This view from N. Cornwall Rd. shows the progress of pipeline construction. A bridge spans Snitz Creek. (Photo: Michael K. Dakota, Lebanon Daily News)
(Lebanon) — Mariner East 2 pipeline builder Sunoco needs to work harder to prevent “drilling mud” spills, not just treat them after the fact.
That’s the gist of a notice of violation the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued against Sunoco Friday that doesn’t accept its plan to resume drilling after “unlawful” spills at Snitz Creek in West Cornwall Township.
Sunoco has spilled “drilling mud” twice at the pipeline’s crossing of Snitz Creek between Zinns Mill and Quentin roads, according to DEP records: 50 gallons on Aug. 31 and less than one gallon on Sept. 20.
“Drilling mud” is a mix of bentonite clay and water that is considered non-toxic. However, drilling operations may have been a factor in turning wells cloudy and reducing water flow in Chester County in July.
The Snitz Creek notice was one of six that DEP issued against Sunoco last week. They all addressed the issue of “inadvertent returns” (IR) of drilling mud in different locations throughout the state.
The DEP learned about an IR at Snitz Creek on Aug. 31, but authorized drilling to resume on Sept. 20, according to a letter DEP sent Friday to Sunoco and contractor Welded Construction. The regulatory agency then received notice on the afternoon of Sept. 20 that another IR had occurred.
The IR “constitutes unlawful conduct” under the Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachment Act, the letter states.
Sunoco plans to contain and treat future IRs rather than prevent them, according to the letter, but DEP rejected that approach.
WITF News – Daniel Walmer – 10.31.2017
Posted by: Nelson Bailey
0 Comments