Mariner East 2 operations continued Saturday in Exton, less than a week after a dozen residents allege drilling lubricant infiltrated their well water amidst construction of the pipeline project that will transport natural gas liquids across Pennsylvania.
Reports said Sunoco Pipeline LP resumed horizontal drilling of the Mariner East 2 pipeline in Exton on Saturday, despite the results of well water contamination testing taking approximately one week to complete.
Documents provided to the Daily Times allege both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Sunoco Pipeline LP were aware the potential risks of horizontal directional drilling in the Exton area.
In neighboring West Goshen, Chester County, the township filed a petition for an injunction with the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission Monday night, alleging Sunoco Pipeline LP breached the terms of a settlement agreement regarding construction of value stations along Mariner East 2.
Chester County residents affected by contaminated water on Valley View Drive were given drinking water, replacement water pumps and were provided with the opportunity of rooms in nearby hotels.
“I was horrified to hear that this project may be impacting Chester County well water,” Dinniman continued.
The loss of safe drinking water hardly seems like a minimal impact.
To advance construction before determining the degree of damage is simply wrong.” The concern that state legislators have raised is the lack of transparency from Sunoco Logistics and Sunoco Pipe LP in revealing environmental waste leakages into waterways to the residents before their water sources are compromised.
“We’ve already seen three spills of drilling fluid in the Chester Creek and now drinking water has been compromised in nearby Chester County.” “So I’ve signed onto a bill that would improve transparency and communication on pipeline projects to keep our residents safe and informed.” While not seeping directly into the private water sources of residents, a similar leak of the bentonite clay — the naturally occurring absorbent clay used in the lubrication of the drilling and cutting tools in horizontal drilling — muddied the waters of Chester Creek in Brookhaven in May.
A DEP inspector visited the site and determined that Sunoco Pipeline LP had “cleaned up pretty well” and installed a containment area around the bentonite return area.