The latest in the battle of Mariner East

There is no end in sight to the Battle of Mariner East.

If anything, it's heating up.

That's what happens when another sinkhole shows up in the same neighborhood where sinkholes forced the state to shut down the Mariner East project last winter.

That is in fact what they are dealing with in West Whiteland.

A 10-foot-deep sinkhole developed in a yard off Lisa Drive. A glance into the hole clearly shows the Mariner East 1 pipeline exposed for the second time in the area.

Sunoco and Energy Transfer Partners cite the heavy rains that fell Saturday night into Sunday and a drainage system that failed as the cause of the sinkhole.

Critics say it only reinforces their warning that karst formations in this region make it susceptible to such sinkholes and is another reason why the pipeline never should have been routed in this area.

And that's not all. The Chester County D.A. was a bit taken aback when his detectives who responded to the sinkhole Sunday discovered the company was using armed guards, or as he referred to them, "outside muscle," in the area of the sinkhole. He was not pleased. Neither are residents.

On today's editorial page, we take note of this latest problem with Mariner East, and a proposed suggestion to address the problem.

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