Sinkholes, Subsidence, Cracked Roadways Expand Along Path Of Mariner East Pipeline In PA
Sinkholes and land subsidence have developed alongside Sunoco’s Mariner East pipeline construction in West Whiteland Township, Chester County. About half a dozen sinkholes along the pipeline’s path began appearing June 13, close to active pipelines carrying natural gas liquids, a pipeline valve station and a public hiking trail, according to local officials.
The most recent subsidence occurred Friday afternoon, with growing cracks on the busy Route 30, near a sinkhole that had developed last week, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
The PUC’s Safety Division of the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement is on-site and conducting an investigation. “No active pipelines were exposed as a result of the subsidences and engineers from the Safety Division continue to closely monitor the situation,” according to a statement released Friday afternoon by the PUC.
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It’s not the first time West Whiteland Township is dealing with sinkholes. In early 2018 sinkholes developed on Lisa Drive, leading the PUC to halt construction and the operation of the nearby Mariner East 1 pipeline. At the time the PUC said it could be “catastrophic” if the exposed pipeline leaked and led to an explosion. Several months later, the PUC determined it was safe to re-open the pipelines, which carry natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale fields in western Pennsylvania to an export terminal in Delaware County.
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https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2020/07/17/mariner-east-pipeline-construction-site-of-additional-sinkholes-in-chester-county/
