As of April, 2017, there are at least five proposed pipelines which will carry petroleum products across parts of Pennsylvania. Many activist groups are resisting these pipelines with varying results. To see a map of pipelines already built in your area click here.

Atlantic Sunrise

Company: Williams Partners

Regions affected: 10 counties including Lancaster and Lebanon.

Purpose: Connects the Marcellus Shale producing areas in North Eastern, PA to Mid-Atlantic and South Eastern States.

Length: 183 miles

Status: Final approval was given early 2017. Construction to begin mid-2017.

Constitution Pipeline

Company: Williams, Cabot, Piedmont and WGL Holdings

Regions affected: Susquehanna to parts of NY State

Purpose: Carry gas from PA’s Marcellus Shale to parts of NY State

Length: 124 miles

Status: Appears to have been stopped in 2016, by NY state. On March 20th, 2017 a Federal Court dismissed the companies’ permit challenge.

Mariner East 1 and 2

Company: Sunoco

Regions affected: 14 counties including Chester County

Purpose: Carry Marcellus Shale byproducts such as ethane, butane and propane across the state to the company’s Marcus Hook refinery in Delaware County.

Length: 300-340 miles

Status: West Goshen Township’s complaint has been referred to an administrative judge.

  • February 17, 2017 – Daily Local coverage of West Goshen Township’s complaint against the pipeline

  • March 15, 2017 – NPR report, Sunoco rejects township’s complaint. Public Utility Commission has referred the dispute to an administrative judge.

Mountaineer Xpress

Company: Columbia

Regions affected: SW PA

Purpose: Carry methane gas obtained from fracking in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio to a pipeline interconnection site near a Catlettsburg refinery.

Length: 165 miles

Status: Going to through FERC approval. There is public opposition.

  • March 12, 2017 – Herald Dispatch editorial by members of Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

PennEast Pipeline

Company: PennEast Pipeline

Regions affected: SE PA and New Jersey

Purpose: Transport eastern Marcellus Shale gas to markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Length: 114 miles

Status: Appears to still be in approval stage. There are political interests raising concerns.

  • March 22, 2017 – Shale Daily news update, New Jersey Senators ask FERC to investigate concerns about arsenic contamination

  • March 23, 2017 – PowerSource / AP report, Senators Booker and Menendez want evaluation of concerns over arsenic and endangered species

This article was put together by the Indivisible Chester County Research Committee with contributions and edits by JoEllen McBride, Ph.d.

Share