The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 9 PA Bulletin scheduling five public hearings on the proposed Sunoco Mariner East II natural gas pipeline (PA Bulletin, page 3698). 

The hearings will be held in Blair, Dauphin, Delaware, Lebanon and Westmoreland counties to accept comments on the proposed Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment permits needed for the pipeline.

"As an open and transparent agency, we take public comment and input very seriously", said Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.  "We want to provide the public with several opportunities to review permit applications and provide thoughtful, critical, and constructive feedback to aide in our technical review."

The hearings will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 on--

-- August 8: Blair County Convention Center, One Convention Center Drive, Altoona, Blair County. To register to present testimony, contact: John Repetz, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 717-705- 4904 or send email to: jrepetz@pa.gov until the day before the hearing.

-- August 9: Lebanon Valley Exposition Center, 80 Rocherty Road, Lebanon, Lebanon County. To register to present testimony, contact: John Repetz, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 717-705- 4904 or send email to: jrepetz@pa.gov until the day before the hearing.

-- August 10: Sykes Student Union, West Chester University, 110 W. Rosedale Ave., West Chester, Delaware County.  To register to present testimony, contact: Virginia Cain, DEP Southeast Regional Office, 484-250-5808 or send email to: vicain@pa.gov until the day before the hearing.

-- August 16: PA Farm Show Complex, Keystone Conference Center, 2300 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County. To register to present testimony, contact: John Repetz, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 717-705- 4904 or send email to: jrepetz@pa.gov until the day before the hearing.

-- August 18: Founder’s Hall Amphitheatre, Westmoreland County Community College, 145 Pavilion Lance, Youngwood, Westmoreland County. To register to present testimony, contact: John Poister, DEP Southwest Regional Office, 412-442- 4203 or send email to: jpoister@pa.gov until the day before the hearing.

During the hearings, each speaker will have the opportunity to present up to three minutes of verbal testimony.

To ensure that all speakers have a fair and equal opportunity to present their testimony, relinquishing of time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. All presenters should bring at least one copy of their written comments and exhibits for submission to DEP.

If time permits at the hearing, those who did not register in advance will be given the opportunity to testify.

DEP will also accept written comments on the permit applications through August 24.  See the PA Bulletin Notice, page 3698 for details on submitting written comments.

The Mariner East II project is a proposed 16 inch pipeline to carry natural gas liquids that would stretch 350 miles across 17 counties and the width of Pennsylvania

Because these pipelines will convey liquefied natural gas, they are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which falls under the U.S. Department of Transportation.

This project requires multiple permits from DEP, including permits for earth disturbances of five acres or more (Chapter 102), and permits for proposed activities located in, along, across or projecting into a watercourse, floodway or body of water, including wetlands (Chapter 105).

For more information, Click Here for DEP’s formal announcement of the hearings, visit DEP’s Mariner East II Pipeline webpage.  Click Here for a DEP fact sheet on the Mariner East II pipeline from June 2016.

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