Local residents to attend anti-pipeline rally
WEST CHESTER >> Residents from across the Commonwealth will hold a Citizens’ Rally for Safety over Sunoco on Tuesday, March 19, at 10 a.m. in the Main Capitol Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.
Immediately following the rally, state Sen. Andy Dinniman and state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten will hold a press conference with fellow members of the newly formed bipartisan, bicameral Pipeline Safety Caucus.
The press conference, scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Main Rotunda, will focus on a package of comprehensive pipeline safety bills introduced by Dinniman, Friel Otten, and others in the wake of various environmental violations, public safety concerns, geologic problems, threats to private property and water rights, and other wideranging quality-of-life issues brought on by Sunoco/ ETP’s controversial Mariner East project.
The rally is being organized by volunteers and has the support of nearly 50 organizations across the Commonwealth. Local residents interested in transportation should contact Jerry McMullen at jerrymcmullenphd@comcast.net to reserve a seat on a bus scheduled to leave the Exton Square Mall early that morning.
Residents and activists planning to attend the rally shared their thoughts on pipeline safety and environmental protection:
“Sunoco’s Mariner East project has bullied its way across Pennsylvania, obliterated people’s property rights, damaged the environment, and threatened public safety,” said Jerry McMullen of West Whiteland. “I am not against pipelines when they supply needed energy, when they are safe, and when they are run by trustworthy operators. However, when two 80 plus-year-old steel pipes with a history of leaks and inadequate maintenance are repurposed to carry highly volatile natural gas liquids through densely populated areas for export to European plastic manufacturers, I object. It’s time for our state government to put public safety first.”
Said Caroline Hughes: “Sunoco’s hazardous, highly volatile liquids export pipeline project, planned with callous disregard for public safety, has placed our communities at unacceptable risk of physical and economic harm. We’ve seen firsthand the way that tens of millions of dollars of lobbying money has corroded the government institutions that are supposed to protect us and our property from industrial exploitation. We call on Gov. Wolf and the PUC for an immediate and permanent halt of Sunoco’s single remaining export pipeline, the 12-inch workaround pipeline, and the entire project, before Sunoco’s next predictable accident not after.”
Rebecca Britton, of Uwchlan Safety Coalition, will be attending.
“Involuntary risks are being imposed on Pennsylvanians across the state,” she said. “Mariner East 1 has been in service for four years and the operator is still not sharing life-saving critical information with our emergency responders. Pennsylvanians are entitled to safe schools, safe communities, and we will continue to demand our health and welfare statute is followed.”
Melissa DiBernardino of East Goshen said safety should be the priority in the pipeline project.
“My children and community members across Pennsylvania will not be lab rats in this immoral and unprecedented project for private gain of a company and industry that believes they are above the law,” she said. “We will not stand by and suffer tragedy so that our government can react and give us the safety we desperately need and deserve. Pennsylvanians are awake, armed with knowledge and are taking action. We demand that those obligated to protect our health, safety and welfare be proactive and take action with us.”
Margaret Quinn of Uwchlan will be attending the rally.
“I am asking state senators and state representatives to pass pipeline safety legislation now, in particular, safety setbacks for highly volatile pipelines,” she said. “This legislation must be retroactive. No 80-year-old pipelines should be grandfathered in. Both the Mariner 1 and the second cobbled-together pipeline have been repurposed against the advice of PHMSA. We are the only state that does not have pipeline legislation that protects citizens against such corporate greed.”