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Delaware, Chester Citizens Group Releases Final Risk Assessment Report On Mariner East Pipelines

The Del Chesco United for Pipeline Safety citizens group Friday released the Final Quantitative Risk Assessment Of Sunoco’s Mariner East Pipeline Project in Chester and Delaware counties.

The Risk Assessment was completed by Quest Consultants of Norman, Oklahoma, under a contract with the Clean Air Council which served as fiscal agent for the project.

The group said Tim Boyce, Director of the Delaware County Emergency Services Department reviewed Quest’s abilities as part of a Risk Assessment proposal Quest presented to Delaware County Council. Mr. Boyce reported that Quest was “fully qualified” to perform such work.

Among the findings summarized by the group were--

-- 2,135 Foot Danger Area: Predicted consequences of a release of hazardous, highly volatile liquids from the proposed 20-inch diameter “Mariner East 2” pipeline extend up to 2,135 feet. This is a modeled result and not an upper limit.

-- Valve Site Risk: Valve sites are points where there is significantly heightened likelihood of release. Due to the equipment present, and the aboveground placement of this equipment, pipeline valve stations represent the highest risk locations. The risk of fatality near valve sites was found to be in excess of the tolerable limit when compared to international criteria.

-- “Horizontal directional drill” (HDD) entry and exit points are locations of significantly heightened likelihood of release. In the event of a breach along a deeply buried segment, gas will flow along the path of least resistance, which is likely to be the HDD entry exit points. Gas may also be released through fissures or cracks that may have been created during loss-of-drilling-fluid events (“frac-outs”).

-- Multiple Pipelines Triples Probability: The presence of two pipelines approximately doubles the probability of an accident over a single pipeline. Three pipelines triples the probability, and so on. A doubling of probability represents a doubling of risk.

-- Undetectable But Serious Leaks: There is a threshold rate of release below which the operator is unable to detect a leak is occurring. This threshold release rate is large enough that it could produce very serious consequences including injuries, death, or property damage.

-- Small Leaks Could Be Deadly: Even the smallest leak of highly volatile liquids from a transmission pipeline has potentially deadly consequences.

-- Delays Until Values Close: Should there be a leak or rupture of a particular segment that IS identified by the operator, it will take many minutes (even under best possible circumstances) to close block valves. Even with block valves closed, highly volatile liquids will continue to vent from the breach until the failed segment is substantially emptied.

-- Vapor Cloud Explosions: Wooded areas serve to increase the surface area of a gas cloud and act to worsen the consequences of a vapor cloud explosion. In cases modeled using CANARY, the presence of trees increased the blast radius beyond what it would have been without trees.

-- Low-Lying Area Vapor Confinement: Any confinement of a combustible vapor cloud can produce explosive effects. Examples of potential confinement include low-lying area surrounded by higher terrain, densely developed areas, and buildings into which gas may find its way.

-- Advise Not Using Telephones: Should county emergency services departments be informed of a leak, they intend to operate their “reverse 911” systems to notify residents via phone of the need to self-evacuate or other instructions. However, the federal pipeline regulator advises against the use of telephones and cell phones, warning “these can ignite airborne gases.”

-- Conflicting Advice On Sheltering In Buildings: The Final Report indicates that, under some circumstances, being inside a building may provide protection from death or injury from fire radiation or explosive effects. However, Sunoco’s one-size-fits all guidance recommends immediate on-foot self-evacuation, in the correct upwind direction. In all cases, Sunoco recommends leaving the building if you are in one. Sunoco has not provided any information about to determine when it may be safer to remain indoors; how to find wind direction; or how to recognize when a “safe location” has been reached. Sunoco also has failed to provide guidance about actions that should be taken by people of limited mobility such as seniors, young children, or those with disabilities, particularly at night or during inclement weather.

Funding for the Citizens Risk Assessment was obtained through a public-private partnership of impacted Pennsylvania municipalities; nonprofit corporations such as homeowners’ associations; and from a crowd-sourced project soliciting contributions from individuals across Pennsylvania.

Click Here to download a copy of the report.

Consequences Modeling Tool Available To Communities

Del-Chesco United has also acquired a temporary lease of the CANARY consequences modeling program, a proprietary tool developed by Quest Consultants.

CANARY was used to model accidents on Mariner East for the Citizens Risk Assessment, and Del-Chesco United is willing to operate CANARY for any interested municipality, school district, or emergency response agency.

Del-Chesco United is currently seeking additional funding in order to purchase a perpetual license for CANARY.

For more information, visit the Del Chesco United for Pipeline Safety Facebook page.

(Photo: One of a series of risk maps included in the report.)

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