Marsh Creek Lake – (HDD 290)
This page was last updated on June 24, 2021
Accordion [2]
Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionOn April 22, 2021, DEP was advised of the discovery of an unknown substance on the banks of Marsh Creek Lake by the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). DEP coordinated with PFBC and DCNR, who both responded to the site on April 22 to observe and inspect the area. After conducting initial field tests, DEP collected 3 samples and sent them to a laboratory for chemical and XRD analysis to determine the makeup of the substance.
DEP has received the results of all laboratory analyses. The chemical analysis did not discover any chemical constituents that indicated the material was anything other than naturally occurring substances consisting of plant and decay products. The XRD analysis identified the samples as being primarily composed of quartz with traces of other native minerals. No bentonite was found in any of the samples. Those results are posted below. The sample analyses indicate that this substance is a naturally occurring material. No cleanup of the material is necessary. This investigation is now closed.
Laboratory Report
Marsh Creek Lake, located in Chester County, is approximately 535 acres and located in Marsh Creek State Park. As it relates to Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 project, this location is often referred to as
HDD 290.
On August 10, 2020, Sunoco spilled approximately 8,000 gallons of drilling fluid that impacted a wetland, two tributaries, and Marsh Creek Lake. On August 11, 2020, Sunoco experienced a subsidence at this same location. These two incidents resulted in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as well as other state and local agencies who responded to the incident, taking compliance and enforcement actions, and requiring Sunoco to mitigate, remediate, and restore the area.
This webpage has been created to collect and share the associated documents, reports, and submissions regarding this site. It will continue to be updated as new documents are submitted to DEP for review.
Currently Under Review
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Restart Report:
- August 17, 2020
Restart Report, submitted in response to the August 10, 2020 Inadvertent Report
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Major Amendments:
- On April 7, 2021, Sunoco submitted major amendment applications for both its Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) and Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction and Encroachments) permits requesting to amend or change the route and installation method of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline at the location of HDD 290. DEP reviewed these submissions and determined that the applications contained all necessary information to meet the completeness requirements of DEP’s regulations. Per its regulatory duty, DEP will now conduct a technical review of the amendment applications.
The public is invited to participate in this process through a public comment period and virtual public hearing. More information on those opportunities can be found below:
DEP held a virtual formal public hearing for the Mariner East II Pipeline Project on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The link to the transcript from the hearing is provided below.
Please note, the current version of the amendment applications below may need to be supplemented by Sunoco to address DEP comments generated during the course of DEP’s review of the amendment applications. Any additional correspondence received from Sunoco regarding these amendment applications, including any supplemental materials submitted in response to DEP comments, will be posted here.
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April 7, 2021 Chapter 102 Amendment Submission
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April 14, 2021 DEP Incompleteness Letter to Sunoco regarding the Chapter 102 Amendment Application
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April 20, 2021 Sunoco Resubmission in response to April 14 Incompleteness Letter
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April 26, 2021 DEP Completeness Letter to Sunoco regarding the Chapter 102 Amendment Application
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May 25, 2021, DEP Technical Deficiency letter to Sunoco
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June 1, 2021, Sunoco Response to May 25, 2021, Technical Deficiency letter regarding Chapter 102
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June 22, 2021, DEP’s Technical Deficiency #2 letter to Sunoco
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April 7, 2021 Chapter 105 Amendment Submission
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May 27, 2021, Tetra Tech, Inc., letter to US Fish and Wildlife Service re: PNDI Environmental Review
DEP Issued Permits and Approvals
Compliance and Enforcement
- August 20, 2017
Corrected Stipulated Order
- August 20, 2020
Notice of Violation (NOV)
- September 11, 2020
Administrative Order (AO)
- On September 25, 2020, Sunoco Pipeline, LP appealed the Administrative Order issued by DEP on September 11, 2020, to the Environmental Hearing Board. All documents, filings, and updates on this appeal can be found on the EHB docket for this case. –
EHB Docket
- October 1, 2020
Sunoco Response to AO and NOV
Remediation, Assessment, and Restoration
- August 14, 2020
Incident Report
- August 11, 2020
Drilling logs
- August 12, 2020
Drilling logs
- August 14, 2020
Current Conditions Report
- August 21, 2020
Current Conditions Report
- August 21, 2020
IR Assessment, Status Report and Remediation Work Plan
- September 2, 2020
Sediment investigation report
- On December 23, 2020, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) issued a
press release regarding the annual winter drawdown of Marsh Creek Lake. In coordination with DCNR, DEP requested a sampling plan from Sunoco to further assess the newly exposed lake bottom for bentonite.