Neighbors make last ditch plea for a stop to pipeline construction
EXTON, Pa. (WTXF) - Neighbors in Exton are doing everything they can to prevent a pipeline from coming into their community. They joined together in Chester County to make their voices heard and in concern about the impact it would have on safety and property values. They are worried about damage to their properties.
It could be called a last ditch effort to stop a controversy that literally runs through the back yards of many Chester and Delaware County residents. It's the construction of a highly volatiles liquid natural gas pipeline. But, even critics admit, time is running short.
The Mariner II Pipeline runs through communities across Pennsylvania and right through many front yards.
"What's it like living next to the pipeline? It's a circus. The street is a circus," said Marty Cipollone.
Homeowners like Cipollone say pipeline construction on Lisa Drive in Exton has been a nightmare of traffic, noise and dirt. He now wants to sell.
"If I was buying a house, I wouldn't want to live on this street right now. And, I don't know what all the consequences of all this drilling is doing to the Earth," said Cipollone.
He lives on the street where five of his neighbors' homes sit empty. Those residents were relocated by Sunoco because of major sinkholes in their backyards.
"We're just trying to find the latest status of the project," said FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.
Sunoco pipeline workers didn't want FOX 29 asking questions or taking pictures of the project. So, they called West Whiteland Township Police.
"The homeowners are living somewhere else," the West Whiteland Township police officers said.
Sunoco said the 350-mile cross-state pipeline will carry hundreds of thousands of barrels of ethane, butane and propane every day. The company also touts thousands of jobs and an economic boom of 9 billion dollars.
"My dream is rapidly becoming a nightmare," said one homeowner.
In a packed meeting with a seat saved for Governor Wolf, a last ditch community effort to voice their opinion, trying to stop the pipeline that Sunoco told FOX 29 is about 98% built. Residents are holding out for a legal miracle.
"I believe we can stop it. I believe Sunoco has made a good argument in stopping it. We have sinkholes. We have contaminated waterways. We have 50 notices of violations and counting," said Caroline Hughes, member of Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety.
Construction on the pipeline continues and if all goes to Sunoco's plan, it will be carrying liquid gas through the community sometime this summer.