ALSO SEE: The Hazards of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline

Protesters Block Construction of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline

By Wesley Robinson, PennLive

11 October 17

ctivists may have lost the legal battle against the the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline, but on Monday they began their "non-violent mass action" in Lancaster County.

From 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9, Lancaster Against Pipelines activists blocked access to pipeline construction space on Whitmer Road near Safe Harbor in Manor Township. Around 35 people in 18 vehicles blocked access to a road in Manor Township Monday morning, according to an LNP report.

Police were called to the scene but no citations or arrests happened. The demonstration halted when police ordered protestors to stop, according to the report, which also noted that no work was done because of the weather.

Last month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Williams Partners permission to begin construction on the 197-mile stretch of the $3 billion Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline in Pennsylvania. Protesters in Lancaster County have fought against the 37-mile portion of the pipeline that will pass through parts of the county, but ultimately lost legally and with the sale of land where demonstrations were staged.

The organization has a legal defense fund, should it's members encounter need bail money during any protest. Anti-pipeline organizers said they will continue non-violent action to preserve clean air and water, describing the pipeline's impact on the 350 waterways crossed, 250 wetlands bisected, 44 interior forests permanently fragmented, and violated 41 preserved farms and scores of Native American heritage sites. 

Future plans for demonstrations had not been released at the time of this post.