West Pikeland opposes Sunoco’s try for public utility status
“Township supervisors said they will support other public entities in Chester County by writing to the state Public Utility Commission asking it not to grant public utility status to Sunoco Logistics for its Mariner East project.
Sunoco is in the process of seeking the designation for its pumping stations and valve controls in 31 municipalities across Pennsylvania for its Mariner East Pipeline.
The issue first came to light in the county in West Goshen, where Sunoco is proposing a pumping station for the line. After appearing before township officials there several times, Sunoco switched gears and decided to seek public utility status so it wouldn’t have to get local approvals from the municipalities the line runs through.
West Pikeland supervisors’ Chairman Ernie Holling said public utility status raises questions of what Sunoco would have the authority to do, such as, “Do they have the right to essentially do whatever they want and do they have eminent domain?”
Sunoco has argued it is already a public utility corporation and should be granted the same rights for its above-ground facilities. Opponents say that the company should abide by local government ordinances for its facilities.”
Dunbar, GInger and Kendal Gapinski. Daily Local News 19 June 2014.