Mariner East

The Mariner East (ME) 1 pipeline remains offline more than a week after service was stopped in response to yet another sinkhole that formed in southeast Pennsylvania, compounding problems for the system as the state oversees additional geophysical tests and the public outcries grow louder.

Enbridge Inc. said Wednesday that there is no timeline for returning to service a section of its Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) system that was badly damaged in an explosion this week in southeast Ohio.

After roughly two years of delays, Energy Transfer LP (ET) said partial service started Saturday on the Mariner East (ME) 2 pipeline.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office in southeast Pennsylvania said Wednesday it has opened a criminal investigation into the construction of the Mariner East (ME) 1, 2 and 2X pipelines in a move that surprised project owner Energy Transfer LP, which pledged to fight back.

Nearly two years after the 350-mile Mariner East (ME) 2 pipeline was first expected to enter service, natural gas liquids are still not moving through as an Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) subsidiary continues to work through regulatory delays.

Pennsylvania lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are again airing concerns this week about natural gas pipeline projects, calling on Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) to halt construction of the Mariner East (ME) 2 and 2X projects, after a gathering system in the western part of the state exploded on Monday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has again fined Energy Transfer Partners LP subsidiary Sunoco Pipeline LP $148,000 for violations of the Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachment Act that occurred during construction of the Mariner East (ME) 2 pipeline.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Thursday partially lifted a suspension on construction of the Mariner East (ME) 2 and 2X pipelines in southeast Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached a settlement with the Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association (MWA) and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to resolve an appeal challenging the state’s permits for the Mariner East (ME) 2 pipeline project that’s been pending for more than a year.