Ellen Gerhart has been battling with Sunoco Logistics over the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline on their property in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

Responding to a request by Sunoco Logistics, a Huntingdon County judge has ordered a family and their supporters off the construction path of the Mariner East 2, which runs through their property. The ruling by Judge George Zanic means the family could be arrested on their own land.

Ellen and Stephen Gerhart oppose construction of the pipeline on their 27-acre property in Huntingdon, Pa. Their daughter Elise, along with supporters, have built tree houses in the three remaining white pine trees that stand in the way of construction. People have been living in the trees 24/7.

“This is my home, and my family’s home,” said 30-year-old Elise Gerhart, standing about 50 yards away from the tree houses, beneath a camouflaged shelter on her land. “People have a right to live in peace but these corporations think their right to make money trumps that. And I don’t agree with that.”

The Gerharts have up until this point, lost their court battle against Sunoco’s eminent domain taking. They have asked the Supreme Court to review their case. In the meantime, construction along the 350-mile natural gas liquids pipeline continues.

Supporters have pitched a handful of tents and built a large wood-burning stove to cook food near the Gerharts house on the property.  They call the small encampment Camp White Pine. Zip lines are strung between the trees where large protest signs hang. Sunoco could not remove the remaining three trees during their clear cut operation last year because Elise Gerhart was sitting in a platform in one tree about 50 feet off the ground.

Huntingdon County Court of Common Pleas judge George Zanic ordered the family on Wednesday to remove all tents and structures that are along the easement where Sunoco plans to build the pipeline. Zanic also ordered the family and their guests not to interfere with pipeline construction.

Ellen Gerhart, a retired public school teacher, has not been living up in the trees but says her family and their supporters will not comply with the judge’s order. The Gerharts say the pipeline would cause damage to their wetlands, poses a public safety hazard, and is not in the public interest. They take issue with the fact that the bulk of the natural gas liquids will be shipped overseas to make plastics. Gerhart says her family is just one of many families along the pipeline route that has felt bullied by the company.

State Impact – Susan Phillips – 06/29?2017