This is a guest post by Lora Snyder.

On June 20, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission unanimously approved the final revision of The Public Utilities Commission Regulations requiring essential and long overdue safety requirements governing pipeline transport of hazardous liquids in intrastate commerce.

With this ruling, public utilities transporting hazardous materials via pipeline in Pennsylvania will have to meet specific and particularly defined, elevated engineering and safety reporting standards in addition to those required by federal PHMSA regulations. These new HVL (Highly Volatile Liquid) pipeline safety regulations are indispensable to protect the health, improve the safety, and advance the well-being of all affected neighboring communities and our environment.

As a resident impacted by the Mariner East pipeline construction, I was compelled to document the numerous egregious violations committed by Energy Transfer for the past 7 years. Hopefully the new regulations will not be violated as well. This would extend solace and consolation to affected neighboring communities. With the augmented public safety regulations established, we should never again be subjected to the nightmarish scenarios presented by Mariner East’s HVL pipeline construction.

As residents, under the previous “safety regulations” our aquifers became contaminated.  We endured our homes endlessly shaking and vibrating month after month from the proximity of the HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) pipeline construction operations. Sinkhole after sinkhole was created in our backyards and community properties. Some of these sinkholes occurred a few feet from to within inches of approximately 90-year-old repurposed pipes, ME1, and a converted network of “Frankenpipes”. These antiquated pipes were used to transport HVL products in the same easement as the Mariner East 2 and 2X pipe installations. This practice of having pipes less than 12 inches apart will no longer be permitted.  Accordingly, our legitimate fear for the safety of our families, neighbors, and community as well as our private and public property and infrastructure will be diminished.

However, even after enduring the construction practices of the Mariner East Pipeline for 7 years, we must withstand the tribulation from the realization that we are residing, working, shopping, and for all intents and purposes literally living within the blast zone of the preexisting HVL pipelines, the designs of which under the new proposals are prohibited.

The essential new regulations:

  1. Prevent relocation, construction or conversion of existing pipelines under any building, home, school, or dwelling except for repairs or replacement of existing pipelines.
  2. Require 12 inch clearance between the outside of pipe and the extremity of other underground structures.
  3. Require geological and environmental impact studies for pipeline construction which will aid in protecting our aquifers and private wells.
  4. Require additional training of emergency personnel.
  5. Require increased communication among the pipeline construction company and state, county and local government, emergency responders, schools, and community members.
  6. Require nondestructive tests of all girth welds with few exceptions.
  7. Require enhancement of cathodic protection guidelines to prevent pipeline corrosion and leaks.
  8. Require protection of all future valve stations adjacent to roadways unless a natural barrier exists.

Having endured the trauma of the Mariner East pipeline construction and continuing to live with the potential catastrophic consequences it continues to present, we sincerely thank the PA PUC for listening to our affected community members and drafting these long overdue pipeline safety enhancements. We are grateful the IRRC defended our entitlement to a safe and secure community by upholding these essential regulations.

Lora Snyder

Edgmont Township Resident