The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has levied a $355,622 penalty against Sunoco Pipeline LP (Sunoco) for violations of the Clean Streams Law that occurred during the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline between May 3, 2017 and February 27, 2018.
“No violations are acceptable,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Cleaning up a spill does not excuse Sunoco, or any other company, from complying with the law or paying an appropriate penalty.”
Sunoco’s construction activities resulted in an unpermitted discharge of drilling fluids to wetlands, wild trout streams, and High-Quality Waters at a number of locations in Allegheny, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lancaster, and Washington Counties in violation of its permits and the Clean Streams Law.
In each instance, Sunoco was required to halt operations, remediate the impacts, and submit proposed modifications to its construction methodologies to DEP for approval. Sunoco was allowed to resume operations only after DEP reviewed and approved Sunoco’s proposed modifications.
Most of the penalty amount, $337,724, will go to the Clean Water Fund, with the remainder used to reimburse the county conservation districts in the impacted counties for costs incurred inspecting the various impacted sites.
This penalty is in addition to the $12.6 million penalty levied against the company in February and covers separate violations.
DEP established a water quality project grant program with the original penalty funding. The application period opens May 7 and close June 21.
Additional information, including the Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty and supporting documents, can be found on DEP’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline webpage.DEP established a water quality project grant program with the original penalty funding. The application period opens May 7 and close June 21.
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