(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff

(Potter Twp., Beaver county, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Shell for emissions exceedances at the Cracker Plant in Potter Twp.
DEP said in a release that during the initial startup of the facility in September and October, the cracker plant’s emissions of volatile organic compounds exceeded the limit set in its approved air quality plan. Emissions data from Shell in November also showed increases but not exceedances of other air contaminants like carbon monoxide and hazardous air pollutants
As part of its investigation, the DEP requested Shell submit a root cause analysis and description of efforts to minimize flaring and an emissions exceedance report and mitigation plan that evaluates the commissioning process from the facility.
The DEP said the notice of violation is just an initial step and it’s actively investigating and getting additional information, data and reporting from Shell.