The Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (DEP) stopped the construction of Sunoco’s controversial Mariner East 2 pipeline project.
The Pennsylvania regulator to suspend Sunoco’s construction permits for the pipeline due to numerous environmental violations. The suspension is a major blow to the company. Its goal is to start the operations of the Mariner East 2 pipeline in the second quarter of 2018.
The Mariner East 2 is an underground pipeline (approximately 350 miles). It is a $2.5 billion project that will deliver butane, ethane, and propane from Marcellus Shale to Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
The DEP said Sunoco must stop all of its construction activities on the pipeline except for certain maintenance. It can only continue the maintenance of erosion controls and limited upkeep of horizontal directional drilling equipment.
In a statement, the department’s Secretary Patrick McDonnell said, DEP has no alternative but to suspend Sunoco’s permits until it can demonstrate it can and will to follow all requirements.
