Troubled Mariner EastMarsh Creek State Park in Chester County is currently being constructed with pipelines restartedAccording to the project builder, it is now planning to complete the 350-mile-long natural gasoline liquids line in quarter 2022, two years more than the original planned completion.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a statement New permitsSunoco Pipeline’s parent company, Energy Transfer, allowed construction to resume on a section of the pipe at Marsh Creek Lake. After the company notified it, construction was halted. spilledThere will be between 21,000 and 28,000 Gallons of drilling fluid. This section is the last to be completed.
The updated permits permit open trench excavation instead of horizontal directional digging below the ground. They were approved despite October’s filing by the state Attorney Generals. 48 chargesThese allegations allege that the Texas-based company committed environmental crimes.
Mariner Easts construction was delayed from the beginning. It has caused numerous drilling mud leaks into wetlands, waterways across the state. This has led to dangerous sinkholes and polluted drinking waters throughout the entire length of Mariner Easts.
After its work to damage the aquifer, create sinkholes and make homes unsafe, the company bought at most five Chester County properties. Since February 2017, the DEP has issued more that 120 notices of violations to this company. The company has paid more than $20,000,000 in fines and assessments. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission temporarily shut downSafety concerns prompted the closure of the Mariner East 1 Pipeline in 2018.
Residents near the latest spillage and politicians call for an immediate halt to construction of the final section, at least until Marsh Creek Lake has been cleaned up.
State Sen. Katie Muth is a Democrat and represents parts of Chester County and Montgomery counties. She expressed outrage at the new Marsh Creek construction permits.
It should be stopped immediately after they have tested all the private and public water supplies. [the pipeline route]She said. This has never happened. This project was flawed from its inception.
Muth said that she’s already been contacted by constituents who are concerned about the impact of the construction on groundwater and drinking waters, as well as whether or not neighboring backyards will be flooded again.
Residents who live near Energy Transfer are concerned that the company will rush to renew their permits in February.
They are moving very fast, said Christina PK DiGiulio of Marsh Creek, who uses drones to document construction. It was a reckless process. This is because the DEP allowed a criminal organization to push their pipe through, without properly studying groundwater impacts and protecting the safety of the public.
Muth said that even though there are no statutes to prevent criminal charges against companies from continuing construction, permits could still be pulled.
Muth said that DEP has the legal power to revoke or deny any permit of any operator with a history for repeat violations. So [DEP]They don’t use their authority. They can’t claim they are underfunded forever and that the laws don’t have enough strength.
A spokesperson for DEP stated that the Consent Order and Agreement between DEP and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources brought both the company and DEP into compliance with statute and regulations. Therefore, there was no legal reason to delay a decision on permit modifications.
Virginia Nurk, a spokesperson for DEP, wrote in an email that the DEP is still following the case closely and will exercise its regulatory authority when necessary.
Marie Cusick
/
StateImpact Pennsylvania
Three controversial pipelines
Mariner East is made up of three pipelines carrying highly volatile propane, ethane, and butane. They are the Mariner East 1 and 2 lines, respectively, and the Mariner East 2x and 16 inches Mariner East 2x. The lines transport Marcellus Shale gas to the 800-acre terminal at Marcus Hook, Delaware County. From there, the bulk of it is shipped to Scotland for plastics making.
The company plans to convert a portion of Mariner East 1 into refined products like jet fuel, diesel and heating oil. The Pennsylvania AccessLine would connect Midwest refineries with central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and upstate New York.
Mariner East has faced fierce opposition in densely populated Philadelphia suburbs. There, its opponents claim that the pipes carrying volatile natural gas liquids pose a danger to safety and do not provide energy for Pennsylvanians. They claim that continuing to provide fossil fuel infrastructure for use is against all global, national, and state climate change goals.
Muth stated that this is the most reckless driller in the country. The pipeline isn’t safe. It crosses neighborhoods, schools and nursing homes, libraries, and other places it shouldn’t. This pipeline is not needed in the commonwealth.
Muth pointed out the ExplosionThe 2018 rural Beaver County installation of the Energy Transfers natural gas liquids Revolution pipe. The pipeline was only in service for a week before it burst during a landslide. It engulfed a hillside in flames, forcing evacuations. The explosion released 3,000,000 cubic yards of gas and sent flames 150ft into the air. Although no one was hurt in the blast, several pets died and vehicles were damaged. Six high-voltage electric transmission towers were destroyed and an electrical line was cut..
Energy Transfer spokesperson said that the company operates its Mariner East pipes safely.
Lisa Coleman, spokesperson for the company, stated that there are no safety issues regarding the operation of our active pipelines. These have been operating safely for many years.
We will continue our robust geophysical testing program as we complete Mariner East 2 construction. This will ensure the safety and security of the community, our employees, as well the safety and security of the environment. Our construction protocols include the installation steel casing, which will permanently stabilize the ground around the pipelines.
Coleman said that natural gas liquids are essential to our supply chain. They are the building blocks of the products we use every single day.
Energy Transfer agreed to drill Marsh Creek Lake of drilling mud and to pay $4,000,000 to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as part of the new permit agreement.
Potential carbon capture
The company is also considering entering the carbon capture market, including at Marcus Hook terminal. Energy Transfer executives discussed on November’s earnings call a feasibility study to capture flue gas carbon dioxide and supply it to beverage- and food companies through their pipelines.
Coleman said that we are also looking into other projects that use CO2 from our assets for enhanced oil recovery or sequestration. As we reduce our carbon footprint, our franchise will allow for us to participate on a variety projects involving carbon capture and other innovative uses.
She stated that Marsh Creek construction should be complete by mid-February.
