PA Environment Digest Blog

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 7 PA Bulletin announcing a December 17 public meeting and January 7 public hearing on the first Title V Air Quality Permit for the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Potter and Center Townships, Beaver County. (PA Bulletin, page 7370)

DEP said it intends to issue the initial Title V permit for this facility with the provisions outlined in the proposed Title V permit.

Potential emissions from the sources covered under this proposed Title V operating permit are 455.13 Tons Per Year (TPY) Nitrogen Oxides, 1,214.35 TPY Carbon Monoxide, 509.99 TPY Volatile Organic Compounds, 7.39 TPY single Hazardous Air Pollutant, 23.44 TPY total Hazardous Air Pollutants, 27.24 TPY Sulfur Dioxide, 184.02 TPY PM-10 Particulate, 178.15 TPY PM-2.5 Particulate, and 2,566,563 TPY Carbon Dioxide.

The Shell Title V permit application has been under DEP review since July 2024.

Submitting Comments

Persons who wish to provide the Department with additional written information that they believe should be considered prior to authorization of the Title V operating permit or object to the operating permit or proposed condition thereof, may file a written protest with the Department.

Click Here to use this link to submit written information and comments by December 7-- 30 days after this notice.

Persons seeking additional information or who are unable to access this link should contact Thomas Joseph, P.E., Environmental Engineering Manager, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 at 412-442-4336 or at tjoseph@pa.gov for additional guidance.

Public Meeting

The December 17 meeting will be held at the Penn State Beaver Campus Auditorium 100 University Drive in Monaca from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. where the public will have an opportunity to learn about this proposed Air Quality Title V operating permit and ask questions.

Public Hearing

The January 7 public hearing will be held at the Penn State Beaver Campus Auditorium 100 University Drive in Monaca from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. where the public will have an opportunity to present oral testimony regarding the proposed Air Quality Title V operating permit.

Anyone wishing to present testimony should contact Emily Green, Southwest Environmental Justice Coordinator, at emgreen@pa.gov or at 412-442-4042, no less than 24 hours in advance of the public hearing to reserve a time to present testimony.

Persons unable to attend the hearing may submit written statements and exhibits by January 17-- 10 days after the hearing.

Click Here to use this link to submit written information and comments.

The Department will respond to any questions or concerns raised during the hearing, or during the public participation process, through a comment and response document prepared after the close of the public participation process.

Reviewing Application

The notice says a copy of the draft Title V Air Quality permit will be available on DEP’s Shell Facility Information webpage.

The Title V permit is also available for in-person review at the DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive in Pittsburgh during normal business hours.

Click Here to arrange for a file review appointment or contact the office by calling 412-442-4000.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. (PA Bulletin, page 7370)

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Resource Links - Shell Plant:

-- DEP Issues Another Extension Of Air Quality Plan Approvals Allowing Temporary Operation Of The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County; Title V Application Still Under Review Since July 2024 [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Air Quality Plan Approval For As-Built Air Pollution Controls, Wastewater Treatment Plant At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA Election Results: Democrats Now Control PA Senate, Retain PA House, Governor’s Office [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: All Brine From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Contains Hazardous Pollutants, Why Are We Still Dumping It On Our Roads? - By David E. Hess, Former Secretary, PA Department Of Environmental Protection [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 72: INR OPR LLC Still Collecting Contaminated Water, Building Structures To Recover Water At Cooper Shale Gas Pad From August Spill Of 336,000 Gallons Of Fracking Water In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 135: Contaminated Water Discharges Continue, Still Fails To Comply With Cleanup Order At Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 609: Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. Failed To Take Actions Or Respond To Violations At 2 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Routine Inspections Find 6 More Anderson Energy SVC LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Venango County [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Dec. 8 In-Person Community Update On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Jet Fuel Pipeline Rupture Cleanup In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves $150,000 Penalty Settlement With UGI For Faulty Plastic Natural Gas Pipe Installation Practices [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Reports Low-Flow Stream Conditions Trigger Stop To 51 Shale Gas Water Withdrawals, 13 More Put On Watch Status [PaEN]

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board Meet Nov. 10 On Fossil Fuel Impacts On Communities, Mapping PA’s Energy Infrastructure [PaEN]

-- Lehigh University Joins PA Team To Turn Aging Shale Gas Well Into Geothermal Power Source In Indiana County; Studies Show Geothermal Could Meet 100% Of PA Electricity, Heating, Most Industrial Needs [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Winter Outlook: Power Supplies Should Be Available To Meet Expected Cold Weather Conditions [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun: Republican Senate Environmental Chair Gene Yaw Expects To Work With Democrat Majority; His Priorities: Legalizing Recreational Marijuana; Not Destroying The Natural Gas Industry; Legalizing Skill Games

