Search Results for: shell cracker

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Same Two Enviro Groups Sue Shell Cracker for 2nd Time in 17 Months

In May 2023, two radicalized Big Green groups—the Environmental Integrity Project (based in D.C.) and the Clean Air Council (based in Philadelphia)—filed a lawsuit against the Shell Polymers Monaca Plant (ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA), claiming the plant has repeatedly violated federal air pollution limits (see Radical Antis File Lawsuit Aiming to Shut…

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Shell Cracker Air Quality Permits from PA DEP Temporarily Extended

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended three temporary air permits for the Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca, PA, which would have expired at the end of April. The extended permits will suffice until Shell files for and receives what is called a federal Title V Operating Permit for air emissions from…

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Shapiro Admin Uses Shell Cracker Money for Quid Pro Quo

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have — on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May 2023, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million…

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Beaver, PA Resident Sues Shell Cracker Claiming Pollution

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its new multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have — on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May 2023, the company agreed to pay nearly $10…

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Ctte Doling Out $5M in Shell Cracker Shakedown Cash Sets Criteria

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its new multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have–on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million in fines…

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PA DEP Forms Ctte to Dole Out $5M in Shell Cracker Shakedown Cash

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its new multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have–on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million in fines…

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Green Activists Complain to Wrong Agency re Shell Cracker Violations

Last Thursday around 30-40 environmental activists (anti-fossil fuelers), along with a handful of local residents, rallied in Beaver, PA, before showing up for the Beaver County Commission regular meeting. The protesters, who want the Shell ethane cracker plant shut down, vented their concerns about the plant to county commissioners. The three county commissioners listened while…

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Shell Cracker Agrees to $10M Shakedown from PA, Restarting Now

In March, Shell said its Pennsylvania ethane cracker facility had not–using new, more accurate methods of measuring emissions–violated emissions limits at any point during the facility’s somewhat troubled startup (see Shell Claims PA Cracker Plant Did Not Exceed Air Emissions Limits). However, the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says it did exceed emissions limits,…

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Air Monitors Detect Benzene at Fenceline of Shell Cracker in Monaca

Air monitors at Shell’s ethane cracker plant detected elevated levels of benzene (which can cause cancer in humans) following an April 11 malfunction. However, an industrial hygienist told attendees at Tuesday night’s webinar session with local residents that the levels of benzene detected at the cracker’s community-adjacent fenceline during and after the release were too…

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PA DEP Investigates Bad Odor Coming from Shell Cracker Plant

The mighty Shell ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA (called Shell Polymers Monaca) has had “issues” getting and staying fully up to speed. Since it officially went online last November, Shell has received six separate notices of violation (NOVs) for exceeding allowable air pollution limits, largely related to repeated flaring episodes (see PA DEP Issues…

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PA DEP Issues Three More Air Pollution NOVs to Shell Cracker

The mighty Shell ethane cracker has had “issues” getting and staying fully up to speed. Since it officially went online last November, Shell had received three separate notices of violation (NOVs) for exceeding allowable air pollution limits, largely related to repeated flaring episodes, as of the end of March (see our stories about NOVs for…

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Shell Cracker Flares Again, Shuts Down Part of Plant for Repairs

The mighty Shell ethane cracker seems to have “issues” in getting and staying fully up to speed. We’ve previously reported on a series of emergency flaring episodes at the plant (see Shell PA Cracker Plant has Another “Emergency” Flaring Episode). Over the weekend, Shell announced (via Facebook) it was shutting down part of the cracker…

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Final Piece of Shell Cracker Air Monitoring System Now Online

Four “fenceline” air monitors that continuously (24/7/365) sample the air looking for volatile organic compounds from the mighty Shell ethane cracker facility in Beaver County, PA, went live in February. The Continuous Air Monitoring System (CAMS) data is available on the Shell website, showing data in 15-minute increments for the entire day.

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PA DEP Hits Shell Cracker with Emissions NOV, Antis Seek Shutdown

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) early last week to the Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, now called the Shell Polymers Monaca facility, for the third time since it officially began operation last November. In a letter dated Feb. 13 (copy below), the DEP…

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Shell Cracker Plant Forced to Flare Again Following “Malfunction”

It hasn’t been a problem-free startup for the mighty Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, now called the Shell Polymers Monaca facility. We’ve noted some of the more prominent issues as we’ve spotted them in the news. Things like the plant exceeding allowed air emissions (see PA DEP Issues Violation to Shell…