20140957 Ver 2_Comments 401 Certification Atlantic Coast Pipeline_20170819

Strickland, Bev
From:Therese Vick <[e-mail]>
Sent:Saturday, August 19, 2017 3:13 PM
To:SVC_DENR.publiccomments
Subject:Comments: 401 Certification Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Attachments:TVickBREDLComments401ACP08192017.pdf; Bloomberg Rover Pipeline Article.pdf;
Mariner East Pipeline rRticle.pdf; Sunoco_Mariner_East_II-
Pipeline_Construction_Inadvertent_Returns-Waters_of_the_Commonwealth_Revised
(1).pdf
Please find attached BREDL's comments on the 401 Certification. There are also other attachments pertinent to
the comments.

Thank you,

Therese Vick

--

Therese Vick
North Carolina Healthy Sustainable Communities Campaign Coordinator
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League/Coal Ash Coordinator
[e-mail]
The Office of Imminent Disaster
919-345-3673
www.bredl.org
@tvickBREDL Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeEnvironmentalDefenseLeague?ref=hl
http://bredlbetweenthelines2.blogspot.com/2016/04/deqs-weird-science.html

Be kind to all you meet, each of us carries a burden that others cannot see—

1

I:lue Ridge Environmental Defense League
www.BREDL.orc 4617 Pearl Rd Raleigh NC 27610 [phone] therese.vickkgmail.com
19 August 2017
VIA E-MAIL
Karen Higgins
Supervisor- 401 and Buffer Permitting Branch
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
PublicCommentskncdenr. gov
RE: Comments on Section 401 Certification Application for Construction of the Atlantic
Coast Pipeline
Dear Ms. Higgins:
On behalf of Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) I offer the following
comments on the 401 Certification for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). If North
Carolina law is followed, the Division of Water Resources and must deny
the Certification. The Division has ample reason to do so. To do otherwise would be
indefensible.
Water Quality
North Carolina law requires that 401 Certification be granted only if certain criteria are met.
These criteria include that the proposed activity will not:
Remove or degrade existing uses
Degrade ground or surface waters
Result in cumulative impacts, based upon past or reasonably anticipated future impacts,
that cause or will cause a violation of downstream water quality standards
The Division must also find that:
• The activity has no practical alternative

• That the activity will minimize adverse impacts to the surface waters based on
consideration of existing topography, vegetation, fish and wildlife resources, and
hydrological conditions under the criteria outlined
The applicant fails to provide DWR with sufficient information necessary to conduct an adequate
review of this project which will potentially impact hundreds of water bodies. site-specific
information on the hundreds of water bodies that the proposed pipeline would cross. The
application is long on vagaries and short on the detail required for DWR to ensure that
waterbodies and wetlands will not be removed or degraded. In addition, ACP's cumulative
impacts analysis is insufficient for DWR to assess the impacts that will occur to surface and
groundwater.
Pipelines currently under construction in Pennsylvania and West Virginia have had significant
impacts on water quality. The Rover Pipeline has garnered 104 environmental violations since its
construction started in March 2017, including an April drilling fluid spill of 2 million gallons.
Horizontal drilling for Mariner East pipeline intruded into an aquifer and contaminated 14
private wells.2 There have been close to 50 "inadvertent returns" (spills) since May 2017.3 The
potential for similar damages in North Carolina is significant.
Eastern North Carolina has been effected by major storms in the past and will be again. ACP
provides little information and no analysis on the impacts of heavy rain and flooding during and
after construction. Storms such as Hurricane Matthew can destroy infrastructure; roads, bridges,
and yes, pipelines. Below are several photographs taken after Hurricane Matthew:
1 Malik, Naureen S., Traywick, Catherine. Blackstone's new pipeline asset is wreaking environmental havoc. 17
August 2017. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-17/blackstone-s-new-pipeline-
asset-is-wreaking-environmental-havoc (Hard copy included with comments).
z Legere, Laura. Judge halts Mariner East drilling for two weeks. 25 July 2017. Post-Gazette.com. http://www.post-
gazette.com/powersource/companies/2017/07/25/Pennsylvania-Judge-puts-Sunoco-Mariner-East-pipeline-
drilling-on-hold-spill/stories/201707250131. (Hard copy included with comments)
3 Sunoco Mariner East Inadvertent Returns. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
http://files.dep.state.Pa.us/Program)ntegration/PA%20Pipeline%20Portal/MarinerEastll/Sunoco Mariner East II -
Pipeline Construction Inadvertent Returns -Waters of the Commonwealth Revised.pdf. Retrieved 19 August
2017. (Hard copy provided with comments).

iF y

Environmental Justice
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is obligated to make sure its permitting
decisions do not have a disproportionate impact on communities of color, low income
communities, and state -recognized Indian Tribes. The proposed route for the ACP cuts through
some of the most racially and ethnically diverse and economically distressed areas of North
Carolina. In addition, pipeline construction and operation would impact a large number of state -
recognized Indian Tribes and their ancestral lands. Unfortunately, in the Final Environmental
Impact Statement for the ACP, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission did not complete a
valid Environmental Justice analysis.
For example, ACP proposes to locate Compressor Station #3 in Northampton County near
Pleasant Hill. The location is within census block group 6, which is approximately 79.2 percent
African American- significantly higher than the state average of 22%.4 There are already several
4 Source: Sothern Environmental Law Center comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic
Coast Pipeline at page 274. https://ncdenr.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-

polluting facilities located in that part of the county, including an Enviva pellet mill and an
existing compressor station and associated pipeline. Northampton County has also been targeted
for the location of a large coal ash landfill.
As a result, it is incumbent on DEQ to conduct its own proximity analysis to determine who will
be most impacted by the construction and operation of this pipeline. This should include risk-
based demographic analysis to determine whether pollution from construction or from pipeline
leaks, blowdowns, or the proposed Northampton compressor station will harm already
overburdened communities. This demographic analysis should consider whether vulnerable
communities will face disproportionate safety risks as well. One of the central principles of
Environmental Justice is the right for communities threatened with industrial development to
participate at every level of decision-making, including needs assessment, planning,
implementation, enforcement, and evaluation.
Need
Th applicant fails to establish need for the pipeline. Studies have shown that the pipeline is not
necessary to meet future demands, as projected demand is expected to stay static through 2030.
The growth of renewables will continue gain electric power generation market share.
In North Carolina, ACP partner Duke Energy is seeking and will continue to seek major and
repeated rate hikes to recover the cost of the pipeline from ratepayers thus guaranteeing
themselves a high rate of return and recovery of the cost of construction for unneeded additional
gas-fired power plants.
Process
New leadership at the Department of Environmental Quality asks communities to trust them, and
has been willing to meet with potentially impacted communities and others regarding the ACP.
However, a July 31, 2017 email from DEQ Deputy Secretary John Nicholson to Napoleon
Wallace of the North Carolina Department of Commerce raises serious concerns regarding the
motive behind the recent "listening sessions" conducted in Northampton, Nash, and Robeson
Counties and demands an explanation. These "sessions" were described as additional
opportunities to hear from the public. The email, obtained through a public records request
submitted to Commerce by Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League reads in part (emphasis
added):
Napoleon, Just a short note to follow up on the cryptic VM I left you the other day. We
were reviewing comments/concerns that came out of our Clean Water Act 401
Certification public hearings on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) we conducted last
week and are concerned the public doesn't have a good understanding of the full
picture associated with the ACP. As you may be aware a lot of the conversation was
focused on ancestral grounds, impact on the water shed, title VI/EJ issues, etc.
However, very little was communicated regarding the potential economic benefit that I
public/Energy%20Minera l%20and%20Lan d%20Resources/DEMLR/Atlantic-Coast-
Pipeli ne/Comments%20bv%205VN%20et%20a1%20ACP%20DE15%20FI NAL. pdf

believe has been Commerce's position. As a result, the Secretary has directed us to
put together two additional listening session before the public comment period
closes out on 19 August and we would like to solicit your participation (appropriate
Commerce rep) at these sessions to ensure we are in synch with each other as the
ACP goes through the process.
The public is aware of this email and is troubled. It has generally been DEQ's stated position that
those who submit comments during the permitting process should stick to topics pertinent to the
activity- in this case water quality and other environmental impacts. Yet the email from the
Deputy Secretary is slightly dismissive of environmental and environmental justice concerns -
focusing instead on the "potential economic benefits." Any economic benefit from the ACP will
likely be to Duke and Dominion's stockholders, while the threat of negative economic impacts to
communities, water quality and the climate looms large. The 401 Certification must be denied.
Respectfully Submitted,
Therese Vick
North Carolina Healthy, Sustainable Communities/Coal Ash Campaign Coordinator

Sunoco Mariner East II - Pipeline Construction Inadvertent Returns - Waters of the Commonwealth
Date
County
Location
I Description
Istatus
Southwest Region
5/4/2017
Westmoreland
40.441, -79363
150 Gallons; UNT Boatyard Run (CWF)
NOV issued 7/28/2017
and W -P 14; turbid Water —600 feet in
channel
5/12/2017
Westmoreland
40.44213, -79.34305
300 gallons, 90'x50' area - Wetland W-
NOV issued 7/28/2017
045
5/13/2017
Indiana
40 27'10.16"; -79
130 gallons bentonite clay; 20 gallons to
NOV issued 7/28/2017
13'30.34"
UNT Blacklick Creek, no deposition;
200'x5'in W J53 and 2'x300' plume in S -
J58
5/16/2017
Westmoreland
40 26' 17.48", -79 26'
30 gallons 2'x 40' area none to lake
IR stopped
16.11"
5/23/2017
Westmoreland
40 26' 17.48", -79 26'
60 gallons: 30 gal, 20, gal, 10 gal to 3
IR stopped
16.11"
upland areas (2'x 45, 2'x 30', 2'x 40'
5/23/2017
Westmoreland
40.289, -79.668
20,000 gallons drilling mud, 1,000 to
NOV issued 7/28/2017
stream and rest in upland or ephemeral
channel; Ephemeral Stream (TSF), L
Sewickley Creek 5-229, 250'x 2'
unknown depth
5/23/2017
Westmoreland
40.289, -79.668
Part of 20,000 gallons above to a 60' x40'
NOV issued 7/28/2017
farm field, 4-10" deep

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
5/23/2017
Westmoreland
40.289, -79.668
Part of 20,000 gallons above to a 100' x
NOV issued 7/28/2017
20' farm field, 0.5 -3" deep
5/24/2017
Westmoreland
40.44213, -79.34305
525 gallons; 300 Gallons to wetland W-
NOV issued 7/28/2017
045 75'x100', 225 gallons to Spruce Run
5-061 600'x 10'
5/25/2017
Westmoreland
40.439, -79.437
25 gallons, 1 pint to Loyahanna Lake;
NOV issued 7/28/2017
Upland Tx 50', lake 3' diameter circle
5/26/2017
Allegheny
40.223140, -
50 gallons in a 15'x 30' upland area
IR stopped
79.893688
5/26/2017
Westmoreland
40 26'21.13", -79 26'
50 Gallons drilling mud to lake, 5 gallons
NOV issued 7/28/2017
3.92"
to upland; Loyalhanna Lake S -P27 2
locations 8'x600', 1 upland 2'x25'
5/28/2017
Westmoreland
40 26'2.44", -79 26'
50 gallons to upland area (25'x 50'), 20
NOV issued 7/28/2017
11.72"
gallons to Loyalhanna Lake (5'x25')
5/31/2017
Westmoreland
40 26' 19.19", -79 26'
8 Gallons to the Lake; Loyalhanna Lake-
NOV issued 7/28/2017
14.20"
no flow path seen leading into the lake or
a release point in the water, 20' x 12' area

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
5/31/2017
Allegheny
40.223, -79.893
2000 gallons total, 1500 gallons into the
NOV issued 7/28/2017
creek and 500 gallons contained in
upland; 2 stream (UNT Sunfish Run -
WWF) within 5-150 upstream of joining
5-149; 5-149 under travel lane bridge; 1
upland (east of 5-150) 50'x20' area;
deposits in stream isolated to areas where
material was released, turbid water 0.3
miles south to Sunnyside Hollow Road
6/1/2017
Westmoreland
40.26' 17.48", -79
10 gal upland, 4 gallon near lake, <1
NOV issued 7/28/2017
26'16.11"
gallon into lake; upland and lake
(multiple locations on the hillside)
6/2/2017
Washington
40.231, -79.998
200 gallons to upland areas. 1500 gallons
NOV issued 7/28/2017
of diluted mixture of water and drilling
fluid to stream. Turbid water for —.25
miles.; 3 upland locations. The material
from the third location flowed directly
6/6/2017
Westmoreland
Pump ran out of fuel that was maintaining
NOV issued 7/28/2017
an IR, 25 gallons to creek; Small amount
made it to the storm drain (<1 pint)

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
6/6/2017
Washington
40.2352778, -
At start of HDD, noticed streambed
NOV issued 7/28/2017
80.103333
material beginning to push up through
two spring seeps, about 10' apart and at
the toe of the bank of the stream at the
NW edge. — 5 gallons in stream-no
bentonite; S 129 UNT Little Chartiers
Creek (HQ-WWF), 100 sq. ft.
6/6/2017
Westmoreland
40.441, -79.363
Unknown quantity bentonite mixture,
NOV issued 7/28/2017
drilling over, cleanup started, unsure if
fish were impacted-about 350 gallons to
stream; UNT Boatyard Run (CWF) S-P20
(350 gal); turbid water and mud deposits
for —800' within the channel
6/8/2017
Washington
40.23055, -79.99622
20 gallons diluted drill water (minor
NOV issued 7/28/2017
amount made it to creek); Stream S27
(Froman Run)
6/10/2017
Washington
40 gallons to upland
IR stopped
6/11/2017
Washington
40.23052, -79.99665
100 gallons to 125 sq ft upland area
NOV issued 7/28/2017
6/11/2017
Washington
40.23055, -79.99622
30 gallons of diluted drill mud and water;
NOV issued 7/28/2017
Stream S27 (Froman Run) about 400' for
3'-5' wide
6/12/2017
Washington
40.2298, -79.97295
1000-1500 gallons in upland area —858 sq
Investigation Ongoing.
ft
6/23/2017
Washington
Bentonite into stream
NOV issued 7/28/2017

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
6/24/2017
Washington
40.235123, -
1000 gallons bentonite; 2 UNTs Little
NOV issued 7/28/2017
80.102816
Chartiers Creek. Streams 280 and 129;
280 is about 10 feet from original IR and
129 IR came up in containment area;
—225' stream 280 impacted pump around
and cleanup
6/29/2017
Westmoreland
40.441, -79.363
410 Gallons Bentonite clay and Water; 60
NOV issued 7/28/2017
gallons to upland and 350 to waterbody;
UNT Boatyard Run for about 1200'2
locations in the stream
7/16/2017
Westmoreland
40 26' 16.22", -79 26'
320 gallons; 20 to Loyalhanna Lake (12' x
NOV issued 7/28/2017
11.35"
30'), 300 to upland
7/17/2017
Westmoreland
40 26' 16.22", -79 26'
800 gallons, 80 into Loyalhanna Lake (12'
NOV issued 7/28/2017
11.35"
x 60'), 720 in upland
7/18/2017
Washington
5000-60000 gallons to upland area 250'
Investigation Ongoing.
west of Monongahela River
Southcentrral Region
5/6/2017
Cumberland
40.228757, -
160,000 gallons.; wetland WL -130 (EV)
IR stopped. COA 6/27/17.
77.132769
5/10/2017
Lancaster
40.280, -76.195
wetland J54 and stream J59
IR stopped. Remediation
reported as complete.
5/13/2017
Lancaster
40.280833, -
25 to 30 gallons; west side of wetlands K-
IR stopped.
76.210278
32

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
5/19/2017
Cumberland
40.228703, -
50 gallons; wetland 32 (ER Call); wetland
IR stopped. COA 6/27/17.
77.141032
I32 (initial report); wetland W -I21
(interim report 1); wetland W -I32
(interim report 2)
5/26/2017
Lancaster
40.280, -76.195
30 to 50 gallons; stream J59
IR stopped. Remediation
reported as complete.
5/31/2017
Berks
40.277, -76.020
500 gallons; Pond -B7 (retention pond)
IR stopped.
6/3/2017
Cumberland
40.228603, -
—150 gallons (initial) 450 gallons (total);
IR stopped. COA 6/27/17.
77.140614
WL -I32 (initial report)
6/9/2017
Lancaster
40.281, -76.209
—20 gallons on 6/9. ; wetland W -K32
IR stopped.
6/12/2017
Lancaster
40.280787, -
—25 gallons initial on 6/12--a total of
IR stopped.
76.210161
5500 recovered in total.; Wetland W -K32
6/20/2017
Berks
40 16'38" - 76 1'12"
—20 gallons in culvert, 10-20 gallons in
IR stopped.
pond B7
6/23/2017
Lebanon
40 17'7",-76 14' 17"
—300 gallons; Wetland H-13
IR stopped.
6/26/2017
Blair
40.34, -78.269
2,000 gallons; stream S -M33 (HQ -CWF)
IR stopped.
6/28/2017
Blair
40.409, -78.442
—100 gallons; Wetland M-79 (PFO)
IR stopped.
7/1/2017
Blair
2800 ft east of Mill
50 gal and then 250 gal ; PFO and
IR stopped.
Road Duncansville,
possible WT trib
Blair TWP. 40.409, -
IQ JAI
7/6/2017
Huntingdon
40.342, -77.852
—300 gallons; Stream L28
IR stopped
7/11/2017
Cumberland
I-81 drill. 40.134352,
none stated
IR stopped. COA 6/27/17.
77.75766

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
7/13/2017
Cumberland
Newville
none stated; discharge of hydrotest water
Additional information
through an approved outlet, but at the
provided by SPLP indicates
'wrong location'.
that discharge of hydrotest
water occurred through a
7/19/2017
Lancaster
1000 FT W of S
250 gallons; Wetland A-56
IR stopped.
Peartown Rd.
40.28250, -76.15806
Southeast Region
5/3/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
500 gallons of drilling fluid to Chester
NOV issued 5/9/17.
Delaware County — at
Creek; lost return of 20,000 gallons of
edge of Chester Creek
drill fluid. IR identified 5.09 PM.
Rd. and onto sidewalk
— IR went into storm
drain and then Chester
Creek
5/4/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
50 gallons release of drilling fluids into
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
uplands; no fluids reached Chester Creek.
upland lawn area of
IR identified 3.10 PM.
vacant lot
5/10/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
75 gallons release of drilling fluids
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
emerging in 3 locations in Creek (25
within Chester Creek
gallons in each location). IR identified at
12.15 PM.
5/17/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
5 gallons total release of drilling fluids in
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
2 locations in Chester Creek. IR
within Chester Creek
identified at 1.45 PM.

Date
County
Location
Description
Status
5/18/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
25 gallons release of drilling fluids in 1
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
location in Chester Creek. IR identified at
within Chester Creek
12.40 PM.
5/19/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
200 gallons total release of drilling fluids
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
in 2 locations in Chester Creek. IR
within Chester Creek
identified at 12.20 PM.
5/27/2017
Delaware
Brookhaven Borough,
25 gallons release of drilling fluids in 1
IR stopped.
Delaware County —
location in Chester Creek
within Chester Creek
6/7/2017
Chester
East Goshen
100 gallons of drilling solution in two
IR stopped.
Township, Chester
locations. One emergence was outside of
County UPLANDS
the LOD. The second was within no
ONLY
disturbance LOD.
6/17/2017
Chester
Upper Uwchlan
5 gallons of drilling solution into tributary
IR stopped.
Township, Chester
to Marsh Creek
County, Hickory Park
6/24/2017
Chester
Upper Uwchlan
100 gallons of drilling solution into
IR stopped.
Township, Chester
wetland and stream.
County
7/17/2017
Delaware
Middletown
1500 gallons of drilling solution into
NOV issued 7/20/17.
Township, Delaware
UNT to Chester Creek
County

8/19/2017 Judge halts Mariner East pipeline drilling for two weeks I Pittsburgh Post -Gazette
Judge halts Mariner East pipeline
drilling for two weeks
iJo LAURA LEGERE
Harrisburg Bureau
JUL 25, 2017
A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday put an immediate, two-week
hold on directional drilling for Sunoco's Mariner East 2 pipeline,
affecting 55 locations where the underground boring activity is
taking place across the state's southern tier.
Environmental Hearing Board Judge Bernard Labuskes Jr. halted
the construction activity until g a.m. Aug. 7, when he has
scheduled a hearing on earthmoving and water -crossing permit
challenges brought by environmental organizations.
Complaints about the controversial project have mounted in
recent weeks after a drilling lubricant spill tainted 14 drinking
water supplies in southeastern Pennsylvania.
http://www. post-gazette.corn/powersource/compan ies/2017/07/25/Pen nsylvan ia-Judge-puts-Su noco-Mariner-East-pipe) ine-d riIIi ng-on-hold-spi II/stories/... 1/6

8/19/2017 Judge halts Mariner East pipeline drilling for two weeks I Pittsburgh Post -Gazette
ADVERTISEMENT
Gov. Tom Wolf joined the chorus of concern last week, when he
said he had directed the state Department of Environmental
Protection "to do what they are legally able and feel is appropriate
to ensure the operator is held accountable."
Sunoco's $2.5 billion pipeline project traverses 350 miles through
17 counties, with the goal of transporting natural gas liquids from
Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania's Marcellus and Utica shales
to a terminal in southeastern Pennsylvania for export and some
domestic use. Sunoco Pipeline is a subsidiary of Texas-based
Energy Transfer Partners.
Horizontal directional drilling is used for tunneling beneath
waterways and other obstructions along the pipeline route. DEP
has started keeping a public tally of Sunoco's spills — known in the
industry as "inadvertent returns" — during its directional drilling
for Mariner East 2.
The department's count includes 49 separate spills since May,
including 20 in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington and
Indiana counties. It has issued the company four violation notices
and an $87,60o penalty, and expects to take additional
ADVERTISEMENT
http://www. post-gazette.corn/powersource/compan ies/2017/07/25/Pen nsylvan ia-Judge-puts-Su noco-Mariner-East-pipe) ine-d riIIi ng-on-hold-spi II/stories/... 2/6

