A few days ago, on September 16, a car went off the road in Texas and slammed into a pipeline valve station. The pipeline was similar to Mariner East: same owner (Energy Transfer) and same contents (“natural gas liquids”—highly compressed and explosive ethane, propane, and butane).

The accident caused a massive explosion, causing many injuries and one probable fatality, along with many evacuations. And, if the escaping gases had not instantly caught fire, it could have been much, much worse. The details are laid out in the following press release from DelChesco United for Pipeline Safety.

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Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety Press Release – Sept. 18, 2024

Texas Pipeline Explosion: Communities in Pennsylvania with Energy Transfer’s Mariner East are at same unmitigated risk 

On the morning of September 16, a 20” natural gas liquids pipeline operated by Energy Transfer exploded in a suburban neighborhood outside Houston Texas. Two days later the fire continues to burn as the materials in the isolated 20 mile section of pipeline are burned off, and firefighters work to contain the destruction and spread of the fire. The explosion and fire have caused extensive evacuations, shutdowns, power outages, property damage, injuries and a probable fatality. 

As bad as it was, it could have been far worse. If the gas had not ignited immediately the heavier-than-air, highly explosive vapor would have spread before meeting an ignition source and the ensuing property damage, injuries and loss of lives would have been more extensive and potentially catastrophic.

Lora Snyder of Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety states: “For communities in Pennsylvania along the path of the Mariner East pipelines, Monday’s explosion was a menacing example of the risk that Energy Transfer forced on us several years ago. The Mariner East pipelines are the same size, transport the same flammable natural gas liquids and are owned and operated by Energy Transfer, same as the pipeline in Texas”

Incidents of this nature are not novel for Energy Transfer. The Texas-based corporation has a history of pipeline accidents in PA, including the 2017 leak on Mariner East 1 in Berks County caused by pipeline corrosion, and the 2018 Revolution Pipeline explosion in Beaver County caused by land subsidence. 

A residents have been informed that if there is a leak on Mariner East they must immediately move a half mile upwind and uphill from the pipeline on foot to avoid being incinerated or asphyxiated. This Energy Transfer recommended emergency plan for their highly volatile liquid gas pipeline leak is simply not viable for our densely populated regions, and especially for those who cannot self-evacuate on foot. 

Independent risk assessments determined that a leak on Mariner East has a blast radius of a half mile or more and that valve stations are most susceptible to leaks. Valve stations along Mariner East are only required to be surrounded by a chain link fence, which does not address pipeline station vulnerability to damage from vehicles in the event of an auto collision, a terrorist attack, or natural disaster putting homes, schools and entire neighborhoods at increased risk of a catastrophic event.

The cause of the explosion in Texas, a vehicle crashing into a valve station, is not a surprise. This issue has been raised concerning Mariner East by community members, and other interested parties, particularly where valve stations are in close proximity to schools and heavily-traveled roads. We successfully advocated for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to include vehicle barriers around valve stations in its enhanced hazardous liquids pipeline regulations. But in the final rules issued earlier this year, existing pipelines are exempt from vehicle barrier requirements, which includes Mariner East. 

Lora Snyder continues:  “By leaving valve stations vulnerable to accidental or intentional damage by vehicles resulting in leaks, or ruptures, Energy Transfer deliberately and consistently exposes our communities to unnecessary risks just to maximize profit. And our government and regulatory agencies have failed miserably in their duty to protect Pennsylvanians from such negligent behavior. The explosion in Houston this week confirms once again our persistent contention that pipeline accidents do occur, they occur in densely populated residential areas, can result in grave consequences and that they, by definition, potentially pose catastrophic outcomes.”

Del Chesco United once again implores and beseeches local, state, and federal agencies to safeguard our communities from the potentially catastrophic risk of a pipeline explosion from an NGL pipeline such as the Mariner East system which snakes across Pennsylvania.