Aston faces future with Mariner 2 pipeline in its midst
ASTON >> Pipelines have cross-crossed the township for decades and Fire Marshal Tom Morgan feels the municipality is ready for the next installment.
Morgan presented a review of pipeline awareness and preparedness recently attended by approximately 75 residents. His hour-long overview of current lines and the impending Sunoco Logistic Mariner East 2 was followed by similar time for questions and comments.
“Mariner East 2 is carrying a different product to us, but it is not a new product,” said Morgan, who also serves as emergency management coordinator. “Rest assured we are as prepared as we can possibly be.”
Currently under construction, Mariner East 2 will enter the township across Chester Creek below Savage Park. The pipeline will travel behind Mildred Lane, across Duttons Mill Road, behind Park Lane near Olympic Tool and Machine on Bridgewater Road and down Judy Lane to Elwyn. Construction for the 20-inch line is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the installation the second 16-inch line to be finished by mid-2018.
Carrying propane, ethane and butane classified as natural gas liquids, Mariner East 2 will join the current lines transporting natural gas, petroleum gas, petroleum liquids and water. Morgan reviewed the indications of a leak for the latter three, such as an odor of rotten eggs, load roaring or hissing sound, fire on top of the ground and an area of dead vegetation. In each case, hazards include high flammability, irritating gasses or burns and displaced oxygen possibly causing asphyxiation.
“I live within 100 feet of a pipeline and look for signs every day,” said Morgan. “If you see something, call 911 immediately.”
Residents should take steps to protect their families, such as knowing where the pipelines are, how to recognize a leak and the way to report it and devising emergency shelter-inplace and evacuation plans.
Should an incident occur, residents would be informed in a variety of ways. Announcements would be made through DelcoAlert, the countywide notification system, NOAA All Hazards and KYW radio, reverse 911 and the township website and social media.
“If you haven’t already, sign up for DelcoAlert,” said Morgan. “We would also have an emergency vehicle loud speaker and first responders going door to door.”
The township prepares for possible incidents on an ongoing basis. First responders participate in regular pipeline training given by the operators, fire apparatus have detection meters that can identify all the products and a pipeline emergency response plan has been added to the emergency plan.
The Penn-Delco School District takes similar precautions, practicing monthly on-site and bi-annual off-site evacuations. Each building has designated locations where children could walk or be bussed and Morgan suggested parents know how to get information about a leak and where they would be reunited with their child.
“The pipeline maps are not public, as they are critical infrastructure and therefore classified,” he said. “Similarly, the school plans are not public to prevent endangering students and staff.”
While the presentation applied to all pipelines, the queries focused on Mariner East 2. More than a dozen residents posed questions regarding electrical devices as a source of ignition (“you can use your cell phone to receive DelcoAlert,” said Morgan), whether first responders would enter a hazardous zone (“they do that every day if properly prepared and outfitted”) and specific plans for evacuating vulnerable individuals and those with mobility issues, such as individuals living at Elwyn.
Several audience members were steamfitters and operating engineers who have worked on the project and they stressed how carefully it is being done.
“It is important from the safety aspect that we are using skilled labor,” said Sunoco Project Manager Matt Gordon. “We are doing multiple safety checks, such as X-raying the welds to make sure there are no weaknesses.”
Some who stepped to the mike voiced concerns about the need for the pipeline, but commissioner president Jim Stigale reminded them of the point of the meeting.
“We could debate this all day, but the fact is Mariner 2 is coming,” he said. “Putting our plans in place and letting residents know about them is the best thing we can do.”