The Public Utility Commission Thursday voted 3 to 2 to partially lift its shutdown of construction of the Mariner East 2 and 2x Pipelines in 8 areas in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, but the shutdown remains in effect at 4 other locations in the Township until Sunoco receives permits for those locations from DEP.
The Commission approved the action based on a joint motion by Commissioner Norman J. Kennard and Commissioner John F. Coleman, Jr. Dissenting statements were offered by Chairman Gladys M. Brown and Vice Chairman Andrew G. Place.
The action comes following numerous required PUC filings by Sunoco, including affidavits noting that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued permits authorizing construction at eight separate locations in West Whiteland Township.
The Commission approved the action based on a joint motion by Commissioner Norman J. Kennard and Commissioner John F. Coleman, Jr. Dissenting statements were offered by Chairman Gladys M. Brown and Vice Chairman Andrew G. Place.
The action comes following numerous required PUC filings by Sunoco, including affidavits noting that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued permits authorizing construction at eight separate locations in West Whiteland Township.
While Thursday’s action by the Commission addresses emergency injunctions regarding construction of ME2 and ME2X, a broad complaint involving of Sunoco’s Mariner East pipelines is still before the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge.
An initial prehearing conference for that case is scheduled for August 28, to address various procedural issues. Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Barnes will be presiding.
The PUC’s actions were in response to a formal complaint submitted by Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester).
The petition submitted to the PUC by Sen. Dinniman on April 27 asked for all three Mariner East Pipelines to be shutdown and construction stopped.
On June 14, the PUC lifted, in part, the shut down order PUC Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Barnes imposed on Sunoco on May 24 saying it did not contain any new information to support the shutdown of Mariner East 1 Pipeline, in particular, since the PUC lifted its previous shutdown order from the PUC on May 7.
The shut down order issued by Barnes, however, remains in effect for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, which is under construction, and 2x in Chester County only.
The Mariner East Pipelines case falls under PUC Docket Numbers: C-2018-3001451 and P-2018-3001453.
Additional information on DEP enforcement actions can be found on DEP’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline webpage.
NewsClips:
Legere: PUC Lifts More Limits On Mariner East 2 Pipelines
Sauro: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Foe In Huntingdon County Must Post $25K For Release
Sauro: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Foe In Huntingdon County Must Post $25K For Release
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