Pennsylvania Residents File Class Action Lawsuit Over Jet Fuel Pipeline Leak

Unknown amounts of jet fuel and other petroleum products have leaked into water sources in Mount Eyre, Pennsylvania, lawsuit claims.

Residents of a Pennsylvania township have filed a class action lawsuit against several energy firms, alleging that a pipeline managed by these companies has been leaking jet fuel and other petroleum products into the community’s water sources.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Daniel and Katherine La Hart in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County on March 26, naming Sunoco Pipeline LP, Energy Transfer LP and Energy Transfer (R&M) LLC as defendants. 

The lawsuit claims that the leaked jet fuel and other contaminants from the pipeline permeated the local groundwater system, which feeds into the private wells that residents of Mount Eyre rely on for all drinking, cooking, bathing and other necessities.

Exposure to jet fuel in the Mount Eyre community’s water supply poses severe health risks to residents. When used for drinking, cooking or even bathing, this contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, as well as neurological effects such as headaches. Additionally, it may lead to respiratory complications, especially in vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

In their complaint, the La Harts mention that residents of Mount Eyre, Pennsylvania, began noticing signs of a pipeline leak, such as a faint odor, as early as September 2023.

Although residents reported signs of the leak as early as 2023, it wasn’t until January 31 of this year that Sunoco and Energy Transfer officially confirmed the allegations, acknowledging that a pipeline near Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, had begun leaking jet fuel and other petroleum products.

Since the leak was acknowledged, one residence in Mount Eyre notably discovered a substantial layer of jet fuel, approximately 12 feet deep, atop its private well. Yet, the full extent of the leak remains unclear as the defendants have not released further specifics, according to the complaint.

The La Harts state that the Mount Eyre community is unique in that most residents use private water wells for all their water needs, and that historically, this water has been known for being free from chlorine and other added chemicals as well as containing naturally occurring minerals that give it a fresher taste than most municipal water supplies.

“Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein has devastated the community and caused significant contamination to the groundwater under the neighborhood, creating critical health and safety risks to the residents who live there, and causing other consequential harms detailed herein,” the complaint says.

The La Harts are raising claims of negligence, gross negligence, negligence per se, strict liability — abnormally dangerous or ultrahazardous activity, public nuisance, private nuisance, trespass, negligent infliction of emotional distress and medical monitoring against Sunoco and Energy Transfer.

They are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and medical monitoring on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated.

Water Contamination Lawsuits

Upper Makefield Township is not the only area that has suffered in recent years from water contamination due to toxic chemical leaks.

Concerns about the impact of widespread water contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) firefighting foam and other consumer products have become widespread in recent years. 

AFFF is a firefighting foam that contains PFAS, which are a group of man made chemicals used to resist grease oil and water, and have recently been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer, ulcerative colitis, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease and other serious side effects.

Due to the chemicals’ widespread use since the 1950s, and their inability to naturally breakdown in the environment, PFAS have infiltrated local water systems not only through runoff from AFFF used during firefighting training exercises at military bases, but also from industrial discharges where these chemicals have been dumped into waterways by manufacturing facilities.

The health risks posed by the widespread PFAS water contamination have resulted in more than 8,000 AFFF lawsuits being filed by firefighters who were directly exposed to the chemicals, and by those who unknowingly ingested PFAS chemicals in their drinking water for years.

Each of the complaints raise similar allegations that the manufacturers knew, or should have known about the cancer and other adverse side effects of PFAS chemicals, yet failed to warn firefighters or prevent widespread water contamination.