Shell's Beaver County Cracker Plant Bounces Back After $10M Violation Fine

United States: Shell has announced that it will restart operations at its Beaver County cracker plant following an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the local community. The company has agreed to pay nearly $10 million for violations and acknowledge that it exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants. As per the consent order and agreement, Shell has also agreed to make necessary repairs to reduce future exceedances.

According to a statement released by the governor's office, Shell has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of almost $5 million, with 25% of the amount being allocated for local communities. Additionally, an extra $5 million will be allotted towards environmental projects. According to the Shapiro administration's report, the communities neighbouring the Potter and Center townships' plant will receive a sum of $6.2 million.

According to the governor's office, Shell will be required to pay extra civil penalties every month for the remainder of the year if it exceeds its emission limits. The company was found to have gone over its 12-month rolling total emission limits for volatile organic compounds, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and hazardous air pollutants during certain periods after it opened last year. Shell claimed that some of the emissions were due to malfunctions and expected to surpass the emission limits during the commissioning phase leading into fall, but not during normal operations.

Shell has been cited by the DEP for multiple violations, including flaring and malodor violations at its wastewater treatment plant. As a result of these findings, Shell paused operations to address the issues. However, following the consent order and agreement, the governor's office has confirmed that Shell intends to resume operations at the plant on Wednesday.