Delco Urges PA To Address Pipeline Work Coronavirus Safety

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Officials in Delaware County are urging state health officials to address shared concerns with Chester County officials over construction of the Mariner East Pipeline during the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of Delaware County Council, as well as the Chester County Board of Commissioners, sent a letter to Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Dennis Davin to address concerns of the operations of the Mariner East Pipeline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the letter, officials from both counties urged officials to address specific concerns of operations of the Mariner East Pipeline during the current public health crisis arising from the COVID-19 virus.

Delaware and Chester county officials said they have gotten multiple complaints from residents who have seen pipeline workers not obeying social-distancing rules. Officials said these complaints not only stem from the work directly tied to the pipeline, but also in the informal activities on and around the worksite.

Residents provided officials with photographs of workers closely congregating, traveling in common vehicles, and not wearing masks.

"We are concerned that, if the non-compliant behavior of the Energy Transfer workers triggers a
COVID-19 hot spot, the burden on our health care system would impose a risk to our entire community," the letter reads.

The failure of Energy Transfer workers to conform to the Governor’s mandates regarding social distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing, and other critical behaviors, could add more patients to local hospitals’ caseloads.

The continued work on the pipeline by its very nature poses an indisputable risk of an industrial accident, which also would strain the local health care infrastructure.

"During the current public health crisis, when our residents are staying home to achieve the common good, no special exemption should be provided to Energy Transfer in its construction of the Pipeline," the letter reads. "This project, and its owners and investors, should share in the general sacrifice, and receive no special treatment."

On March 19, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations.

Life-sustaining businesses were permitted to remain open, but they must follow, at a minimum, the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to protect workers and patrons.

On March 20, Energy Transfer wrote to Wolf, confirming that it would suspend construction of the Pipeline and related projects, in conformity with the Emergency Order.

Energy Transfer applied to the Governor directly for a waiver, notwithstanding very clear instructions that waivers should be sought via application to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

Energy Transfer assured the Governor that its employees and contractors would follow CDC and OSHA guidelines, and "would take all possible precautions to protect personal and public health and safety while working within the project right-of-way," including but not limited to implementing social distancing practices, hygiene and infection control practices, and using personal protective equipment.

Energy Transfer was granted the six waivers from the Emergency Order that permitted it to continue work on the Pipeline at seventeen locations across Pennsylvania.

In the letter, members Delco and Chesco officials asked the DCED to adopt the approach of the Clean Air Council and revise the exemptions granted to Energy Transfer to only those aspects of the pipeline work that are absolutely necessary for public safety, and halt all other work as a threat to public health given the present pandemic.

Patch has reached out to Energy Transfer for comment on the letter and will update the story.