Home / Environment / Beaver County Residents Demand Accountability for Shell Plant's Air Pollution Violations
Beaver County Residents Demand Accountability for Shell Plant's Air Pollution Violations
8 Nov
Summary
- Shell plant's air permit to be certified despite repeated air quality violations
- Beaver County remains in ozone pollution non-attainment area
- Residents report ongoing issues with flaring, odors, and air quality since plant opened
In a concerning move, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced plans to certify the air permit for Shell's plastics plant in Beaver County as meeting federal "reasonably available control technology" (RACT) requirements for ozone pollution. This certification, published in the Oct. 4 Pennsylvania Bulletin, claims Shell's permit already contains the necessary controls to meet the 2015 Clean Air Act ozone standards.
However, the plant's record of dozens of notices of violation, including rolling 12-month exceedances of nitrogen oxides (NOx), suggests otherwise. Beaver County residents living near the Shell facility have endured repeated flaring events, strong chemical odors, and ongoing air quality issues since the plant began operations.
Notably, Beaver County remains designated as a nonattainment area for ozone under the 2015 federal standard, indicating the region's air still fails to meet health-based limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency. This designation reflects the ongoing challenges in controlling smog-related pollution that can harm respiratory and cardiovascular health.
The DEP's decision to certify Shell's permit without transparent public review or meaningful on-site inspections is deeply concerning to local residents and advocates. They argue the regulators are prioritizing expedience over evidence and accountability, disregarding the community's firsthand experiences with the plant's malfunctions and violations.
