Jul 11, 2016 3 min read

HARRISBURG – The state Department of Environmental Protection said Monday it will hear testimony from the public in conjunction with the proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline that would cross 17 counties in the southern portion of Pennsylvania, including Washington County.

DEP said in a news release it began a technical review of permit applications submitted by Sunoco Logistics Inc. for the Pennsylvania Pipeline Project, also commonly referred to as Mariner East II.

The PPP is a proposed expansion of the existing Sunoco Mariner East pipeline system. Sunoco recently upgraded its existing Mariner East I pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from Ohio and the Pittsburgh area to its Marcus Hook facility in Delaware County. Most of the PPP is proposed to follow the same pipeline corridor as Mariner East I and will traverse 17 counties in the southern tier of the state.

Because these pipelines will convey liquefied natural gas, they are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which falls under the U.S. Department of Transportation. The project requires multiple permits from DEP, including OKs for earth disturbances of five acres or more, and permits for proposed activities located along or across a watercourse, floodway or body of water, including wetlands.

DEP said because of the scope and complexity of the project, it will provide for enhanced public participation opportunities by extending the comment period from 30 to 60 days and holding public hearings in the affected regions later this summer.

Comments submitted electronically and at the upcoming hearings should focus on the relevant permits, not the overall pipeline.

“As an open and transparent agency, we take public comment and input very seriously,” said Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We want to provide the public with several opportunities to review permit applications and provide thoughtful, critical and constructive feedback to aide in our technical review.”

During the hearings, each speaker will have the opportunity to present up to three minutes of testimony. To ensure all speakers have a fair and equal opportunity to present their testimony, relinquishing of time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. All presenters should bring at least one copy of their comments and exhibits for submission to DEP.

The public hearing for the Southwest Region, which covers Allegheny, Cambria, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland counties, will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in Founder’s Hall Amphitheatre, Westmoreland County Community College, 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood. Those wishing to offer testimony for the Southwest Region hearing can register in advance by contacting John Poister, community relations coordinator, at 412-442-4203 or by email at jpoister@pa.gov.

The department also will accept written testimony by email or by sending comments to Rita Coleman, program manager, Waterways and Wetlands, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or RA-EPWW-SWRO@pa.gov.

Written comments will be accepted until Aug. 24.