PA Environment Digest Blog: Beaver County Residents Call For Accountability, Emergency Preparedness After Dozens Of Malfunctions, Pollution From Shell Petrochemical Plant

On November 15, Beaver County residents joined with organizations from across the region to call for accountability and heightened emergency preparedness after dozens of malfunctions and pollution from the Shell Petrochemical Plant during its first year of operation.

The Shell Plant had over 26 malfunctions and received 13 notice of violations and was penalized $10 million by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The plant is the largest plastic production facility in the Northeast United States and sits on the banks of the Ohio River. It uses fracked ethane gas to create nurdles, the building blocks of single-use plastic.

"I refuse to sit back and let another Beaver County community go through what I've gone through following the train derailment in East Palestine. Elected officials here in Beaver County have to not only take care of sick residents, but work to prevent additional petrochemical disasters. That's why I'm here today and that's why I fight for transparency, accountability and justice. If our elected officials won't do it, We The People must step up, stand together and advocate for what's right," said Beaver County resident Hilary Flint, of Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC).

In its first year of operations, Shell exceeded four air permits limits for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hazardous air pollutants.

These pollutants include things like benzene, a known cancer-causing agent. Many public health experts including the World Health Organization agree that there is no safe level of exposure to benzene.

Shell is the largest emitter of Volatile Organic Compounds in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“The plant’s multiple malfunctions and permit violations send a clear message to the community that our families’ health and safety isn’t the priority, and it should be. We need greater protections for our families and an effective plan for getting communities critical information during spills, malfunctions, pollution releases and explosions. The county commissioners need to respond to residents' requests for a town hall to have an open dialogue about the communication process so we can better protect our own families,” said Rachel Meyer of Moms Clean Air Force.

"Being asthmatic, I've actually noticed a significant difference in my breathing, particularly at night when Shell appears to be most active,” said Beaver County resident Skyler Brimmeier. "I can't recall how many times I've had to walk outside in the morning and file a complaint to the regional DEP. Half my family has moved away because of Shell’s impact.”

“These massive plastic facilities are not just a threat when they malfunction, every day Shell operates in Beaver County it is putting the community at risk. This facility will never be able to operate safely and never be able to undo the pollution and damage it has caused over the past year. Shell can’t operate safely and that’s why we expect PA DEP to hold Shell to at least operate within the law,” said anaïs peterson of Earthworks.

Beaver County residents were joined by RiverWise, and representatives from Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, Food & Water Watch, Clean Air Council, Moms Clean Air Force, Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment, Mountain Watershed Association, Only One, Earthworks, Pittsburghers Against Single Use Plastic and more.

For more information, visit the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community website.

NewsClip:

-- Beaver County Times: Citizen Watchdogs, Activists Mark One Year Of Shell Petrochemical Plant Operations

Related Articles - Shell Petrochemical Plant:

-- DEP Signs Consent Order Including $10 Million In Penalties, Local Payments With Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County To Resolve Air Quality Violations; Plant To Restart May 24 [PaEN]

-- Steering Committee Releases Protocol To Allocate $5 Million Penalty Fund Related To The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- Earthworks Submits Video Evidence To DEP Of More Air Pollution Violations By Gas Flares At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- Eyes On Shell Reports Shell Petrochemical Plant Fenceline Monitors Found Benzene Emissions Above Toxic Substances Limits; No Timeline For Restarting Plant; DEP Issued Another NOV For Air Violations [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Three More Air Quality Violations To Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Related To Emergency Flaring, Exceeding 12-Month Air Pollution Limits [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Notice Of Violation To Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Quality Violations In Sept. - Oct. [PaEN]

-- Shell Petrochemical Plant Had 3-Hour Emergency Flaring Event To Burn Off Flammable Gases In Beaver County [PaEN]