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Clean Air Council Leads on Protecting Pennsylvanians from Hazardous Liquid Pipelines

View of Mariner East sinkhole repair by homes (Credit: State Impact)

View of Marine East sinkhole repair by homes (Credit: State Impact)

View showing how close the Mariner East pipeline runs to a high school (credit: Fracktracker)

View showing how close the pipeline runs to a high school (credit: Fracktracker)

Pennsylvania’s unique geology includes unstable limestone formations, called karst. These pipelines carry volatile gasses that are compressed under great pressure into liquid. If the pipelines rupture, heavier-than-air gasses would rapidly blanket the surrounding area, potentially suffocating anyone in range, and the slightest spark could ignite the highly flammable gasses. So, it seems obvious to avoid building where the ground might crumble away, leaving the pipeline unsupported. Yet Sunoco historically neglected to adequately check its construction sites, too often with disastrous results, and now fights the Public Utility Commission’s proposed safety regulations. Read More.

By Annie Fox, Law Clerk

Has your water been contaminated because of the Mariner East pipeline construction? Contact the Attorney General's Office by Friday, Aug 19th to request free water testing.

Communities in Western PA Need EPA’S Proposed Methane Rule

The Council worked with Protect Penn-Trafford (Protect PT), a local organization in Westmoreland County, to inform the Penn Township Zoning Hearing Board that Olympus Energy was proposing to use technology that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon ban in its upcoming federal standard to cut climate-changing methane and smog-causing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the known carcinogen benzene.

By Russell Zerbo, Advocate

Reduce Traffic Pollution During Cycle September (and beyond)

During Cycle September and Bike Month in May, the Council uses the Love to Ride online platform to encourage people of all experience levels, backgrounds, and identities to challenge themselves to bike for transportation.

By Maya Frydman, Transportation Outreach Coordinator

The Council Celebrates Executive Director Joseph Minott's 40 Years Commitment to the Environment and Leading the Council

Over 40 years, Joe Minott has become a sought after environmental voice and leader across Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. We have cleaner air and water thanks to Joe’s leadership and dedication.

Make a Gift in Joe's Honor

Keeping Renovo Healthy

Renovo, PA residents oppose a gas fired power plant in their backyard

Learn more about Renovo Residents for a Healthy Environment at healthyrenovo.org.

In the sixth installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council,” we travel to Renovo, PA, to talk with residents opposing a proposed power plant right in town. Renovo, PA is a designated environmental justice community and small idyllic town in North Central PA, where Virginia-based multinational engineering corporation, Bechtel Corporation, is proposing to develop the Renovo Energy Center gas-fired power plant. This power plant is being planned to be less than 30 feet from homes and businesses, just north of Erie Avenue in Renovo, PA. The plant would be the fourth largest industrial polluter of greenhouse gases in Pennsylvania and would emit more greenhouse gases than the City of Pittsburgh. Learn from residents Sue Cannon, Maureen Rhul, and Michelle Whitney why this gas fired power plant is unwanted, unnecessary, and will provide no benefits to residents – only burdens. Listen and learn.

What's the Deal with the Inflation Reduction Act?

Yesterday, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law. The Council applauds the passage of this historic climate package, which contains $369 billion in climate and clean energy investments, and which preliminary modeling analysis shows will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 40% (from 2005 levels) by 2030.

These investments will lower costs for clean energy technologies for families and businesses and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy we so desperately need. It will also create millions of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in the process and help prevent thousands of premature deaths by 2030.

This bill also puts a price on climate-changing methane pollution from oil and gas companies that don’t comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s upcoming pollution standards for new and existing oil and gas facilities. This legislation will also help vulnerable communities deal with the current effects of climate change.

While not a perfect bill, it's a moment to celebrate the single most significant climate action we have ever taken as a country.

The Clean Air Council’s Leeannah McNew protested at the Congressional baseball game in D.C. and outside Senator Bob Casey's office recently, said our politicians cannot ignore the multiplying tragedies across the country. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

“Because this moment arrived after such long, difficult negotiations, we must also acknowledge this is a compromise bill. It does contain troubling giveaways to the fossil fuel industry and could threaten communities that have already suffered disproportionate impacts from fossil fuel pollution. Clean Air Council plans to closely analyze the forthcoming separate bill resulting from these negotiations that will deal with permit reforms. Still, even as the fight to protect against the worst impacts from climate change moves forward, we can breathe a well-deserved sigh of relief that the historic amount of good included in this bill far outweighs the bad. Today is a day to celebrate long-awaited federal climate action.”

Read the full press release.

- Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Clean Air Council Executive Director and Chief Counsel

Meet Two of the Newest Council Staffers

Interview with Paul Cohn, Staff Attorney

"I think too few Pennsylvanians know they have a state constitutional right to a healthy environment. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinvigorated that right in 2017, when I was working for the Council as a legal fellow. I was excited to come back and continue the work of ensuring our courts appropriately interpret and protect that right, which I hope might serve as a national model one day."

Interview with Leeannah McNew, Social Media and Communications Coordinator

"People seem to think posting an infographic, resource, or quote [on social media] is enough when it’s just one part of what you can do to fight the climate crisis. Take the energy you’re putting online offline and bring it into your life.”

📣 Take Action

Has your water been contaminated or impacted because of Mariner East pipeline construction? Contact the Attorney General's Office by Friday, Aug 19th to request free water testing.

Tell the EPA to finalize the strongest air pollution regulations possible

Urge EPA to deny Penneco Environmental Solutions's permit for a gas drilling wastewater injection well in Allegheny County

Submit an official comment to Philadelphia’s Air Management Services to better regulate toxic air pollution and reduce cancer risks from pollution emitted by large industrial facilities. Public comments due September 9th!