Shell pauses operations to address malfunctions after public meeting
POTTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Shell cracker plant in Beaver County hasn't been in operation for six months yet and it's already pausing operations.
During a meeting Tuesday night, the company said it wanted to address some malfunctions, and the community said it was also the first time they've had a public meeting since the plant opened.
The meeting lasted about an hour and a half. For some, they feel the company didn't give them any complete answers on their questions.
After multiple incidents, people living near the Shell cracker plant want to know what is going on in their backyard.
"The fact that Shell is not taking this more seriously, being more proactive, investigating people's health symptoms, that is concerning for me," said Rachel Meyer, who lives in Beaver County.
There have been multiple flare-ups since it opened and then an odor incident earlier this month.
The company said benzene was part of that odor, but they claim the chemical wasn't in high enough concentration to cause any issues. The situation was a result of a wastewater malfunction.
"The safety of our employees and the community is always our top concern. We recognize that we need to continue to share this information with you," the cracker plant general manager Bill Watson said.
Neighbors and environmental groups aren't buying it. They feel their health concerns have been downplayed by the company and not taken seriously.
"It's not just a matter of 'I don't like how it smells.' It's important for the public to understand that and it's important for the company to not try and hide that fact," Alex Bomstein with the Clean Air Council said.
The word every group and neighbor who spoke with KDKA-TV used was "transparency." They want the plant to be more forthcoming with information about any malfunctions or release of chemicals.
"If they were a good neighbor, they would be informing the community so the community could do what is best," Meyer said over Zoom.
The plant's general manager said they want to work with the community and stressed how they are neighbors who live here too.
"As your friends and your neighbors, we believe in telling the truth and maintaining that hard-earned trust," Watson said during the meeting.
That trust is fractured right now. Neighbors said if the company wants it to be repaired, they need to be good on their word and follow regulations.
No word yet on when the plant is expected to resume operations. For neighbors, they hope this shutdown addresses and fixes the malfunctions that have happened so far.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement:
"Shell notified DEP on April 6, 2023 that it had shut down production facilities at the plant while it made repairs. DEP did not order a shutdown of operations. During the shutdown, Shell is obligated to comply with its permits and the environmental laws and regulations. DEP continues to have personnel available, is regularly conducting inspections and responding to incidents and public complaints, and will take compliance actions as appropriate. DEP provides documents of its compliance and enforcement actions on its website."