STATE IMPACT PENNSYLVANIA - Department of Environmental Protection fined Sunoco/Energy Transfer Partners an additional $355,622 for drilling mud spills during construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline.
The multiple violations along the 350-mile long line occurred between May 3, 2017 and February 27, 2018. The fine is on top of the $12.6 million penalty issued by the DEP in February for similar violations of the state’s Clean Streams Law.
“No violations are acceptable,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell in a statement. “Cleaning up a spill does not excuse Sunoco, or any other company, from complying with the law or paying an appropriate penalty.”
The DEP says Sunoco discharged drilling fluids into wetlands, wild trout streams and High-Quality Waters at locations in Allegheny, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lancaster, and Washington counties. The agency ordered the company to halt construction and clean up the spills, as well as to submit proposed changes to construction methods.
DEP has issued Sunoco more than 50 notices of violations for construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline.