Environment Advocates Challenge Shell Ethane Permits

Two environmental groups in the US state of Pennsylvania have appealed air permits awarded in June to Shell Chemical for a proposed ethane-based petrochemical complex near shale gas fields in the western part of the state.

Shell has purchased land for the project near Monaca, Pennsylvania, but has not yet confirmed plans to build the complex that would include a 1.5 million t/y cracker and three downstream polyethylene units with combined capacity of 1.6 million t/y.

Local press reports said the groups, Clean Air Council of Philadelphia and Washington-based Environmental Integrity Project, filed the complaint with the state Environmental Hearing Board on grounds the permit does not require enough protections to prevent further air pollution in an area where some pollutants are claimed to exceed national levels.

The four permits awarded by the state Department of Environmental Protection would allow the multinational group to proceed with preparation work at a former zinc plant. First Pennsylvania Resource has supplied the wetland and stream offsets needed by to be awarded federal and state permits for the project.