-- MonValley Independent: Pennsylvania Opens New Loophole For Conventional Oil And Gas Wastewater Disposal On Roads

-- TheDerrick.com Guest Essay: Fossil Fuel Industry Follows Big Tobacco’s Disinformation - By Kathy Mulvey, InsideSources.com

-- KYW: Jet Fuel Pipeline Struck During Construction In Bridgeport Boro, Montgomery County

-- Rolling Stone - Justin Nobel: Ohio Denies Evidence Of Fracking Waste In Drinking Water, Its Own Records Show Otherwise

-- Inquirer: A Hard Winter Is Coming For PA Homes That Heat With Oil

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: How Will EQT’s Plan To Buy Range Resources Affect Natural Gas Market? [Data Centers, Price Shaped By Global Events]

-- Financial Times: President’s Diesel Fuel Deal With Russia Falters As 2 Tanks Change Course Away From US

-- Wall Street Journal: President Pushes To Restore Russian Natural Gas Sales To Europe Via Ukraine

-- Financial Times: Petrol Prices Set To Hit Record High Under President’s Administration

[Posted: November 6, 2026] PA Environment Digest

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

November 7-- In-Person. PA Forestry Association Annual Forest Symposium In State College

November 10-- Agenda Posted. Joint DEP Citizens Advisory Council + DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 12:30 a.m. Read more here on agenda.

November 10-- In-Person. DEP meeting/hearing on renewal of NPDES Water Quality Mining Activities for the LCT Energy Rustic Ridge #1 underground coal mine in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County. St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, 170 School House Lane, Donegal. 6:00 p.m.

November 10-- Virtual. Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health. 7:00 p.m.

November 10-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Youngsville, Warren County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 10-- In-Person. Green Building Alliance Hosts Resilient Reading Progress Report -- Revitalizing Buildings And Strengthening Community In Berks County

November 11-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Smethport, McKean County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 12-- DEP Public Water System Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting Nov. 12. (formal notice)

November 12-- In-Person. PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts In-Person Southeast Regional Watersheds Workshop In Montgomery County.

November 12-- Virtual. PA Interfaith Power & Light, Partners Host Webinar -- Canopy Calling: Tree Equity From The Roots Up, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

November 12-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Tionesta, Forest County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 13-- WeConservePA: 2026 Municipal Open Space Summit. Chester Springs, Chester County.

November 14-- In-Person. Regenall Climate Summit In Lancaster County. 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

November 14-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Volunteer Riparian Buffer Plantings. City of Lancaster, Lancaster County. 9:00 a.m.

November 16-- DEP - PA Energy Development Authority Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m.

November 16-- Virtual. Western PA Conservancy Webinar On Freshwater Mussel Conservation Plan To Help Guide Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania. Noon.

November 17-- In-Person/Virtual. Public Utility Commission To Hold Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 18-- Agenda Posted. DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets Nov. 18 On Conservation And Wildlife Law Enforcement. 10:00 a.m. Read more here.

November 18-- In-Person. DEP hearing on proposed revisions to the State Air Quality Implementation Maintenance Plan for the Lancaster Nonattainment Area for Fine Particulate. DEP Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00 p.m. (formal notice)

-- In Memoriam: Ronald D. Castille, Former Chief Justice PA Supreme Court, Author Of 2013 Landmark PA Environmental Rights Amendment Decision [PaEN]

-- Green Philly Announces 2026 SustainPHL Award Recipients Celebrating Philadelphia's Environmental Changemakers [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Winter Outlook: Power Supplies Should Be Available To Meet Expected Cold Weather Conditions [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Dec. 8 In-Person Community Update On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Jet Fuel Pipeline Rupture Cleanup In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]

-- KYW: Jet Fuel Pipeline Struck During Construction In Bridgeport Boro, Montgomery County

-- PUC Approves $150,000 Penalty Settlement With UGI For Faulty Plastic Natural Gas Pipe Installation Practices [PaEN]

-- Lancaster-based Belmont Solar Celebrates 25 Years Of Installing Solar Energy Systems, Promoting A More Sustainable Future [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Ambridge Borough Flips Switch On New Rooftop Solar Energy System Saving Taxpayers $509,000 In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EOS Energy Storage Manufacturer Begins Shift To Larger Production Facility

-- PUC Approves New Rules To Allow Certain Duquesne Light Customers To Automatically Enroll Certain Customers In Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs

-- PennLive: A Mountain Of Coal Waste Is Burning, For Mount Carmel Twp., The Scars Run Deeper In Northumberland County

-- November 7 -- Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- WPSU: Crews Battle Wildfires In McKean, Clinton Counties As Region Sees ‘Abnormally Dry’ Weather

-- Warren Times: Wildfire Reported In Allegheny National Forest’s Bradford Ranger District

-- DCNR Fall Foliage Report Nov. 5 to 11: Enjoy The Last Few Days Of The Fall Foliage Season [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA: Voters Approved 3 Local Ballot Measures Resulting In $182 Million In New Open Space Investments [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 9 Webinar - Advice From The Woods - Ask Our Experts [PaEN]

-- WITF: Exploring The Appalachian Trail’s Stories And Community In Central PA

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Pittsburgh’s Indiana Jones: Archaeologist Discovered Early Signs Of Human Habitation In Washington County

-- TribLive: Fox Chapel Aims To Protect Unique Biodiversity Of Alamander Park In Allegheny County

A.I./Data Center - Politics

-- TribLive: Western PA Voters Question Whether Midterm Election Results Will Make A Difference [Data Centers, Skill Games, End Name-Calling, End Focus On Culture Issues]

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: PA Democrats Have The Votes In Senate, House, Here’s What They Want To Change - Minimum Wage, Boosting Education, Expanding Health Care, Legalize Marijuana [PA Senate Democrats Mentioned Data Centers]

-- Warren Times: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Bradford Era: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Carlisle Sentinel: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- BBC: Associated Press Poll Finds 56% Of 79,000 Midterm Election Voters Surveyed Said Data Centers Were A ‘Crucial or Major’ Factor In Their Votes

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: Salem Township Solicitor Could Make Millions On A.I. Data Center Community Benefit Agreements In Luzerne County

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: A.I. Data Center Complex In Middlesex Twp., Cumberland County Is Years Away From Being Operation; But Local Tax Revenue, Benefits Have Started

-- Observer-Reporter: Cecil Township Moves Toward Enacting A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Washington County

-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Township Holds A.I. Data Center Ordinance Hearing In Lycoming County

-- Scranton Times: Archbald Planning Commission Down To 3 Members After Resignations, Need 1 More For Quorum To Address 8 A.I. Data Center Proposals

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

-- South Mountain Partnership Issues White Paper On Potential Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers, Finds Them Incompatible With Some Regional Economic, Natural Resource Goals [PaEN]

-- PUC Updates Comment Schedule On New Tools To Manage Data Centers During Emergency Periods Of Strained Electricity Supplies And Curtailments To Maintain Grid Reliability; Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Data Center Costs [PaEN]

-- Shapiro Administration: PJM Interconnection Selects 3 PA Projects In Expedited Program To Add 1.7 GW Of Generation, Energy Storage To Grid; DEP Accepting New Proposals By Nov. 16 [PaEN]

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- November 6: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Down 2 Pennies Since Yesterday $4.38/Gallon - $1.27/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County $4.65 Highest Average Price]

-- November 6: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.06 Ohio- $3.91 PA- $4.38

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98 Ohio- $2.79 PA- $3.11

Other States/National/International

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Federal Judge Temporarily Pauses Republican West Virginia Attorney General’s Investigation Of Environmental Groups Over Allegations They Were Misleading Consumers, Harming Energy Companies

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- TribLive: Western PA Voters Question Whether Midterm Election Results Will Make A Difference [Data Centers, Skill Games, End Name-Calling, End Focus On Culture Issues - Comment: No One Mentioned $15 Minimum Wage]

-- Warren Times: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Bradford Era: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Carlisle Sentinel: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- BBC: Associated Press Poll Finds 56% Of 79,000 Midterm Election Voters Surveyed Said Data Centers Were A ‘Crucial or Major’ Factor In Their Votes

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

-- AP: Latino Voters Swing Left In Midterm Elections Lifting Democrats To Wins In Texas, Pennsylvania Over Immigration And Economic Concerns About Making Ends Meet

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Claims He Was Key To PA Democrats’ Success In The Election, Is He Right? [Comment: Anti-Data Center, Energy Cost Issues Flipped 4 State Senate Seats To Democrats]

-- TribLive: President’s Dept. Of Justice Sues Penn State Over In-State Tuition Policy For Undocumented Students

-- TribLive: President’s ICE Rewarded Butler County Sheriff’s Office With $200,000 For Its Help: Here’s What It Bought; Immigrant Advocate Says It’s ‘Blood Money’

Click Here for latest PA Environmental News

Like PA Environment Digest on Facebook

Follow PA Environment Digest on Twitter