Sunoco Pipeline L.P. v. PA State Senator A.E. Dinniman & PUC

CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedSeptember 9, 2019
Docket1169 C.D. 2018
StatusPublished

This text of Sunoco Pipeline L.P. v. PA State Senator A.E. Dinniman & PUC (Sunoco Pipeline L.P. v. PA State Senator A.E. Dinniman & PUC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sunoco Pipeline L.P. v. PA State Senator A.E. Dinniman & PUC, (Pa. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Sunoco Pipeline L.P., : Petitioner : : v. : No. 1169 C.D. 2018 : Argued: June 3, 2019 Pennsylvania State Senator Andrew : E. Dinniman and Public Utility : Commission, : Respondents :

BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge1 HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION BY PRESIDENT JUDGE LEAVITT FILED: September 9, 2019

Sunoco Pipeline L.P. (Sunoco) petitions for review of an interlocutory order of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) that affirmed, in part, an interim emergency order of its Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The PUC amended the emergency order to permit its immediate appeal to this Court. On appeal, Sunoco argues that the PUC erred because the complainant, Pennsylvania State Senator Andrew E. Dinniman, lacked standing to file the underlying complaint with the PUC. Senator Dinniman disclaimed personal standing, and Sunoco contends that the Senator failed to establish grounds for legislative standing. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand. Background Sunoco is a public utility regulated by the PUC. Sunoco operates a pipeline, known as Mariner East 1 (ME1), and is constructing two new pipelines,

1 This matter was assigned to this panel before September 1, 2019, when Judge Simpson assumed the status of senior judge. known as Mariner East 2 and 2X (ME2 and ME2X). The Mariner East pipelines transport natural gas liquids from the Marcellus and Utica Shale Basins through and within the Commonwealth, with a terminus at Sunoco’s Marcus Hook Industrial Complex in Delaware County.2 Senator Dinniman represents the 19th Senatorial District, which includes West Whiteland Township (Township) in Chester County. In April 2018, he filed a formal complaint (Complaint) with the PUC seeking to enjoin Sunoco’s operation of ME1 and the construction of ME2 and ME2X in the Township. Senator Dinniman’s Complaint alleged that during construction of the underground path for ME2 and ME2X, several sinkholes developed.3 One of the sinkholes caused ME1 to become exposed and damaged the pipeline’s underground support. In addition, homeowners in the Township experienced problems with their water service, including diminished water pressure and discolored water. The Complaint alleged that Sunoco had failed to warn and protect the public from danger and had failed to select a safe pipeline right-of-way that would avoid existing homes, industrial buildings and places of public assembly. In addition to the Complaint, Senator Dinniman filed a petition for interim emergency relief to enjoin the operation of ME1 and the construction of ME2 and ME2X in the Township.4 As did the Complaint, the petition alleged that the

2 A complete factual background on the Mariner East pipeline project is set forth in this Court’s decision in In re Sunoco Pipeline, L.P., 143 A.3d 1000 (Pa. Cmwlth.), appeal denied, 164 A.3d 485 (Pa. 2016). 3 Prior to the Senator filing the Complaint, on March 7, 2018, the PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement petitioned for an ex parte emergency order to suspend the operation of ME1 because a sinkhole exposed the pipeline at one location. The PUC suspended Sunoco’s operation of ME1, but on May 3, 2018, the PUC reinstated ME1’s operation. 4 Senator Dinniman filed the emergency petition pursuant to Section 3.6 of the PUC’s regulations, which states, in pertinent part, as follows: 2 construction and operation of Sunoco’s pipelines raised serious public safety concerns. He requested the PUC to issue an emergency order to stop Sunoco from operating or constructing the pipelines in the Township while the merits of the Complaint were litigated. In the Complaint and petition for emergency relief, Senator Dinniman asserted standing as a legislator. In support, Senator Dinniman pointed to his responsibilities as a state senator:

 He represents the 19th Senatorial District, which includes West Whiteland Township;

 He represents individuals in the 19th Senatorial District who have been affected by Sunoco’s Mariner East pipeline project;

 He is a member of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee;

 He is a member of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee;

(a) A party may submit a petition for an interim emergency order during the course of a proceeding. The petition shall be filed with the Secretary and served contemporaneously on the Chief Administrative Law Judge and on the parties. (b) To the extent practicable, a petition for an interim emergency order must be in the form of a petition as set forth in §5.41 (relating to petitions generally). A petition for an interim emergency order must be supported by a verified statement of facts which establishes the existence of the need for interim emergency relief, including facts to support the following: (1) The petitioner’s right to relief is clear. (2) The need for relief is immediate. (3) The injury would be irreparable if relief is not granted. (4) The relief requested is not injurious to the public interest. 52 Pa. Code §3.6. 3  He is a member of the General Assembly with the authority to receive, review and comment upon the Governor’s annual expenditure plan for the Environmental Stewardship Fund under 27 Pa. C.S. §6104, which funds part of the Chester County Conservation District and its oversight of the watersheds and water supply of West Whiteland Township;

 He receives annual, mandatory reports from the PUC under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa. C.S. §§320, 1327; and

 He serves on the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, which recommends policies, guidelines and best practices to guide expansion of pipeline infrastructure in the Commonwealth.

Reproduced Record at 9a-10a, 31a-32a (R.R. __). Senator Dinniman asserted that these duties supported his claim of legislative standing. The emergency petition was assigned to an ALJ, who conducted two days of hearings. Senator Dinniman testified that he filed the emergency petition in his “capacity as a state Senator.” Notes of Testimony, 5/7/2018, at 121 (N.T. __); R.R. 90a.5 Sunoco objected to Senator Dinniman’s standing for the stated reason that Sunoco’s operation and construction of the Mariner East pipelines in the Township will not impact the Senator’s ability to propose or vote on legislation, which is the essence of legislative standing. Both parties presented evidence on whether an emergency order was warranted. On May 21, 2018, after reviewing the evidence, the ALJ entered an emergency interim order directing Sunoco to cease operation of ME1 and all

5 At the hearing, Senator Dinniman indicated that he could also bring the petition in his personal capacity. Subsequently, in his brief in support of the emergency petition, Senator Dinniman clarified that he initiated the proceeding solely in his official capacity as a senator.

4 construction of ME2 and ME2X until the PUC disposed of the Senator’s Complaint. The ALJ determined that Senator Dinniman had legislative standing to pursue the action, explaining that, “his participation in this matter relates to his official duties as a Senator for the affected district.” Interim Emergency Order, 5/21/2018, at 6. The PUC reviewed the Interim Emergency Order. On June 15, 2018, it affirmed in part and reversed in part the ALJ’s order. The PUC vacated the injunction as to the operation of ME1 but upheld the injunction as to the construction of ME2 and ME2X. The PUC rejected Sunoco’s challenge to Senator Dinniman’s standing.

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Bluebook (online)
Sunoco Pipeline L.P. v. PA State Senator A.E. Dinniman & PUC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sunoco-pipeline-lp-v-pa-state-senator-ae-dinniman-puc-pacommwct-2019.