In February, Sunoco Logistics Partners agreed to pay a massive (historically high) $12.6 million fine to the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) for “permit violations related to the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline project” (see Sunoco LP Pays PA DEP $12.6M to Resume ME2 Pipeline Construction). The fine, along with a “stringent compliance review” going forward, gave the DEP enough confidence to allow Sunoco to resume construction on the ME2 project, which had been halted since January 3rd. One of the ongoing problems with the project is underground horizontal directional drilling (HDD). In one area near Philadelphia, a couple of sinkholes developed in close proximity to Sunoco’s HDD work. Not a good thing. Unfortunately for Sunoco, a third “swimming-pool-sized” sinkhole has just opened up in the same general area as two others, in West Whiteland (Chester County, PA)…
