Shell promised jobs, prosperity, and a "good neighbor" approach when they built their $14 billion plastics plant in Beaver County. Instead, our community got pollution, frequent malfunctions, and health risks, while Shell cashed in on $1.65 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies. Now, reports indicate Shell is considering selling off its chemical assets, including the Beaver County plant. If they want to leave, they must be held accountable before they walk away.
Since becoming operational, the Shell Polymers Monaca plant has been plagued by:
- 70+ malfunctions leading to flaring, excess emissions, and shutdowns
- 33 notices of violation for exceeding pollution limits and violating environmental laws
- Multiple pending lawsuits related to pollution and operational failures
While Shell executives praise the plant’s "stable production," local residents continue to deal with the consequences of repeated pollution events. Now, instead of fixing these problems, Shell wants to sell the plant and cut its losses – leaving our community to deal with the mess.
Before any sale takes place, Shell must be held responsible for the damage it has caused and ensure the community isn’t left with yet another corporate disaster. Here’s what we must demand:
1. Full Financial Responsibility for Cleanup & Environmental Damage
- Shell must fully fund independent environmental testing and ongoing air and water monitoring.
- Shell should be required to remediate any contamination caused by its operations before the sale is finalized.
- Shell must establish a long-term cleanup fund to ensure future pollution issues tied to the facility are addressed.
2. No More Public Handouts
- Shell received $1.65 billion in tax subsidies; if they’re leaving, they should pay it back or reinvest it in community-driven projects.
- No future tax breaks should be given to another petrochemical company without public input and strict conditions.
3. