PHMSA, Hold a PUBLIC Falcon Pipeline Townhall

Karen Lynch, PHMSA Community Liaison; Tristan Brown, Acting Administrator PHMSA; Robert Burrough, Eastern Region Director, PHMSA

Serious safety concerns regarding Shell's Falcon Pipeline’s construction have been reported. The pipeline may have been constructed with defective corrosion coating protection, witnesses have reported instances of falsification of records and reports, and witnesses have reported instances of retaliatory firings by Shell Pipeline Company.

State environmental agencies have responded to calls to respond to these concerns by saying they do not have jurisdiction over the operation of the pipeline. It is therefore incumbent upon the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) at the federal level to respond to these very real concerns by taking responsibility for the safety of this pipeline before it goes online and increases the risk to the communities along the route.


To learn more about the history of the Falcon Pipeline and the vocal opposition to its construction and operation, click here: https://www.fractracker.org/projects/falcon-public-eia/

To: Karen Lynch, PHMSA Community Liaison; Tristan Brown, Acting Administrator PHMSA; Robert Burrough, Eastern Region Director, PHMSA
From: [Your Name]

In 2018, residents of the Ohio River valley in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania voiced serious concerns about whether it would be safe for people and the environment to construct and operate Shell's Falcon Pipeline. With the issuance of various permits, we were told that the pipeline met and exceeded existing standards for pipeline construction and future operation.

Was that a lie?

Whistleblowers from the project have indicated that the pipeline may have been constructed with defective corrosion coating protection, and witnesses have reported instances of falsification of records and reports by Shell Pipeline Company.

As impacted and concerned residents of the Appalachian region, we demand that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration respond to community concerns related to the Falcon Pipeline by holding a public town hall, at which the agency is transparent about the risks to residents along the route, the potential damage operation of the pipeline could do to our communities, and the accountability measures they are prepared to take against Shell Pipeline Company.

We told regulators years ago that this project was not safe; and by all currently available information, we were right. Now, we are asking for information and full transparency. Hold a public town hall.