PA Environment Digest

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DEP Orders Energy Transfer/Sunoco To Install Water Treatment Systems In Over 200 Homes Impacted By Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak In Bucks County

On March 6, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an order to Energy Transfer/Sunoco to provide water to residents in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County affected by a leak in Energy Transfer’s 14-inch jet fuel/petroleum products pipeline.

Energy Transfer will be required to install point-of-entry-treatment systems to over 100 homes in the Mt. Eyre neighborhood and remediate the affected areas.

To date, treatment systems have been installed at 42 residences, six of which had results above drinking water standards for petroleum products, with detectable contamination at other residences.

Energy Transfer has agreed to install at least 102 more treatment systems at the request of homeowners.

The point-of-entry treatment filtration systems that have been installed are designed to remove all contaminants from drinking water.

“Today’s order will ensure that these residents have safe drinking water, the contamination is cleaned up, and the community has a direct line of contact with Energy Transfer to express their concerns,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Clean, safe drinking water is one of the most important resources we have, whether that is from a public water supplier or a private water well. Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to pure water and we will work to ensure that right is protected in Upper Makefield Township.”

DEP already had insisted on water testing at impacted homes, and so far, under DEP oversight, a third-party contractor has taken 447 samples of well water for petroleum contamination.

DEP is conducting stream assessments and water chemistry sampling of three nearby streams: Dyers Creek, Houghs Creek and an unnamed tributary.

DEP also is overseeing hydrology testing to characterize the subsurface affected area and better understand groundwater flow, which will help inform the longer-term remediation plan.

In addition to requiring temporary relief such as bottled water, DEP’s Order requires Energy Transfer to submit an enforceable schedule for completing its environmental investigations and submitting cleanup plans to address the impacts of the leak.

Governor Josh Shapiro also sent a letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), calling on federal leaders to hold Energy Transfer accountable under their authority.

The federal government has primary jurisdiction related to operation of the pipeline itself under the Pipeline Safety Act.

More details can be found on DEP’s community webpage for Upper Makefield Pipeline.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s announcement.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

(Photo: A pipeline repair from DEP inspection report.)

NewsClips:

-- Courier Times: Bucks County Residents Demand Answers On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Inspection Report For 2023 Flash Flood

-- WHYY: Bucks County Residents Call For Shutdown Of Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline [After 16 Month Leak Contaminated Wells]: ‘Our Lives Have Been Upended’

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bucks County Residents Fear Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak Could Be More Widespread Than Company Acknowledges; Class Action Lawsuit Expected To Be Filed

-- Courier Times: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Disputes Findings, Recommended Fixes Of Federal Pipeline Regulator In Jet Fuel Pipeline Leak Investigation In Bucks County

-- Courier Times: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline In Bucks County Operational Again After Leaking Fuel For 16 Months, Some Are Worried

-- Courier Times: More Wells In Bucks County Contaminated, Residents Fear Impact Of Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak Spreading