On March 11, District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland announced the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, at the request of the District Attorney, are conducting a joint investigation regarding allegations of criminal misconduct by Energy Transfer LP, Sunoco Logistics Partners, and related corporate entities, involving pipeline construction and related activities for Mariner East 1, 2, and 2X pipelines.
“There is no question that the pipeline poses certain concerns and risks to our residents, and as District Attorney, I am working to do everything possible within my power to ensure the safety of residents,” said Copeland. “At this time, we are thoroughly reviewing the evidence available to us, working with the Attorney General’s Office, and seeking action within our jurisdictional boundaries.
“We want residents to know that we have heard their concerns, and we are willing to hear any new concerns that they may have about the pipeline by contacting my Office,” said Copeland. “Due to the fact that the pipeline spans over 17 different counties in Pennsylvania, we sought assistance from our partners in law enforcement, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. As this remains an open and active investigation, the details available for disclosure are very limited, as is the case in any of investigation.”
Mariner East 2 is a 350-mile expansion of Sunoco’s current Mariner East pipeline system, designed to carry natural gas liquids from the Marcellus and Utica shale gas fields.
Many residents in Delaware County have directly expressed concerns over the operations of the pipeline and made formal complaints and allegations of potential criminal misconduct.
Residents have also expressed concerns regarding the potential of catastrophes and property damage.
“I would like to thank the Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety, the Middletown Coalition for Community Safety, and other residents for taking the time to meet with us and sharing their concerns and formal complaints,” said Copeland.
George Alexander of Media Borough, a member of the leadership team of Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety said “We welcome this criminal investigation of Sunoco and any elected officials that may have been involved in illegal activities. Our schools, neighborhoods and senior living facilities have been subjected to unacceptable risk given the extremely dangerous materials that Sunoco proposes to transport through our communities in industrial quantities. It’s time that we had a full accounting of the means by which Sunoco has exerted its influence, and we are counting on the law enforcement officers now on the case to detect and prosecute all illegal activity, including any corruption by government officials who were elected to protect us.
Bibianna Dussling of Middletown Township spoke on behalf of the Middletown Coalition for Community Safety, a chapter of Del-Chesco United, adding, “For far too long, we’ve seen elected officials putting the profit-driven interests of the Texas corporation Sunoco ahead of the safety and economic well-being of our township, and even the laws of our Commonwealth. We hope the launching of these multiple criminal probes will serve to protect the Pennsylvanians placed at risk of harm by Sunoco’s recklessly proposed export project.”
If you would like to submit a complaint regarding misconduct by the pipeline company, please contact the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 610-891-4700.
On December 19, Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan announced he opened a criminal investigation into the construction and “not so subtle bullying” of residents in connection with Sunoco’s Mariner East Pipelines.
NewsClips:
AP-Levy: Attorney General Opens Investigation Into Mariner East 2 Pipeline
Maykuth: Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Mariner East Pipeline Project
Maykuth: Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Mariner East Pipeline Project
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