The Council and impacted community members still demand DEP Revoke Permits for Mariner East 2

The Mariner East 2 Pipeline Project has been a disaster. Drilling, spilling, and destroying Pennsylvania waterways, local ecosystems, and landscapes since Sunoco Pipeline began construction in 2017.  Clean Air Council attorneys, engineers, and outreach staff have worked tirelessly in partnership with impacted residents to hold Sunoco and responsible agencies accountable.  A recent drilling fluid spill at Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County, PA highlighted both the need to continue the fight and the strength of the Clean Air Council-led coalition has led in resisting this outrageous pipeline project.

This past August, residents noticed a plume of contaminated water snaking into Marsh Creek Lake, which is a well-loved recreational refuge for many residents of Southeast PA and a source of clean drinking water for nearby communities.  Sunoco had insisted on drilling in this sensitive area to install its pipelines — and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) allowed it to do so — despite clear, documented warnings from Clean Air Council and others that Sunoco’s plans would contaminate the water. The warnings were ignored. The result was an 8,000 gallon spill of drilling fluid into the lake at a time when residents are increasingly turning to outdoor recreation as a source of respite from the pandemic.
Clean Air Council quickly coordinated a response and secured the support of over 30 nonprofit organizations from across Pennsylvania to renew our demand that the water permits for the Mariner East 2 project be revoked, highlighting the unfolding destruction at Marsh Creek State Park.  DEP has still not revoked the permits and Clean Air Council and impacted residents will not rest until it does. But following the Council’s renewed demand and residents’ own grassroots organizing, DEP did take definitive action to protect Marsh Creek Lake. In a rare, if not unprecedented order, DEP directed that Sunoco abandon its plans to drill near the lake, forcing it to proceed with a different route, if it is to go forward at all. This is a significant victory for the protection of Marsh Creek Lake and Marsh Creek State Park.  Rerouting takes time and will further delay this project that has already been showing signs of losing financial investor support.  Unfortunately, by directing Sunoco to change its route instead of revoking the permits, Sunoco’s plans will endanger a new group of residents.  This is unacceptable and the Council will continue to push for permit revocation.