Sunoco pipeline portable toilet in Lebanon County target of arson

(Lebanon) — South Londonderry Township police are investigating what police say could be a case of eco-terrorism involving the Sunoco Mariner East pipeline project.

A portable toilet used by contractors installing the pipelines near Chestnut Hill and Kreider roads has been set on fire twice in the past week, according to police Chief William Reigle. Both incidents were reported by a passerby.

The first fire occurred Sunday morning shortly after 7:30 and destroyed the toilet before it could be put out by the Campbelltown Volunteer Fire Co.

The second fire occurred about 4:20 a.m. Thursday when crews from Campbelltown and Lawn were both dispatched. The portable toilet was again destroyed. 

No injuries were reported in either fire.

Lebanon County Fire Marshall Mike Tribioli said he was called to the scene immediately on Thursday morning. Although there was not much left of the portable plastic toilet, he was able to rule it a case of arson.

“I went right after the fire department called and it was completely gone,” he said. 

It is not clear if the vandalism was related to the controversial pipeline, which when completed will pump natural gas liquids from western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to Sunoco’s Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia.

Sunoco expects the pipeline to be completed sometime in the third quarter of 2017, according to its website.

Two pipelines will likely soon cross the Lebanon County landscape. Here’s what to expect during pipeline construction. By Daniel Walmer

This article is part of a content-sharing partnership between WITF and the Lebanon Daily News.