.
As a 20-year veteran teacher at Conestoga High School, Ciamacca said she gave her students a sense that they can change things.
She said that many residents are angry and feel like they are being ignored.
“We may be on the dawn of a new era of activism,” She said. “We should all feel safe in our homes.”
Brittany Forman is running against Ciamacca for the Democratic nod in the 168th District and the winner of that contest will likely face Republican incumbent Chris Quinn.
Forman released the following comment on Friday.
“The ME2 pipeline has had a disastrous effect on the communities in the district,” she wrote in a text. “We need a moratorium on construction until a legitimate safety plan is in place.
“We also need regulatory reform at the state level to close the loopholes and ensure this never happens again.”