The Environmental Integrity Project and Clean Air Council have announced that they intend to sue the new Shell cracker plant in Beaver County for having repeatedly violated air pollution limits.
The attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project, Sarah Kula, said in a statement that “Shell has blown through permit limits in the first few months of operation, putting nearby communities in harm’s way.”
“Shell must be held accountable under the law and take appropriate steps to prevent illegal pollution going forward,” she added.
On his part, Alex Bomstein, legal director for Clean Air Council, said: “What we are asking for really is simple to get back to the limits that they told the state they could comply with.”
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“These aren’t limits that the state unilaterally imposed on them with no back and forth. This is a permitting process that took place over a number of years, and Shell has said these are conditions we can live with, so what we’re saying is, you said you can live with these conditions, live with those conditions,” Bomstein said.
Reacting to the announcement, Shell Polymers Monaca said: “We have no comment as we are reviewing the notice. Shell Polymers Monaca remains committed to safe, environmentally responsible operations that are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.”
Story was adapted from WTAE.
