PA Environment Digest Blog: Sen. Santarsiero Introduces Bill To Define Obligations Of Pipeline Owners, Anyone Discharging Hazardous Substances To Clean Up Spills, Releases

On February 27, Sen. Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) introduced Senate Bill 1157 establishing the obligations of pipeline owners and anyone discharging hazardous substances to respond to and clean up spills and releases.

The bill also gives the Department of Environmental Protection additional authority to respond to these emergencies.

The legislation is in response to an Energy Transfer/Sunoco jet fuel pipeline rupture in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County that contaminated water wells in a residential neighborhood. Read more here.

Sen. Santarsiero said when he and Rep. Perry Warren (D-Bucks) announced the legislation January 30-- “Almost exactly one year ago, in a residential neighborhood in Washington Crossing (Upper Makefield Township) in Bucks County, a leak of jet fuel from a pipeline that runs from Delaware County to Newark, New Jersey, shattered a sense of safety and well-being that residents had taken for granted.

“Since the operator of the pipeline first acknowledged the spill, response efforts have moved at a seeming glacial pace. The experience has exposed how inadequate current Pennsylvania law is in addressing such spills in non-industrial areas,” said Sen. Santarsiero.

Senate Bill 1157 would--

-- Require immediate action when hazardous substances are released, including mandatory containment, investigation, and cleanup;

-- Hold polluters accountable through strict, joint-and-several liability, ensuring responsible parties - not taxpayers - pay for cleanup;

-- Guarantee residential protection, requiring cleanup to standards suitable for unrestricted residential use, including protection of drinking water, soil, and air quality;

-- Empower DEP to act decisively, including taking over the cleanup when responsible parties fail to comply, or immediate action is needed;

-- Create enforceable timelines so communities are not left waiting indefinitely for answers or action;

-- Strengthen funding and accountability, directing penalties and recoveries into the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund to support response efforts; and

-- Ensure transparency, by requiring DEP to establish a public information portal so residents can track cleanup progress, understand risks, and receive timely updates.

“No Pennsylvanian should have to wonder whether their drinking water is safe while the state and polluters debate process. When a spill occurs in a residential community, the law should be clear: cleanup is mandatory; the state can act immediately; and the polluter—not the taxpayer – pays,” said Sen. Santarsiero.

Click Here for a summary of the legislation.

Click Here for the announcement of the legislation.

Visit DEP’ Upper Makefield Pipeline Release webpage for information on DEP’s response.

The legislation was referred to the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

(Map: Spill investigation area for the Energy Transfer/Sunoco pipeline rupture.)

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 21 to 27 - 19 More Abandoned Conventional Well Violations: Casing/Cementing Failures; Shale Gas/Conventional Well Spills & Releases [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 28 [PaEN]

-- DEP Publishes Corrected Notice Of Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval March 19 Meeting, April 7 Hearing In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 72 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 28 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For CDE Acquisitions, LLC 412 Acre, 6 Building, 5 Million Square Foot A.I. Data Center Campus In South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets March 31 Hearing On Air Quality Permit For The BASF Corp Monaca Plant In Beaver County [PaEN]