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

PENNSYLVANIA — The FBI has launched an investigation into Gov. Tom Wolf's administration's permitting process in connection with the Mariner East pipeline, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Agents are reportedly focusing on whether Wolf's administration forced the Department of Environmental Protection to approve construction permits. They're also looking into whether Wolf received anything in return, according to the details of the investigation laid out in the report.

It's not the first time that questions have been raised about the state government's handling of Sunoco's operations in Pennsylvania. Backed by a public outcry over a series of accidents, spills, groundwater contamination, and safety violations, legislators in Chester and Delaware counties have lobbied hard for greater oversight and changes in the existing system.

"From the very beginning and many times along the way, we have raised serious questions about the permitting process of the Mariner East pipeline project," State Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) said Tuesday. "I hope that this development sheds a bright light on those questions and more."

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.

Specifically, Dinniman and other leaders have targeted the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC), the body in charge of pipeline regulation. An extensive 2018 report from the Public Accountability Initiative raises concerns that the PUC's handling of the Mariner East project indicates a conflict of interest, as four of the five members of the PUC decision-making board have ties to the natural gas industry.

Interestingly, the AP report does not mention the PUC; instead, the investigation appears to focus directly on Wolf's administration and the environmental staff responsible for the construction permits.

Unlike some Democratic governors who have banned hydraulic fracking — the controversial, often-environmentally devastating drilling process — in their states, Gov. Wolf's public message has always been one of cautious optimism in regards to fracking’s short term economic benefits.

Numerous lawsuits, millions in fines, state constables illegally employed as private security, and criminal investigations opened by the Pennsylvania Attorney General and Chester County District Attorney have delayed but not stopped the projects.

Patch has reached out to both Gov. Wolf's office and Energy Transfer Partners. Neither responded at the time of the article's publication.