By: Rachel Meyer, Ohio River Valley Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: November 20, 2025
About: State Implementation Plan Revision Concerning Reasonably Available Control Technology Determinations for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard 04-00740 | SHELL CHEMICAL APPALACHIA
To: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Shell Chemicals Appalachia’s permit requires the addition of more pollution controls to ensure the Clean Air Act’s ozone standards are met and families are protected.
My family’s home is near Shell’s petrochemical complex in Beaver County. Due to the pollution from this facility, I frequently worry about how the air quality is impacting my six year old daughter and all the children in the area. Children are uniquely vulnerable to toxic chemicals such as benzene, 1,3-butadiene and other hazardous volatile organic compounds which Shell has a track record of releasing above their limits. These pollutants can cause cancer, neurological problems, respiratory problems, and birth defects.
In addition, Shell has continued to exceed their rolling 12-month emissions limit for nitrogen oxides. Together, VOCs and nitrogen oxides can form ozone. We live in a county designated as a nonattainment area for ozone under the 2015 federal standard. Having excessive ozone means our health is at risk. For those like me with asthma and for the 3,153 children with asthma living in Beaver County (American Lung Association), this can mean more trips to the doctor, increased medication, and even more trips to the emergency room. For children, who take more breaths per minute than adults, ozone can interfere with normal lung development. It is often communities already facing adversity who are impacted the most by all of this pollution. This holds true in Beaver County where Shell is located in close proximity to the Environmental Justice communities of Aliquippa, Ambridge, Baden, Beaver Falls, Bridgewater, Center Township, East Rochester, Industry, Leetsdale, Midland, Monaca, New Brighton, Potter Township, Rochester, and Vanport.
Shell has 85 malfunctions listed on the PA DEP website, and this is a facility that has only been operational for three years. The 85th malfunction is dated June 9th, 2025. With Shell’s track record of malfunctions, it is highly probable that number has grown since that date. For a facility of its size with a history of malfunctions and violations, increased technology standards for detecting pollution are needed. On numerous occasions when the public has been concerned about unusual sights and smells at the plant, the DEP has visited and reported that they did not detect any smells simply by breathing the air, and no further known investigations were conducted. This is unacceptable. The DEP should require that Optical Gas Imaging cameras be used to detect leaks during DEP inspections. In addition, Shell should be required to install automated OGI systems to notify operators about potential leaks continuously. The DEP should also require Shell to establish stationary VOC monitors with real time publicly accessible air monitoring data so residents can determine whether Shell and the DEP’s leak detection protocols are properly functioning.
More technology should be required for Shell Chemicals Appalachia’s RACT certification to strengthen monitoring, hold Shell accountable, and to better protect our children.