PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP To Review Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Under Environmental Justice Policy Enhanced Public Participation Process

On December 18, the Department of Environmental Protection said the agency will review the Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit application under the “enhanced public participation process” established in its Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy holding local stakeholder meetings, one or more public meetings and a hearing.

DEP made the comments in response to an inquiry about the agency’s public participation plan for the application.

Shell submitted the Title V Air Quality application for the Beaver County facility on June 19 and DEP accepted the application as administratively complete on July 2. Read more here.

DEP spokesperson Lauren Camarda said, “While DEP will consider the public’s feedback on an operating permit application at any time,” the first step in the enhanced public participation process will be for the DEP Office of Environmental Justice to hold stakeholder meetings in the area.

“DEP will hold initial stakeholder meetings this winter with community organizations that have been active in the area and with Shell's permit applications,” said Camarda. “These meetings are to allow individuals and groups to share concerns and comments with DEP and for DEP to answer questions and gain insight to improve our broader public participation process.”

Camarda said the formal public comment period on the application would start “if/when DEP” publishes notice in the PA Bulletin, other media and its website announcing the availability of a draft Title V operating permit for comment.

“If/when DEP notices a draft Title V Operating Permit, DEP intends to hold at least one public meeting followed by a public hearing at a later date on the draft Title V Operating Permit,” said Camarda.

“DEP will prepare plain language summaries for the public on the application and [review] process and will ensure that paper copies of the application are available at a location in the community in addition to DEP's community information webpage,” she explained.

“These public events will be led by DEP's Office of Environmental Justice which has been engaging with community groups and area residents regarding the facility and the Title V Operating Permit application review process,” said Camarda.

She added, “DEP's review of Shell's Title V Operating Permit application is ongoing.”

A copy of the Title V permit application and information on any public meetings and a hearing will be available on DEP’s Shell Petrochemical Complex webpage.

Resource Links:

-- DEP: Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Application Complete, Now Posted On DEP's Website [PaEN]

-- DEP Extends Air Quality Permits For Temporary Operation Of Shell Petrochemical Plant; No Schedule Posted Yet For Considering Full Title V Air Quality Permit [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations: Similar Action In 2023 Resulted In $10 Million Settlement [PaEN]

-- No Decision Posted Yet From DEP On Whether Flare Gas Chemical Makeup, Volume At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Is Confidential Business Information [PaEN]

-- Shell Falcon Pipeline LP Pleads No Contest To Criminal Charges For Violating The State Clean Streams Law In Allegheny, Beaver, Washington Counties; Will Pay $300,000 In Penalties [PaEN]

-- DEP: Shell Petrochemical Plant Pays Additional $2,671,044.75 In Civil Penalties For 12-Month Air Quality Violations After May 2023 Consent Order [PaEN]

-- 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]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 14 to 20 -- Shale Gas Wells Abandoned For 42 Months; Failure To Cleanup Conventional Well Spill For 19 Months; Gas Pipeline Land Slump [PaEN]

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP: Diversified Production LLC Failed To Plug 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells For 42 Months + At Least 9 Other Shale Gas Wells Abandoned [PaEN]

-- DEP: Apollo Resources, LLC Failed To Comply With Order To Cleanup Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill 19 Months After It Was Discovered In Fayette County [PaEN]