[Editor's note: since this article was submitted, the suspension has been lifted on ME2 construction, making an independent risk assessment more urgent than ever.]

There is No regulatory body in Pennsylvania that has jurisdiction over the planning the ME2 route with regards to public safety. As long as the DEP approves the route for environmental factors, it can be run wherever they like. Although Sunoco and Energy Transfer Partners have done a cost benefit analysis and decided they could afford to put over 100,000 people in danger, there is no available risk assessment for public review.

I am asking our townships publically address the relationship of corporate oil and gas interests and our state government with rapidly growing pipelines carrying NLG's for overseas consumption through our state. 

Township supervisors in each community can help by putting this issue on their agenda, to consider positive, morally based and well defined goals for the benefit of the health of our environment and community members. Ask - Who bears the risk? Who benefits? There is no severance tax nor an emergency relief fund from the oil industry that can cover the costs lost to homeowners and schools and business.. Pennsylvania is Ignoring laws to curtail the possible damages - to residents, property values and our water supplies by doing a Risk Assessment.

I propose our townships and boroughs demand a positive reply to the unanswered six thousand signature petition delivered last October 17th to Governor Wolf. It calls for Title 35 of our PA State Constitution to be enforced. It states the Governor has the authority to order a Risk Assessment by a reputable outside agency of any new hazard or threat to our environment. Title 35 puts a similar responsibility on every elected official to weigh these factors and be prepared for emergencies.

Our current state process has allowed permits to ME2 without fulfilling all the requirements of the State DEP. There are grave doubts about how this was allowed. Without any enforcement capability, the Department of has which has been proven incapable of protecting residents. Hundreds of home owners whose wells have been ruined can attest to this. The Governor needs to finally order a risk assessment using his constitutional authority. From all accounts to date, it will show how unprepared we are to handle any disaster. It will show that the material being carried in the pipelines is not needed for our use in PA. It will stipulate the egregious behavior of Energy Transfer Partners building ME2. It will show lack of concern for geological facts and dangerous corporate overreach. These are our laws, and should reflect the best interest of our residents.

Government leaders should engage in long term planning and management of our resources. It is a part of our State Constitution. It is necessary and appropriate for government to reflect the will of the people over profits for a technology that is banned elsewhere. Environmental rights are not just a slogan, but a responsibility for the State to protect. The facts show that Sustainable Energy creates more jobs with safe, clean technologies. The plans for huge increases in extraction and hundreds of miles of new pipelines are not in our long term interests. Fossil fuels are being widely rejected as a bad long term investment. More clarity about these matters will bring attention to our choices. Our public policy should benefit the many, not a select few.

At this point, there is a fund being raised By Residents, for local Risk Assessment in Chester County, which have been done by our State Government. This shows the deep unanswered concern of residents. https://www.gofundme.com/citizens039-risk- assessment-of- me2

A publically shared and fully transparent state wide risk assessment is warranted to restore trust and integrity to our commonwealth. This has become a national discussion. Let's move forward together to educate the public and enforce all laws to protect health and safety.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Britton Seyler |
Uwchlan Township resident | Member of Uwchlan Safety Coalition
Contact : Susan.peacepartners@gmail.com