Pennsylvania Approves Gas Pipeline

Published March 21, 2017

After a two-and-a-half year permitting and review process, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued final permits for construction of Sunoco Logistics Partners’ Mariner East 2 pipeline, clearing the way for construction to begin.

The 350-mile, $2.5 billion pipeline, designed to carry natural gas liquids including propane and butane produced in the Marcellus Shale, will span Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia ending at Sunoco’s Marcus Hook storage facility in Philadelphia.

The majority of the new pipeline will be laid along an existing right of way corridor already used by the existing Mariner East pipeline.

Upon completion, Sunoco will be able to transport 345,000 barrels per day to its Marcus Hook facility.

Pennsylvania Benefits

In a statement, Sunoco applauded DEP’s decision to grant the permits saying it would benefit Pennsylvania’s economy.

“By keeping these natural resources in Pennsylvania for storage, processing, and distribution to local, regional, and international markets, Mariner East 2 offers Pennsylvania the opportunity to develop its own manufacturing economy rather than sending jobs and investment elsewhere,” Sunoco’s statement said.

According to the July 25, 2016 Climatewire, environmentalists looking to shut down fracking in Pennsylvania have fought to delay the pipeline as part of their efforts, encouraging Gov. Tom Wolf (D) to block the project. Ultimately, Wolf did not intervene and on February 13 the DEP issued final permits for water obstruction and encroachment, erosion, and sediment control.

H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D. ([email protected]) is the managing editor of Environment & Climate News.