Judge Orders Sunoco To Halt Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction In PA

WEST GOSHEN, PA — A judge ordered Tuesday that Sunoco halt all construction on the Mariner East 2 Pipeline across Pennsylvania. This comes just after another judge had granted the injunction filed by West Goshen Township against the oil giant weeks ago, ordering all drilling to halt indefinitely in Chester County.

"Safety has been our highest priority from the start, and this decision speaks directly to that concern," Edward G. Meakim, West Goshen Township's Chairman of the Township Board of Supervisors, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "It also validates our position that no one, including Sunoco, is above the law and must be held to full compliance with our 2015 Settlement Agreement."

The controversial pipeline has faced contentious opposition from the outset as Sunoco sought to build across public and private land. Since drilling began weeks ago that opposition has heightened, as residents had their well drinking water muddied and and access disrupted. Sunoco at first continued to drill, while offering residents bottled water and saying they would pay for Aqua PA to connect their homes so they did not have to rely on the well. Then, a week and a half ago, Sunoco said they were halting drilling in Chester County indefinitely.

Monday's ruling by a judge made that stoppage in Chester County compulsory. Tuesday's ruling means that Sunoco cannot continue construction on Mariner East 2 anywhere in the commonwealth, at least until a full hearing takes place on Aug. 7.

“It is unconscionable that Sunoco has inflicted such irreparable harms on our environment and communities,” Maya K. van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper and leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, said in a statement.

Mariner East 2, if completed, would run a pipeline carrying oil from the massive Marcellus Shale deposit in western Pennsylvania to Marcus Hook, on the Delaware River. It crosses through significant portions of Chester and Delaware counties on its way. The oil will then be shipped overseas, largely for use in creating plastics.

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In addition to water contamination and property rights issues, Sunoco has also been accused of safety violations and violating contracts with local townships, especially West Goshen.

“The township will continue to pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that Sunoco comply with the letter and spirit of its Settlement Agreement with the Township and its residents that clearly sets forth the terms and conditions under which it can build and maintain its above-ground facilities of the Mariner East pipelines in West Goshen," said David J. Brooman, an attorney with High Swartz, PC, and West Goshen's Special Counsel for Mariner-related issues.

Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board will hold their full hearing from Aug. 7 through 9. Officials said that drilling could continue if Sunoco can demonstrate, using "detailed affidavits," that drilling would not cause more harm than good.

Drilling had been underway at 55 locations across Pennsylvania, according to an environmental nonprofit, the Clean Air Council. It has not begun at another 168 locations.

Patch file photo