Public Forum On Pipeline Safety Issues To Be Held In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, PA — An upcoming public forum will allow residents to ask lawmakers questions regarding the ongoing pipeline issue in Chester County.

The event, co-hosted by Republican State Sen. Tom Killion and Democratic State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Fugett Middle School's auditorium.

The latest session comes amidst renewed safety concerns regarding Sunoco's operations in the county. Another sinkhole opened up in West Whiteland Township over the weekend along Mariner East 1, spurring a shutdown of the pipeline.

A new set of legislation, co-sponsored by Killion and State Sen. Andy Dinniman, was introduced earlier this month, aiming to improve safety measures and overhaul the state's regulatory process.

It's that process that's to blame for the issues thus far, according to Dinniman, who says the state Public Utility Commission (PUC), which has regulatory power, has ignored blatant safety warnings, including in regards to the exact location where the latest incident occurred.

Representatives from numerous agencies will be on hand at Thursday night's session, including the PUC, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Fugett Middle School is located on 500 Ellis Lane in West Chester.

Catch up on the latest on the ongoing pipeline issues in Chester County with our past coverage below:

• Sunoco's Armed Guards Turn Back Public At Pipeline Sinkhole: DA
• 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

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office