The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has levied a $355,622 penalty against Sunoco Pipeline LP (Sunoco) for violations of the Clean Streams Law that occurred during the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline between May 3, 2017 and February 27, 2018.

“No violations are acceptable,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.  “Cleaning up a spill does not excuse Sunoco, or any other company, from complying with the law or paying an appropriate penalty.”

Sunoco’s construction activities resulted in an unpermitted discharge of drilling fluids to wetlands, wild trout streams, and High-Quality Waters at a number of locations in Allegheny, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lancaster, and Washington Counties in violation of its permits and the Clean Streams Law. 

In each instance, Sunoco was required to halt operations, remediate the impacts, and submit proposed modifications to its construction methodologies to DEP for approval.  Sunoco was allowed to resume operations only after DEP reviewed and approved Sunoco’s proposed modifications.

Most of the penalty amount, $337,724, will go to the Clean Water Fund, with the remainder used to reimburse the county conservation districts in the impacted counties for costs incurred inspecting the various impacted sites.

This penalty is in addition to the $12.6 million penalty levied against the company in February and covers separate violations.

DEP established a water quality project grant program with the original penalty funding.  The application period opens May 7 and close June 21.

Additional information, including the Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty and supporting documents, can be found on DEP’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline webpage.

NewsClips:

Crable: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fined $355K For Spills In Lancaster, 8 Other Counties

Phillips: DEP Hits Mariner East 2 Pipeline With Another Fine

Mariner East 2 Pipeline Hit With $355K Fine For Clean Streams Violations

Hurdle: Residents, Unions Offer Comments On Mariner East 2 Pipeline Changes

Sunoco Wins Eminent Domain Challenge To Mariner East 2 Pipeline

Maykuth: With Sinkholes Repaired, PUC Allow Mariner East 1 Pipeline To Restart

Legere: Mariner East 1 Pipeline Gets PUC OK To Flow Again

AP: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fined, Mariner East 1 Pipeline Restarted

Mariner East 1 Pipeline To Reopen, Mariner East 2 Slapped With Another Fine

Hurdle: PUC Safety Officials Recommend Restart Of Mariner East 1 Pipeline

Legere: DEP Halts CNX Pipeline Work In Indiana County Citing Muddy Discharges

PA Emergency Responders, Schools, Townships Among Sunrise Pipeline Grant Recipients

Crable: Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gives Grants To Lancaster Parks, Libraries, Fire Companies

Luzerne Groups Receiving Grant Money From Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline

ATF Reduces Agents Investigating Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Dynamite Theft

Op-Ed: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Is Safe & Essential

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Constitution Pipeline Challenge To New York Permit Rejection

Related Stories:

Sen. Dinniman Files Complaint Asking PUC To Halt Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction

DEP Establishes New Water Quality Project Grant Program With $12.6 Million Mariner East 2 Pipeline Penalty

Sunoco Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fined $12.6 Million, DEP Allows Construction To Resume

PUC Allows Restart Of Mariner East 1 Pipeline Operations Following Compliance With Emergency Order

House Republicans Unexpectedly Delay Final Vote On Bill Weakening Standards Protecting The Environment From Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling

EQB To Consider Significant Increase In Unconventional Oil & Gas Permit Review Fee May 16

Gov. Wolf Backs New Bipartisan Severance Tax, Permit Reform, Minimum Royalty Bills; No Dedicated Funding For Environmental Programs

Action Required:

Who Will Be PA’s Official State Amphibian?  The Eastern Hellbender Or Wehrle’s Salamander?  Time To Weigh In

[Posted: May 3, 2018]

5/7/2018