DEP Begins Technical Review of Pennsylvania Pipeline Project Permit Applications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun the technical review of all Chapter 102 and 105 permit applications submitted by Sunoco Logistics, Inc. for the Pennsylvania Pipeline Project (PPP), also commonly referred to as Mariner East II.

The PPP is a proposed expansion of the existing Sunoco Mariner East pipeline system. Sunoco recently upgraded its existing Mariner East I pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from Ohio and the Pittsburgh area to its Marcus Hook Facility in Delaware County. Most of the PPP is proposed to follow the same pipeline corridor as Mariner East I and will traverse 17 counties in the southern tier of the state.

Because these pipelines will convey liquefied natural gas, they are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which falls under the U.S. Department of Transportation. This project requires multiple permits from DEP, including permits for earth disturbances of five acres or more (Chapter 102), and permits for proposed activities located in, along, across or projecting into a watercourse, floodway or body of water, including wetlands (Chapter 105).

Due to the scope and complexity of the project, DEP will provide for enhanced public participation opportunities by extending the comment period from 30 to 60 days and holding public hearings in the affected regions later this summer. Comments submitted electronically and at the upcoming hearings should focus on the relevant permits, not the overall pipeline.

“As an open and transparent agency, we take public comment and input very seriously”, said Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell.  “We want to provide the public with several opportunities to review permit applications and provide thoughtful, critical, and constructive feedback to aide in our technical review.”

During the hearings, each speaker will have the opportunity to present up to three minutes of verbal testimony. To ensure that all speakers have a fair and equal opportunity to present their testimony, relinquishing of time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. All presenters should bring at least one copy of their comments and exhibits for submission to DEP.

Questions and official public comments may be submitted to the following regional resource accounts; please use the Southeast address for project-wide submissions as they are they lead DEP region for this project.

Southwest Region: RA-EPWW-SWRO@pa.gov

Permit information for the Southwest region can be found here.

The Southwest Region includes Allegheny, Cambria, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. The public hearing in this region will be held:

• Westmoreland County: Thursday, August 18, 2016 – 6:30 P.M – 9:30 P.M. – Founder’s Hall Amphitheatre, Westmoreland County Community College, 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, PA 15697

Those wishing to offer testimony for the Southwest Region hearing can register in advance by contacting John Poister, Community Relations Coordinator at 412-442-4203 or by email at jpoister@pa.gov. The department will also accept written testimony by email or by sending comments to Rita Coleman, Program Manager Waterways and Wetlands, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or RA-EPWW-SWRO@pa.gov. Written comments will be accepted until August 24^th, 2016.