Sunoco Pipeline Corrupted Water With Toxic Compounds: Report

Editor's note: this article has been updated for clarity on the timeline of one particular alleged contamination.

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — People are getting sick due to the construction of Sunoco's Mariner East pipeline running through Pennsylvania, according to a report. The Guardian reported a Glen Mills family has seen their 2-year-old get sick due to corrupted water, forcing them to go elsewhere to bathe and eat.

They're blaming the pipeline project for the degradation of their water, according to the Guardian article. The outlet reported their "crystalline tap water" turned murky due to recent construction, and that the water smelled like nail polish and burned a woman's mouth as she brushed her teeth.

The report said lab results detected toluene and MTBE in the water, which are compounds found in gasoline. This is alleged to have come from a 1992 pipeline project by Sunoco which leaked the chemicals into the ground.

On top of this, a homeowner is suing Sunoco, accusing them of puncturing the aquifer supplying his water, leading to an E. coli contamination.

Energy Transfer told Patch they "fundamentally disagree with the assertions," and said they tested the man's well and found no evidence substantiating his claims.

Energy Transfer's full statement is at the bottom of the article.

Chester County filed an injunction against Sonoco to get them to halt construction, but it was later blocked. A judge ruled against the injunction on Thursday, Jan. 23, the Daily Local News report said.

In April 2019, former Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said that the Board believed "that Sunoco will be unable to construct the Mariner 2 pipeline on the county library property within the existing 50-foot right of way and in a manner which ensures public safety and welfare."

Related:

• Chesco Files Injunction Against Sunoco, Seeks To Halt Pipeline
• Chester Co. Files Suit To Stop Sunoco Mariner East 2 Construction
  
• Delco Man Bribed Constables For Mariner Pipeline Security: DA
  
• Criminal Investigation Opened Into Sunoco, Chester Co. Pipelines

As construction resumed on Friday, Jan. 25, about 50 demonstrators protested at the site of the construction, at the Chester County Library in Exton, according to the Daily Local News report.

The outlet reported Sunoco cut down trees and a garden that runs next to local resident properties, a little league field, a playground and the library.

See the Chesco Planning website, which details the project.

The Mariner East pipeline is intended to deliver natural gas to the northeast.

The project is the focus of several civil and criminal investigations, according to the Guardian report, including an FBI investigation into Gov. Tom Wolf's handling of the permit process, Energy Transfer employees being charged with bribery and criminal conspiracy, an accusation that Sunoco punctured an aquifer supplying a man's water leading to illness and more.

Energy Transfer provided Patch the statement below concerning allegations of bribery and criminal conspiracy:

We do not believe these charges have any merit and find it troubling that District Attorney Tom Hogan would proceed with charges that we are confident will not stand, creating far-reaching impacts for this employee and his family. The Pennsylvania constables in question were hired by an independent, Pennsylvania-based security firm to help maintain the safety of our worksites. Local law enforcement never expressed any objection to this security plan when it was discussed and implemented. To now characterize the hiring of Pennsylvania constables as somehow intentionally unlawful is extremely troubling, not only for the individual charged, but also for the community that benefitted from the presence of trained security. The District Attorney’s complaint only constitutes allegations—it is not proof of wrongdoing. We have a code of conduct that governs our employees, contractors and businesses and expect all to adhere the standards therein. Energy Transfer will fully support this employee as he seeks the dismissal of the allegation, which again, we believe has no merit, now that he is entitled to due process and a fair hearing.

In response to the man claiming an E. coli contamination, Energy Transfer provided Patch this statement:

We fundamentally disagree with the assertions by Mr. Anspach. We have been in discussions with him for quite some time and have conducted our own testing of his well and did not find any evidence to substantiate his claims. We shared our results of our investigation with the PA DEP.