Energy Transfer/Sunoco To Host Sept. 15 Public Meeting To Accept Comments On Interim Site Characterization Report For Pipeline Rupture In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County

Energy Transfer/Sunoco has scheduled a September 15 public meeting to accept comments on an Interim Site Characterization Report related to the rupture of the Twin Oaks to Newark 14-inch petroleum product in Upper Wakefield Township, Bucks County.

The meeting will be held at the Crossing Church, 1895 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, PA starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Interim Site Characterization Report describes the nature, extent, direction, rate of movement, volume and composition of regulated substances released from the rupture of the pipeline.

The Interim report is also required to identify data gaps, plans for further characterization and the ability of the data to support development of remedial (cleanup) actions.

Click Here for a copy of the Interim Report and supporting documentation.

For more information, visit the Energy Transfer/Sunoco Upper Makefield Response webpage.

Questions for Energy Transfer/Sunoco should be directed to: uppermakefieldresponse@energytransfer.com, by phone at 877-397-3383 or via online contact form.

DEP Sept. 9 Briefing

The Department of Environmental Protection held a virtual community briefing on its response to the pipeline rupture on September 9.

Click Here for a DEP summary of the briefing.

A recording of the briefing, documents and other information related to the response will be posted on DEP’s Upper Makefield Pipeline webpage.

Questions for DEP should be directed to: RA-EPUMPIPELINE@pa.gov. 

The Incident

On January 31, 2025, Energy Transfer/Sunoco confirmed that its pipeline had leaked petroleum, initially contaminating seven wells in the Mt. Eyre Manor neighborhood in Upper Makefield Township.

Third-party environmental consultants – working under DEP oversight – have conducted water tests at impacted homes, testing well water for petroleum contamination. 

To date, treatment systems have been installed at 112 residences, seven of which had results above drinking water standards for petroleum products and with detectable contamination at other residences. 

Treatment systems are scheduled to be installed at many other homes. The point-of-entry treatment (POET) filtration systems that have been installed are designed to remove all contaminants from drinking water, ensuring residents can have access to clean water in their homes.

On March 6, 2025, the Shapiro Administration issued an order(opens in a new tab) directing Energy transfer to continue providing bottled water to affected residents and sample and maintain the treatment systems that have been installed on homes. 

Additionally, DEP has required Energy Transfer to submit a long-term cleanup plan and set up a way for affected residents and the community to access cleanup plans. 

Visit DEP’s Upper Makefield Pipeline webpage for much more detail.

(Photo: Initial Investigation Area from Interim Site Characterization Report.)

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 6 to 12 - Disposing Of 4.6 Million Gallons Of Oil & Gas Wastewater; 18,000 Gallon Drilling Spill; Failure To Restore Pipeline Right-Of-Way - Again  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 13 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 82 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 13 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

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-- DEP Provides Update On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Pipeline Rupture Cleanup In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County On Sept. 9

-- Energy Transfer/Sunoco To Host Sept. 15 Public Meeting To Accept Comments On Interim Site Characterization Report For Pipeline Rupture In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Releases Companies, Individuals Receiving $7.24 Million In Federal Funds To Plug 329 Conventional Gas Wells In 13 Counties  [PaEN]

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-- Observer Reporter: 2 Townships In Greene County Declare Disaster Emergencies Over Contaminated Water Wells  [PDF of Article] 

-- WTAE: 2 Greene County Townships Issue Emergency Declarations 3 Years After Water Well Contamination From Fracking 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Two Greene County Townships Declare Disaster Emergencies, Seek Public Funding For Drinking Water Systems Amid Claims That Shale Gas Industry Contaminated Wells 

-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News: Two Greene County Townships Declare Disaster Emergencies, Seek Public Funding For Water Systems Amid Claims The Gas Industry Contaminated Water Wells

-- Delaware Currents: DRBC Grants 5-Year Extension For Gibbstown, NJ LNG Gas Export Facility Dock Project

-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Issues Boil Water Advisory For Village Of Reno In Venango County Due To Bacteria In Water Hauled To The System To Make Up For Water Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Spill In July 2023  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick: Boil Water Advisory Lifted For Village Of Reno In Venango County; Aqua PA Still Hauling Water To Make Up For Lost Supplies After Conventional Oil Well Spill In 2023

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PUC Orders PA Natural Gas Utilities To Catalog Older Plastic Pipes For Safety Concerns [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: The Risk And Reward Of Having A.I. Data Centers As Electric, Water Utility Customers

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT CEO Urges Rapid Energy Development To Fuel A.I. Race Against China

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Markets Brace For Glut With No Sign Of China Demand Rebound

-- Reuters Guest Essay: Europe Succumbs To US ‘Energy Dominance’ At Its Own Risk

[Posted: September 10, 2025]  PA Environment Digest