In an initial decision regarding a leak from the Mariner East I pipeline in Berks County, a Public Utility Commission Administrative Law Judge cited bipartisan legislation-- Senate Bill 284-- sponsored by Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware) and Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) as a potential remedy to the question of what confidential security information pipeline operators are required to share with county emergency planning officials.

“County emergency officials must have the information they need to make sure first responders can effectively react to an emergency,” said Sen. Killion. “Currently, pipeline operators have the authority to decide what is or is not confidential security information. That’s unacceptable.”

Sen. Killion’s legislation would mandate pipeline operators provide current Emergency Response Plans to the PUC which could be responsibly and confidentially shared with county emergency services agencies for the purpose of coordinating a response to a pipeline incident.

In mid-2019 it was reported that approximately 95 percent of an emergency management plan recently submitted to Chester County by Energy Transfer Partners for its Mariner East II pipeline was redacted.

“The plan submitted to Chester County was effectively worthless,” said Sen. Killion.

The reference to Killion’s legislation came in a December 18, 2019 Initial Decision in Public Utility Commission Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. Sunoco Pipeline, L.P. regarding an alleged incident involving a leak of highly volatile liquids of ethane and propane from the Mariner East 1 Pipeline in Morgantown, Berks County on April 1, 2017. 

This initial decision must be ratified by the full Public Utility Commission.

It is one of a number of pipeline-related cases before PUC administrative judges.

“The legal basis for withholding this critical safety information is that the information could be accessed by competitors or those wishing to commit acts of terrorism,” noted Sen. Killion. “Our county emergency service directors are responsible, dedicated professionals. And clearly not competitors nor those who would do harm.”

“I’m gratified by this Initial Decision and its implications for the other pipeline-related cases under consideration. Protecting residents, their homes and property is my number one priority as an elected official, and I’ll vigorously fight actions that endanger those in the vicinity of these pipelines.”

Senate Bill 284 was approved by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee in June of last year and has been on the Senate Calendar awaiting action since October.

Sen. Killion is hopeful the bill will receive a floor vote later this year.

NewsClips:

Op-Ed: No Pipeline Oversight In Pennsylvania - Sen. Dinniman

Stephen Caruso: Mariner East 2 Owner Fined $30.6 Million For Western PA Pipeline Explosion

Reid Frazier: DEP Levels Record $30.6 Million Fine Against Pipeline Company Responsible For Beaver County Blast

AP: Pipeline Company Fined $30.6 Million, But Can Resume Construction

Anya Litvak: Energy Transfer Given $30.6M Penalty For Beaver County Pipeline Explosion

AP: Pipeline Company Fined $30.6 Million, But Can Resume Construction

Fmr DOE Secretary Rick Perry Rejoins Energy Transfer Partners Board Of Directors

250+ PA Environment & Energy NewsClips From Last Week Waiting To Be Read

Related Articles This Week:

DEP Issues $30.6 Million Penalty Over ETC Revolution Pipeline Explosion Violations; Lifts Permit Bar

DEP Invites Comments On Leidy South Natural Gas Pipeline Project E&S Permit In Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Luzerne, Schuylkill Counties

PUC PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee Imposes $124,725 In Penalties

Related Article:

Opportunity For Leadership: Senate, House Could Start 2020 With A Bang By Passing These Bipartisan Environmental, Energy Bills

Related Articles - Energy Transfer Partners/Evolution Pipeline:

Environmental Groups Praise DEP For Revoking Beaver Conservation District's Authority Over Pipeline Permits, Call For More Action [June 2019]

DEP Orders Energy Transfer To Restore Waterways Impacted During Construction Of Revolution Pipeline In 4 Counties [May 2019]

DEP Puts Indefinite Hold On Reviewing Permits For All Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Projects In PA [ February 2019]

Post-Gazette: DEP Says Energy Transfer LP Not Complying With Order To Stabilize Beaver County Pipeline Explosion Site [January 2019]

DEP Inspections Find Unreported Landslides On Right-Of-Way Of Newly Constructed Revolution Pipeline In Western PA, Compliance Order Issued [November 2018]

PUC Pipeline Safety Division Working To Investigate Beaver County Pipeline Explosion [September 2018]

Related Articles - Energy Transfer Partners/Sunoco Pipelines:

DEP Issues Sunoco $319,461 In Penalties For Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction Violations In 2017, 2018; Fines Now Total $13 Million+ [September 2019]

$200,000 Penalty Proposed In PUC Settlement Of 2017 Mariner East 1 Pipeline Leak Case [April 2019]

PUC Enforcement Bureau Proposes $225,000 Penalty For 2017 Ethane/Propane Leak From Mariner East 1 Pipeline In Berks County [December 2018]

DEP: 61 Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Projects Totaling $12.6 Million Funded By Mariner East 2 Pipeline Penalty [October 2018]

DEP Assesses $148,000 Penalty Against Mariner East 2 Pipeline For Violations in Berks, Chester, Lebanon Counties [August 2018]

DEP Fines Mariner East 2 Pipeline Additional $355,000 For Violations [May 2018]

DEP Establishes New Water Quality Project Grant Program With $12.6 Million Mariner East 2 Pipeline Penalty [April 2018]

Sunoco Mariner East II Pipeline Fined $12.6 Million, DEP Allows Construction To Resume [February 2018]

[Posted: January 2, 2020]

1/6/2020