To the Editor:
I watched the Hopewell Township Committee meeting on Monday January 12, 2026. At that time, I heard the Township Committee speak about the importance of the affordable housing requirements in Hopewell Township. I also heard that the Township Committee said that there were tests made on the SUNOCO Twin Oaks petroleum pipeline from Twin Oaks, PA to Newark, NJ and that the pipeline is fine in order to allow Lennar Homes to build The Venue over the SUNOCO pipeline.
I agree that there should be affordable housing in Hopewell Township. Even more important is the responsibility of the health of the citizens in our township. I request that you and the Hopewell Township Engineer and Health Department thoroughly evaluate this federal evaluation on this SUNOCO pipeline and present the outcomes to the citizens. I am sure that you will agree that the life expectancy of such a pipeline is 50 years, now this pipeline on Nursery Road is almost 70 years old. Also keep in mind that Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, PA, just over the Delaware River from Hopewell Township, NJ, has had jet fuel leaks from the SUNOCO pipeline that also comes into our township. Now, Upper Makefield Township is NOT suing SUNOCO, BUT the homeowners of that oil leak area are taking SUNOCO to court. I hope that the Hopewell Township government does NOT do what Upper Makefield government has done, and instead step forward and require SUNOCO to completely shut down the entire pipeline OR have SUNOCO replace the entire pipeline from Twin Oaks, PA to Newark, NJ.
It is NOT time for the Hopewell Township elected officials and the Hopewell Township Planning Board members to allow SUNOCO to continue to run antiquated oil pipelines through our township. I hope that you are thinking the utmost of the citizens of your township and not about the views of SUNOCO and Lennar Homes.
I would appreciate your responses on these important issues.
Sincerely,
Jim Burd
Titusville
