Sunoco Pipeline LP (SPLP), also known as Energy Transfer Partners, recently notified Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) of its intent to restart the Mariner East 1 (ME1) pipeline.
Sunoco will also take a series of additional steps to address safety concerns regarding the Mariner East Pipelines.
ME1 has been out of service since Jan. 20 following a subsidence event, or sinkhole, that exposed a small segment of the pipeline in West Whiteland Township, Chester County. I&E’s Pipeline Safety Division has been monitoring stabilization and remediation efforts undertaken by SPLP following the event.
Under the January agreement between I&E and Sunoco related to the voluntary shutdown of ME1, Sunoco is required to provide 72-hour notice of intent to restart the pipeline. The company provided notice to I&E at approximately 3 p.m. on April 19.
I&E and Sunoco have agreed on a plan to remediate further the Lisa Drive area surrounding ME1. Sunoco will conduct daily visual inspections of the Lisa Drive section of ME1 until the grouting along ME1 is complete. The company will also perform geophysical tests in the right-of-way area behind Lisa Drive every six months for two years. It will also maintain the current top-of-pipe elevation survey locations and strain gauges on the section of ME1 and continuously monitor strain gauge data. The company will report its findings to I&E.