In Abrupt Reversal, Mariner East 2 Pipeline Work Ordered To Halt

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Reversing a decision made by the PUC board on Thursday, construction on the Mariner East pipeline has been suspended, authorities announced Friday afternoon.

The pipeline is now classified as a "non-life-sustaining business." The ruling of the PUC on Thursday had seemingly classified it as life-sustaining.

"I thank everyone who joined me in appealing to the administration to shut down this project as a pipeline carrying hazardous natural gas liquids for plastics manufacturing in Europe is clearly not a life-sustaining enterprise," State Sen. Andy Dinniman said in a statement.

More to come.

Previous story, Friday morning, March 20:

The state ruled Thursday that construction on the Mariner East 2 pipeline will not be halted amidst the coronavirus outbreak, even as Gov. Wolf ordered all "non-life-sustaining" businesses to shut down across Pennsylvania.

The decision, made by the agency overseeing natural gas drilling, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, came after local legilslators urged Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco to shut down operations.

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"Constituents and families in Chester County are all making significant sacrifices for the sake of public health and safety," State Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-19) said. "Again, it seems like Sunoco/ET is refusing to be a community partner and a good and decent neighbor. And again, it defies logic why the PUC refuses to act."

The under construction Mariner East 2 passes through both Chester and Delaware counties, where work is active.

Dinniman had petitioned PUC Chair Gladys Brown on Wednesday to close the controversial pipeline. But this time Dinniman, who has been at the forefront of the fight calling for stricter safety regulations against Sunoco, wasn't citing operational dangers. He was citing interpersonal ones.

“While the majority of our constituents recognize the importance of their individual efforts collectively, we are profoundly perplexed and alarmed that pipeline construction is allowed to continue," he wrote in his Wednesday letter. "Not only will direct interaction during construction place skilled laborers at unnecessary risk of infection, but also the movement of these individuals throughout our communities only furthers the risk to all, including our essential workforce of medical professionals and first responders."

Other state lawmakers agreed.

"You can’t wash your clothes due to laundromats being closed, but you can drill into the ground through highly populated areas as a reckless pipeline operator for plastics to be made overseas," State Sen. Katie Muth (D-44) said. "Come on (Gov. Wolf) your list needs some edits."

>>FBI Investigating Gov. Wolf's Handling Of Mariner East: Report

Industry proponents said that the work was "essential."

"Because the pipeline network is essential, work must continue to ensure safe and responsible development and operations," Kurt Knaus, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, said in a statement. "Outside construction work like this undoubtedly can be done in a manner that abides by the proper notions of social distancing."

There are 10 cases of coronavirus in Chester County as of Thursday evening.

The recently renovated Mariner East 1, along with the partially completed Mariner East 2, and Mariner East 2x, aim to transport distant Marcellus shale natural gas from western Pennsylvania and Ohio to Marcus Hook, on the Delaware River. All of the pipelines pass through Chester and Delaware counties.