Chesco Files Injunction Against Sunoco, Seeks To Halt Pipeline

WEST CHESTER, PA — As Sunoco attempts to move forward with pipeline construction on Chester County land despite pending litigation regarding its legality, local lawmakers have filed an injunction in an effort to bring the project to a halt.

The Petition for Injunctive Relief seeks to immediately and permanently prevent the oil giant from drilling on specific parcels of county land.

The filing comes as Sunoco notified the county on Jan. 10 that they planned to begin further construction of Mariner East 2 on two parcels of county land on Jan. 24: the Chester County Library in Exton and the Chester Valley Trail.

“Energy Transfer’s notice is extremely premature," Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz said in a statement, noting that the company should not have moved forward with their plans because of the pending litigation regarding Sunoco's construction on county property.

Moskowitz was referring to the April 2019 civil lawsuit that remains in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. At the time, former Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said that the Board believed "that Sunoco will be unable to construct the Mariner 2 pipeline on the county library property within the existing 50-foot right of way and in a manner which ensures public safety and welfare."

Sunoco's easements on county property indicate that the open trench method can only be used if Sunoco can provide "substantial evidence" that it's required. The company has not done so.

"How can Sunoco think that the county would acquiesce now, when nothing has changed and the lawsuit is still pending?" Commissioner Michelle Kichline said.

Catch up on previous Patch coverage surrounding Sunoco and Mariner East II here:

• FBI Investigating Gov. Wolf's Handling Of Mariner East: Report
• Sunoco's Armed Guards Turn Back Public At Pipeline Sinkhole: DA
• West Chester School District Intervening In Sunoco Complaint
• New Sinkhole Opens Up Along Mariner East 1 In Chester County
• Pipeline Worker's Comments To Chester Co. Resident Investigated
• New Legislation Aims To Improve Pipeline Safety Near Schools
• Criminal Investigation Opened Into Sunoco, Chester Co. Pipelines
• Funded By Sunoco Fine, Chesco Gets $1.8 Million For Conservation
• Sunoco Fined $12.6 Million For Mariner East 2 Violations
• Battle Against Sunoco Pipeline Is David v. Goliath, Lawmaker Says