On Monday a massive explosion occurred at an Energy Transfer-owned natural gas liquids pipeline near Houston, Texas. As a result, a towering fire continues to burn at the site two days later. 

In response, Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, organizer at Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement:

“This massive explosion and towering fire, which continues to burn two days later, should remind every Pennsylvanian of the horrible safety record Energy Transfer has here in Pennsylvania. And it should frighten everyone in proximity to the dangerous Mariner East pipelines it owns. Energy Transfer’s history of criminal conduct during the pipelines’ construction, coupled with the state’s abject failure to properly regulate this industry, spells potential disaster for communities all along the many hundreds of miles these ill-fated pipelines travel across our Commonwealth.”

The  explosion in Texas was reportedly caused by a vehicle crashing into a valve station. In Pennsylvania, Energy Transfer has also put Mariner East valve stations in close proximity to  busy roads and schools, surrounded by nothing more than chain link fences. When the Pa. Public Utility Commission proposed new hazardous liquids pipeline regulations in 2019, community members and others pushed for more stringent protections, including vehicle-proof barriers to prevent pipeline failure from vehicular damage caused by accident or act of terrorism. When final rules were finally issued earlier this year, vehicle barriers were included but for future pipelines only – not Mariner East. 

Ms. Marcille-Kerslake continued, “New pipeline regulations still do nothing to stop companies from siting this dangerous fracking infrastructure in densely populated communities, near backyards and schoolyards, forcing this unnecessary, unmitigated and unacceptable risk on Pennsylvanians. This week’s explosion in Texas confirms yet again that pipeline accidents happen often – and the harm can be catastrophic.”