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DEP: 61 Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Projects Totaling $12.6 Million Funded By Mariner East 2 Pipeline Penalty
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The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has selected 61 projects to receive grants from the historic $12.6 million penalty assessed to Sunoco for violations related to the Mariner East 2 pipeline project. The selected projects improve water quality, restore watersheds, and improve stormwater management. “One thing that all of these projects have in common is that they will improve Pennsylvania’s water – whether that is through reducing runoff pollution, restoring watersheds, or other means,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. In February 2018, DEP collected the $12.6 million penalty for numerous violations along the Mariner East 2 pipeline and began accepting grant applications in April. Grants were awarded for stormwater management, invasive species removal, forest restoration, farm runoff reduction, streambank restoration, and many other projects that ultimately improve water quality in Pennsylvania. Grantees include County Conservation Districts, municipalities, school districts, and non-profit organizations. “These projects do not absolve Sunoco of its responsibility to restore any damage to Pennsylvania waters and wetlands through the construction of the pipeline. But it is nice that this penalty could be put directly towards other deserving improvement projects in the communities along the right-of-way,” said McDonnell. “DEP has been vigilant in holding Sunoco accountable for violations and will continue to do so.” Click Here for a list of projects funded. Reaction Harry Campbell, Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Pennsylvania, Wednesday applauded the Department of Environmental Protection for awarding of $12.6 million for watershed restoration and stormwater projects using funding comes from the penalty assessed to Mariner East 2 Pipeline project. Mr. Campbell said: “We applaud the distribution of these funds to 61 projects to improve water quality in 14 counties of the Commonwealth. Many of the projects are located within the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are positive steps toward getting the Commonwealth back on track toward its clean water goals. “In Cumberland County, farmers will get needed technical assistance, and the amount of polluted runoff into waters like Wertz Run, Hogestown Run, Cedar Run Creek, Yellow Breeches Creek, and others will be reduced. “Trees will be planted in Dauphin County and streambanks in Highspire Borough, and the townships of Derry, Lower Swatara and Londonderry will be repaired and stabilized. “In Huntingdon County, polluted runoff will be reduced in Shirley, Tell, Union, and Penn townships. “The floodplain in the Cocalico Creek headwaters will be restored in Lancaster County. “Lebanon County will receive grants for nine projects that include planting riparian buffers, improving stormwater management, restoring conditions along two creeks, and more. “Roughly 19,000 miles of our rivers and streams are damaged by pollution. At CBF, we believe that adequate investments of resources focusing on the right practices, at the right places, and engaging the right people and partners will restore and protect cleaner water for future generations of Pennsylvanians.” For more information on actions taken by DEP related to the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, visit DEP’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline webpage. The Public Utility Commission has also taken a series of actions related to the Mariner East 2 pipeline. NewsClips: Blanchard: DEP Awards Water Quality Grants Funded By $12.6M Penalty Against Sunoco Grants From Penalty Help Flooding, Water Pollution Around Westmoreland Crable: West Cocalico Twp. Floodplain To Be Restored In Lancaster With Pipeline Penalties Funded By Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fine, Chesco Gets $1.8M For Conservation Sauro: Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fines To Fund Blair County Projects Blanchard: Full Mariner East Pipeline Risk Assessment Report Released By Citizens Group Energy, Explained Podcast: How 1 Family Lost The Farm To A Failed Pipeline Project Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Now Moving Natural Gas Sources: FERC Chairman Expected To Step Down Related Stories: Delaware, Chester Citizens Group Releases Final Risk Assessment Report On Mariner East Pipelines Trout Unlimited’s New Tool For Pipeline Siting Considerations In The Delaware River Basin [Posted: Oct. 16, 2018] |
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10/22/2018 |
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