Delaware County Council using aerial surveillance footage and social media to pressure the shutdown of pipeline workers. Citing concerns over lack of social distancing, mask-wearing and hand washing.

"Delaware County Council and the Chester County Board of Commissioners have sent a letter to Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Dennis Davin, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to address concerns of the operations of the Mariner East Pipeline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delaware County and Chester County officials have received multiple complaints from residents who have observed pipeline workers not obeying social-distancing rules, not just in the performance of their work, but also in the informal activities on and around the worksite. Residents have sent photographs of pipeline workers closely congregating, traveling in common vehicles and not wearing masks.

The failure of Energy Transfer workers to conform to the Governor’s mandates regarding social distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing, and other critical behaviors, could add more patients to local hospitals’ caseloads. The continued work on the pipeline by its very nature poses an indisputable risk of an industrial accident, which also would strain the local health care infrastructure.

Officials stated in the letter, “During the current public health crisis, when our residents are staying home to achieve the common good, no special exemption should be provided to Energy Transfer in its construction of the Pipeline. This project, and its owners and investors, should share in the general sacrifice, and receive no special treatment.”

More details can be found here:
https://www.delcopa.gov/…/…/2020/covid_pipelineconcerns.html"