NORRISTOWN, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced it will host a combined public meeting and hearing on the proposed Plan Approval for the Ethane Chilling Expansion Project at the Energy Transfer Marketing & Terminals, L.P. (ETMT) – Marcus Hook Terminal (MHT), which processes, stores, and distributes natural gas liquids (NGLs). The meeting will be held from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at The Ballrooms at Boothwyn, 1405 Meetinghouse Road, Boothwyn, PA 19061. The community is invited to ask questions and receive answers from DEP’s program staff and ETMT’s staff. Following the meeting, a public hearing will be held to receive oral and written testimony regarding DEP’s intent to issue the Plan Approval.
ETMT has proposed to expand the ethane chilling capacity at the MHT from approximately 75,000 barrels per day (bpd) to approximately 85,000 bpd. ETMT applied for a Plan Approval (No. 23-0119K) to ensure that the Ethane Chilling Expansion Project meets all applicable Commonwealth and federal rules, regulations, and requirements. In order to economically and practically store and ship ethane, it must be chilled and kept in the liquid phase at temperatures below the ambient temperature. Keeping the ethane in the liquid phase minimizes volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions in the atmosphere and protects public health and the environment.
The facility is in an Environmental Justice (EJ) area. EJ areas are communities that are most vulnerable to environmental challenges. DEP is following its EJ Enhanced Public Participation Policy which was created to increase engagement in EJ areas and ensure the community can participate and be involved in a meaningful manner throughout the permitting process, when an existing facility expands its operations.
A notice of the public hearing appeared in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on August 5, 2023. Copies of the Plan Approval application, proposed Plan Approval, and other relevant information are available for public review; online or at the Mary M. Campbell Marcus Hook Public Library, 1015 Green Street; Suite B, Marcus Hook, PA 19061; or Marcus Hook Municipal Building 1111 Market Street, Marcus Hook, PA 19061; and at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Those who wish to offer testimony at the public hearing should register with Stephanie Berardi, Regional Communications Manager for DEP’s Southeast Region, at 484-250-5808 or by email at sberardi@pa.gov. Registration to testify will close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 2023. Oral comments are limited to three minutes per person and will be recorded. Registration is not required simply to attend the meeting. Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodations to participate in the proceedings should call through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how DEP may accommodate their needs.
Written comments of any length will be accepted until September 29, 2023, and should be sent to Mr. James D. Rebarchak, Environmental Program Manager, by email at ra- epseroaqpubcom@pa.gov, or by mail or hand-delivered to DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401. All comments, whether verbally during the hearing or submitted in writing, carry equal weight and consideration. DEP will prepare a comment and response document, after the public comment period closes, responding to all public comments received orally at the hearing and in writing prior to the deadline.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, visit its website.
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