New Legislation Aims To Improve Pipeline Safety Near Schools

WEST CHESTER, PA — A newly introduced bipartisan package of 12 bills in the state legislature aims to improve Pennsylvania's pipeline regulatory process while keeping schools and communities safe.

The package is sponsored by both Chester County Republican State Sen. Tom Killion and Democrat State Sen. Andy Dinniman.

"Pipelines are transporting highly flammable and toxic materials under high pressure through densely populated areas," said Killion, of the 9th District. "Having new laws in place to ensure the safety of families living in pipeline communities is long overdue."

Sunoco and the Mariner East pipelines have been the subject of years of controversy in the local area, following numerous drilling fluid spills, sinkholes, the contamination of drinking water, and more.

In 2017, a judge ordered Sunoco to halt all operations. In 2018, they were hit with a $12.6 million fine for safety violations. And just last month, the Chester County District Attorney's Office announced they were opening a criminal investigation into Sunoco.

One of the bills clarifies what information a pipeline operator must share with any schools that are within a thousand feet of either the pipeline or any hazardous liquids. Another bill would create an emergency response fund to address spills and other issues, funded by fees on pipelines within the county or township in question. Another bill mandates pipeline safety inspection be headed by PennDOT.

Of the 12 bills introduced this week, six are sponsored by Killion and six by Dinniman. They are each the first co-sponsor of the others' bills.

The new legislation can be viewed in more detail here.

See our full coverage of the Mariner East saga in Chester County below:

• 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
• Lawmakers Seek To Halt Drilling After More Sunoco Spills In Chester Co.
• Battle Against Sunoco Pipeline Is David v. Goliath, Lawmaker Says
• Mariner East 1 Pipeline Shut Down In Chester County

Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images