Chester County commissioners begin evaluation of pipeline safety

Chester County commissioners recently asked the county’s Department of Emergency Services to oversee an independent evaluation that identifies all hazards and threats of Energy Transfer’s Mariner East pipeline system.

Results of the evaluation will be used to analyze all public safety threats and determine the county’s emergency preparedness plans.

The first step will be to find national or international experts who will provide a summary “statement of work.”

“Each step of this independent evaluation process will take us closer to confirming that our Department of Emergency Services and the County’s first responders have the most comprehensive emergency preparedness plans in place should there be any threat to public safety caused by the Mariner East pipelines,” Commissioner Terence Farrell said. “And while the evaluation progresses, we continue with many other actions that address the safety concerns of Mariner East, including our unprecedented lawsuit against Energy Transfer to stop construction of the company’s pipeline on County-owned property.”

Other county departments that have pipeline interests are the Health Department and Planning Commission, the Conservation District, and Water Resources Authority. These departments also will have input in the evaluation.

The pipeline system transports natural gas liquids from the Marcellus and Utica Shales areas in Western Pennsylvania.