DEP Assesses $355,000 Penalty to Sunoco for 2018, 2019 Mariner East 2 Violations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has assessed a $355,636 penalty from Sunoco Pipeline LP (Sunoco) for violations related to the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline in eight Pennsylvania counties.

One of the areas where a violation occurred was in Piney Creek, Woodbury Township, Blair County. DEP documents indicate that the horizontal drilling occurred under Lower Piney Creek Road, Piney Creek and State Road 866.

The problem developed in June 2017, when a problem was noted while drilling through limestone and shale. Drilling fluids were observed to be discha...