The Shell cracker plant in Monaca, Beaver County, is under the microscope again.Executives from the plant report they activated another ground flare this week. Information from the Shell company indicates the flare is in response to a compressor trip, resulting in noise that those nearby may have heard.The company also says people nearby may see a glow from the ground flare as hydrocarbons are re-introduced into the system.An environmental advocacy group on Wednesday called Eyes on Shell criticized Shell for flaring gasses for three hours Tuesday evening. Eyes on Shell reported light and noise pollution impacts up to 10 miles away.“When you see the pictures, it looks like a sunrise or sunset until you remember this is 10 o’clock at night, and it shouldn’t be looking like that,” Earthworks Petrochemicals Campaigner Anaïs Peterson said.Through Earthworks, Anaïs Peterson advocates for groups, like Eyes on Shell. She said the company gave no warning before the flare.“We were waiting for any word from Shell during the incident. Shell did not post until this morning when they retroactively let the community know that they would be flaring,” Peterson said.Last month, Eyes on Shell and several other groups sent a letter to the PA DEP calling on the agency to halt operations due to the ongoing air pollution violations. So far, that has not happened.“It has been incredibly frustrating that Shell has right off the bat been such a terrible neighbor,” Peterson said.Dominick Treemarchi lives near the plant.“When I bought the property, I realized that the plant was going to be there– I never expected it was going to affect us the way it does– I am not here to shut nothing down. I just want them to live up to what they told Beaver County when they first planned on putting the plant here,” Treemarchi said.In the four months the plant has been operational, it has received three notices of violations.A flare in February caused black smoke, triggering a violation against visible emissions, according to Eyes on Shell.
The Shell cracker plant in Monaca, Beaver County, is under the microscope again.
Executives from the plant report they activated another ground flare this week. Information from the Shell company indicates the flare is in response to a compressor trip, resulting in noise that those nearby may have heard.
The company also says people nearby may see a glow from the ground flare as hydrocarbons are re-introduced into the system.
An environmental advocacy group on Wednesday called Eyes on Shell criticized Shell for flaring gasses for three hours Tuesday evening. Eyes on Shell reported light and noise pollution impacts up to 10 miles away.
“When you see the pictures, it looks like a sunrise or sunset until you remember this is 10 o’clock at night, and it shouldn’t be looking like that,” Earthworks Petrochemicals Campaigner Anaïs Peterson said.
Through Earthworks, Anaïs Peterson advocates for groups, like Eyes on Shell. She said the company gave no warning before the flare.
“We were waiting for any word from Shell during the incident. Shell did not post until this morning when they retroactively let the community know that they would be flaring,” Peterson said.
Last month, Eyes on Shell and several other groups sent a letter to the PA DEP calling on the agency to halt operations due to the ongoing air pollution violations. So far, that has not happened.
“It has been incredibly frustrating that Shell has right off the bat been such a terrible neighbor,” Peterson said.
Dominick Treemarchi lives near the plant.
“When I bought the property, I realized that the plant was going to be there– I never expected it was going to affect us the way it does– I am not here to shut nothing down. I just want them to live up to what they told Beaver County when they first planned on putting the plant here,” Treemarchi said.
In the four months the plant has been operational, it has received three notices of violations.
A flare in February caused black smoke, triggering a violation against visible emissions, according to Eyes on Shell.