8/19/2017 Judge halts Mariner East pipeline drilling for two weeks i Pittsburgh Post -Gazette
Mariner East ....... ME2 pipeline under construction
pipeline project Existingthird-party pipeline
LNYME1 pipeline
. ' •
SXL terminal facilities
Third -party facilities
OHIO � Propane delivery paints
Hopedale Delmont
Scio * iontello Sinking
ShaefferstownSpring
-
.J
Houston Mechanicsburg ..�'
-
0Independence IIID. +Twin '`Marcus
Natrium Oaks Hock
RVA.
Source: Sunoco Logistics James Hiiston/Post-Gazette
The agency issued an order Monday for the company to address
contamination of an aquifer in Chester County that caused cloudy,
discolored or diminished drinking water in 14 private wells.
Sunoco is providing the homeowners with temporary replacement
water supplies, but the order requires the company to develop a
long-term fix. The order also forbids Sunoco from resuming
directional drilling in that area until it gets DEP approval.
The drilling lubricant Sunoco uses is a non-toxic mix of water and
bentonite clay that is "not expected to have any lasting effects on
impacted waters of the commonwealth," DEP said last week.
Environmental groups challenging the permits — Clean Air
Council, Mountain Watershed Association and the Delaware
http://www. post-gazette.corn/powersource/compan ies/2017/07/25/Pen nsylvan ia-Judge-puts-Su noco-Mariner-East-pipe) ine-d riIIi ng-on-hold-spi II/stories/... 3/6

8/19/2017
Judge halts Mariner East pipeline drilling for two weeks I Pittsburgh Post -Gazette
Riverkeeper Network — said in their petition to halt the
directional drilling that the spills "have polluted multiple
exceptional value wetlands, high-quality trout streams, ponds,
groundwater, and uplands," as well as contaminated the Chester
County wells.
Judge Labuskes wrote that he may modify his order if Sunoco
provides evidence that halting drilling would cause equipment
damage, safety risks or "more environmental harm than good."
Sunoco spokesman Jeff Shields said the company had already
voluntarily suspended work at several directional drilling sites to
address the state's concerns and it will continue other types of
construction activity for the pipeline while the judge's order is in
effect.
"We believe that the full hearing before the Environmental
Hearing Board will demonstrate that we have expended every
effort to meet the strict conditions of our environmental permits,"
he said.
Laura Legere: [e-mail].
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8/19/2017 Judge halts Mariner East pipeline drilling for two weeks I Pittsburgh Post -Gazette
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Rover Takes the Lead in Noncompliance
Energy Transfer Partners' Rover pipeline has accrued more negative inspection reports
than other major interstate natural gas pipelines, government records show.
,_, Noncompliance incidents
Energy Transfer's Rover (710 miles) 104
Williams' Virginia Southside Expansion (91 miles) _ 26
Enbridge's Algonquin Incremental Market (37 miles) _ 24

8/19/2017 Blackstone's New Pipeline Asset Is Wreaking Environmental Havoc - Bloomberg
"Not only is it a situation where there are probably more incidents and more headlines than any other pipeline, on a project basis it's a
magnitude that we haven't seen in years," said Kyle Cooper, director of research with IAF Advisors in Houston.
In Ohio, Energy Transfer has been cited for damaging protected wetlands and improperly disposing of wastewater, among other things. In West
Virginia, a state regulator temporarily ordered the company last month to cease and desist activities after it inadvertently polluted streams.
And in Washington, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has halted horizontal drilling on certain segments of the pipeline, following a
massive 50,000 -barrel spill of diesel -tainted drilling fluid.
The Rover pipeline, running from the Marcellus shale deposit, is Energy Transfer's biggest project since its controversial Dakota Access oil
pipeline. Chief Executive Officer Kelcy Warren said on July 31 that he was "baffled" by regulators' allegations. That same day, his company
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8/19/2017 Blackstone's New Pipeline Asset Is Wreaking Environmental Havoc - Bloomberg
reached a deal to sell a 32 percent stake in the Rover unit to Blackstone for about $1.57 billion in cash. It's expected to close in the fourth
quarter. Blackstone spokeswoman Paula Chirhart said the firm declined to comment.
"Rover will be built in compliance with all safety and environmental regulations and in some instances we will exceed those
requirements," said Energy Transfer spokeswoman Alexis Daniel, in response to Bloomberg's violation tally.
— With assistance by David Carey
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8/19/2017 Blackstone's New Pipeline Asset Is Wreaking Environmental Havoc - Bloomberg
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