Radical opposition groups spent much of their time last week lambasting Sunoco and Energy Transfer Partners for what they had presumed to be an active portion of the Mariner East 1 Pipeline seen above ground in Uwchlan Township. Recently, Sunoco has proven the pipeline to be an inactive and capped section of Mariner East 1 Pipeline that was removed from use in 2015.
Sunoco spokeswoman, Vicki Granado, said “We have confirmed that the section of pipe visible in the tributary to Valley Creek is an abandoned section of pipeline that was taken out of service in 2015…At that time it was capped and filled with grout. This was accompanied by the replacement of the active Mariner East 1 pipeline in that area which was lowered to a depth of eight feet in accordance with all appropriate regulations as part of the Mariner East 1 integrity upgrade project. This has been documented and shared with the PA PUC.”
This incident serves twofold: firstly, it is becoming clearer by the day that pipeline opposition groups need not base their campaigns in fact and instead prefer to create a false narrative that best serves their personal agendas. Secondly, Sunoco has continued to perform pipeline operations and maintenance well within the requirements of state and federal rules despite an unfair portrayal in the media.