New sinkhole develops near library
WEST WHITELAND » A large sinkhole has developed at the Mariner East 2 Pipeline construction site near the Chester County Library.
At 4:30 a.m. Friday, neighbors in the nearby Meadowbrook Manor development awoke to bright lights, excavators and cement trucks.
The sinkhole approximately 23’ long, 10’ wide and 6’ deep had opened up on the bore path which runs in between two 90-year-old active pipelines, which are carrying highly volatile liquids.
The sinkhole occurred three feet from a 12 inch line and mere inches from the 8 inch line. A visible crack in the earth had formed over the 8 inch line.
Within the perimeter of the sinkhole, a tree had toppled and landed on power lines above. Several neighbors in the development said they are greatly concerned that the shifting ground will cause one of the old pipes to fracture, releasing highly explosive gases.
Since the shipped products will be used for plastic production, some for drinking containers for foreign markets, there is no odorant added to help in the detection of a leak.
A family whose home is directly adjacent to Friday’s sinkhole has an infant and two small children. A parent said they are anxious about escaping should an emergency occur.
Five families were forced out on Lisa Drive, with their homes purchased by pipeline builder Sunoco/ Energy Transfer just a mile away after similar sinkholes developed in their backyards.
Residents estimate that Sunoco has been removing up to a million gallons of water per day from this wetland area, in attempt to keep a bore pit dry. Water removal in karst geology can leave underground voids which may have led to Friday’s collapse.
The Sunoco Mariner East pipeline runs 350 miles from West Virginia, Ohio and across the breadth of Pennsylvania from Marcellus shale deposits to the Marcus Hook Refinery in Delaware County. More than 40 schools are near the right of way that weaves through high density areas of Chester and Delaware counties.
The sinkhole occurred three feet from a 12 inch line and mere inches from the 8 inch line. A visible crack in the earth had formed over the 8 inch line.