Pipeline Safety Coalition was founded in 2011 on the belief that the public is entitled to access to information needed to make well-informed decisions about the full range of impacts and risks of fossil fuel pipeline operation and development on local communities and the environment. Pennsylvania has certainly kept us busy since then! However, we have worked all over the United States and world with local residents, legislators, educators, scientists and engineers, and other non-government organizations on the various safety aspects of the fossil fuel pipeline system.
Since 2011, we have responded to requests for educational “What You Need to Know and Why” workshops throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington State, California, and New Orleans for audiences of landowners, government officials, and safety advocates.
We are a member of collaborative work group efforts in over eight states in the United States, and on the Pipeline Safety Trust Advocacy group “Pipeline Safety Advocates.”
We have authored/coauthored and/or facilitated 20 US DOT PHMSA TAG projects focused on education and technical research to enhance community pipeline safety.
How We Got Started
Lynda Farrell our Founder and Executive Director resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania and has over 20 years of personal experience in landowner and local government interactions with pipeline operators. In those years Lynda has developed and maintained relationships with government and non-government agencies on state, national and federal levels as well as pipeline operators, industry agencies and citizens across the nation. A farmer and educator by profession, Lynda brings a holistic approach to pipeline safety education and community research.
In 2008, a 7.5 mile Williams Transco pipeline project spawned a grassroots effort in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Disenfranchised in their attempts to find accurate information regarding personal and environmental safety in pipeline construction, 71 out of 167 landowners chose eminent domain proceedings over signing easement agreements they did not understand.
By 2009, twenty of the landowners had formed an ad-hoc community group: Citizens Coalition for Environmental and Property Protection in Pipeline Operations (2CE3PO). Volunteering time and personal expense they provided equal access to factual, unbiased information in pipeline safety issues to citizens, local/state and federal representatives. 2CE3PO vowed to form a dedicated coalition so that others would not endure the years of frustration and hardship they had faced.
The goal of a dedicated coalition was achieved in 2011 when Pipeline Safety Coalition was formed. Our mission then was “To gather and serve as a clearinghouse for factual, unbiased information; to increase public awareness and participation through education; to build partnerships with residents, safety advocates, government and industry; and to improve public, personal, and environmental safety in pipeline issues.”