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1. Why hasn't Upper Uwchlan Township stopped Sunoco from converting Mariner East 1 or from building Mariner East 2 in our community?

Because Upper Uwchlan Township did not have any regulatory authority over the repurposing of Mariner East 1 and has not had any regulatory authority over Sunoco’s proposed construction of Mariner East 2. Upper Uwchlan Township does not have enforcement or regulatory authority over the location of underground transmission pipelines, or whether a pipeline is constructed by horizontal directional drilling or open trench construction, or the type of product that will flow through the new pipelines or any of the existing pipelines.  To the extent there are regulations for underground transmission pipeline siting, methods of construction or use, they are enforced by federal and state agencies.  

2. What is the evacuation plan if there is a pipeline accident?

It depends on the incident.  There is no one size fits all response to a pipeline accident, or any other kind of accident or emergency. In some cases, emergency responders will want people to stay in place because they already are safe. In others, they will want people within a certain vicinity of the incident to evacuate. The extent and direction of an evacuation would depend on the nature of the accident, weather conditions at that time and any other factors affecting conditions on the ground.

If there were a major pipeline emergency, many fire, ambulance and police departments would respond. There would be numerous first responders on the scene working to get people to safety. As a result, people near the emergency would find out quickly what they should do.

3. When will our emergency responders receive training about NGL pipelines?

They already have.  Every year, first responders from our local fire companies and Chester County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team receive hazmat training to respond to incidents involving natural gas, natural gas liquids and many other types of hazards.  They are trained and prepared to respond to a pipeline emergency and will direct people where to go (or stay) to be safe.

4. Will I ignite an explosion if I use my cell phone near a leak?

This scenario is not impossible, but it is very unlikely.  You would have to be close enough to the leak in an environment that has the exact mixture of flammable vapors and air required for ignition, and even then, the chance of the phone as an ignition source is small. The many benefits from calling in an emergency or receiving emergency notifications far outweigh the small risk of a spark.

As a reminder, if you smell or hear gas outside that you think may come from a leak, please walk away before calling 911.

5. How would I know I was near a leak of natural gas liquids since they are colorless and odorless?

The Mariner East 2 pipeline will be at least 4 feet underground.  The portions of the pipeline installed by horizontal directional drilling will be anywhere from 20 to 220 feet underground.  If there is a leak deep underground, you will not see it.  The first likely sign will be a decrease in pressure detected by the pipeline system, which would trigger shut off.  Required inspections also can detect issues that may arise inside the pipe or with the protective coating.

For leaks closer to the surface, here is guidance:    

• Because pipelines transporting NGLs are pressurized to keep the product in a liquid form, you would hear a hissing sound from a leak, like air coming out of a balloon.
• Similarly, if the leak occurred in water or even a puddle, the pressure would cause bubbling.
• NGLs that leak into the atmosphere typically would form a visible vapor cloud, like white mist or smoke, as water molecules in the air condense when mixing with the cold gas.  Because the vapors from the NGLs are heavier than air, they would tend to hang low to the ground.
• If the leak is underground but close enough to the surface to impact vegetation, you may see dead grass or a brown spot in otherwise healthy vegetation, or an isolated area of frost on the ground.

Companies transporting natural gas to end users, such as PECO, often add odorant to add in detection.  Sunoco cannot add odorant to the NGLs in the Mariner East system because of the potential end uses of the products, such as textiles and plastics.

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1. I was involved in a vehicle accident. How can I get a copy of the report?

The person requesting a copy of the report must fill out a "Request For Police Report" form. Copies of accident reports cost $15. Applicants must present photo identification when requesting a report. Request For Police Report Form

2. I need to get fingerprinted for employment or security reasons. Where can I get this done?

Fingerprinting services are offered at the following facilities:

UPS Store, 64 E. Uwchlan Avenue, Exton, PA 19341; 610-524-8722
(Route 113 in Lionville near Ron’s Schoolhouse)

Chester County Intermediate Unit, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA 19335;
484-237-5018
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:00– 12:30 & 1:30 – 6:30; Friday 9:30 – 12:30
Persons must be registered to be fingerprinted. Call 1-888-439-2486 to register.

Visit http://www.cciu.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=129 for more information regarding fingerprinting sites.

3. How can I close off the street for our neighborhood's block party?

All requests for road closures are done by sending correspondence to the chief of police. The chief reviews all requests for road closures. Contact the chief of police at (610) 458-5862.

4. I need a criminal history check for employment purposes. How do I arrange to have one done?

You can get a criminal history check by visiting the Pennsylvania State Police website. They have a form that you can fill out for a background check. Background Check Information

5. How can I get people to stop soliciting at my door?

Come to the Police Department's administrative office to fill out a No Solicitation Request Form. Your name will then be added to a no solicitation list. The Police Department is located at:
140 Pottstown Pike
Chester Springs, PA 19425

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1. The resident at the end of my street has greenery that keeps me from safely seeing to exit my street. Can something be done?

Yes. A notice can be left with property owners to remind them that they must trim their foliage for safe sight distance at the intersection. If they do not respond in a reasonable amount of time, then we will cut what is necessary to make it safe. This is not always to the liking of the property owners, so it is best if they do it themselves.

2. Is the township responsible for trees in rights of way?

No. Trees are owned by the property owner, not the township. During a storm, the township will respond to clear a tree from a roadway; however, the the final tree removal and cleanup is the responsibility of the property owner.

3. Can I get the township to fix a pothole on my street?

Yes. You can report the location of a pothole by calling the Public Works Department at (610) 458-9400 or by filling out our online form. A public works representative will temporarily fill the hole with cold patch to make the road safe. We will return at a later date to complete the repair properly with hot asphalt mix.

Report a Pothole Online

4. Who paints the lines in the roadways?

All long lines are painted by a professional line striping contractor who was successful in the competitive bid process. Crosswalks, arrows, and legends are painted by either in-house employees or contractors. Bid List

5. My mailbox was pushed down by a snow plow. Will you replace it?

The township will reimburse you for up to $35 with a receipt if:

• The mailbox was physically hit with the plow, not the snow coming off of the plow
• The post was installed properly
• The post was otherwise in good condition

If the post was installed incorrectly, rusted, rotted, or thinned by a weed-whacker, we are not responsible for the mailbox. Residential Mailbox Standards

6. Are there specifications for installing mailboxes?

The front of the mailbox door should be installed 6-8 inches back from the face of the curb at a height of 41-45 inches. United States Postal Service Mailbox Standards

7. Why do you plow in my driveway after I have shoveled it out?

It is the township's policy to open all roads wide enough for emergency vehicles first. After that is complete, we then start to clear back as close to the curb as possible so that the mail carrier can get to your mailbox. We continue this operation until the snow has stopped falling, and we are able to push the snow back to the curb. During large snowfalls, this is not always possible. Some shoveling by the resident may be necessary at the mailbox. As a tip, do not shovel the last 4-5 feet of your driveway until the plows are done.

8. The township has cut the trees in front of my property, and they do not look good. Will you come fix this?

The township trims trees that hang over the roadway when we get complaints from trucks and buses that use the roadway. These trees and bushes hit their vehicles and break their mirrors. This trimming is for the safety of the motoring public, and we cut only what is necessary to make it safe. We will not return to re-cut.

It is the property owner’s job to maintain the trees on their property. Trees should be 12-14 feet above the road and should be cut back behind the curb line.

9. Can cars be parked on the street during a snow storm?

Cars cannot be parked on the street during a snow storm. If you do not have room for all of your vehicles in your driveway, please make arrangements with a neighbor to use their driveway during snow and ice removal events.

It is costly for the township to return to areas where cars were parked during a snow storm. It is also hard on the township's equipment to remove snow that has refrozen under a car. Finally, cars parked in the street can easily be damaged by plows.

10. Who should I call if I see a traffic sign on the ground?

If it is a stop or yield sign, call the township at (610) 458-9400 right away. If the office is closed, please call the Police Department at (610) 692-5100. This is a very serious condition, and the Public Works Department will respond as soon as possible.

For all other signs, please feel free to file a report via the Township website.

Report a problem with a street sign

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1. How is the assessment of my home determined?

The township does not assess homes. Assessment is done at the county level. Contact the Chester County assessment office at (610) 344-6105 for questions about an assessment.

2. What is an interim tax bill?

Interim tax bills cover the period in which a change in a property's ownership or assessed value was effective. For example, if the ownership of a property changes in October, and the property tax bills are mailed out in March of the following year, an interim tax bill will be sent for that time period once the assessment office forwards the information to the township.

3. If I have an escrow account through my mortgage company, what should I do with tax bills?

If you have an escrow account, you should forward both copies of the bill to the mortgage company for payment. Bills are only mailed to the property owner, not to the mortgage company.