In a face-to-face meeting with Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday, residents from across Chester and Delaware Counties urged the governor to use his executive authority under Title 35 [Health and Safety] to immediately halt construction and operation on Sunoco’s troubled Mariner East 2 Pipelines, and to assess the risk the project poses to the safety of communities along the route.
The residents, all members of the bi-county, bipartisan coalition Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety, additionally demanded that the Commonwealth mitigate that risk to vulnerable populations impacted by the hazardous, highly volatile liquid export pipeline.
The safety advocates were bolstered by state representatives Leanne Krueger-Braneky and Carolyn Comitta, who joined the residents in solidarity, and who also asked Gov. Wolf to halt pipeline construction.
The Governor was presented with letters urging action from Congressman Patrick Meehan (R), Senators Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) and John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Representatives Becky Corbin (R-Chester), Duane Milne (R-Chester), and Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester).
During the meeting, residents repeatedly stressed the urgent need to address the threat to densely populated communities, and once again handed Gov. Wolf a petition containing over 6,000 signatures asking him to protect the safety of schools.
Bibianna Dussling is a resident of Middletown Township, Co-President of the Middletown Coalition for Community Safety and a member of the Del-Chesco United Advocacy Committee.
After the meeting, Ms. Dussling said “We’ve seen a rapidly growing bipartisan consensus to halt the construction and properly assess the risk of the Mariner East project. We hope the Governor will take these concerns seriously and take immediate action to protect our safety.”
The 350 mile long Mariner East 2 pipelines are proposed to cross 17 counties, with Mariner 1 already operational in close proximity to numerous schools, hospitals, and private homes.
Additional proposed Mariner East pipelines could carry up to 750,000 barrels a day of highly volatile ethane, propane, and butane, which, if leaked, would become highly combustible, heavier than air gas.
During its construction operations, Sunoco has caused over 100 drilling spills, contaminated numerous wells, and destroyed at least one aquifer. The so-called “Mariner East 1” leaked highly volatile liquids at least three times in one year.
“We expect the Governor to take swift action, to use his authority to protect us, as mandated by his oath and his office,” said Caroline Hughes, resident of East Goshen Township and a member of the leadership team of Goshen United for Public Safety, a unit of the Del-Chesco United organization. “Citizens are prepared to escalate our voices and demand representative action.”
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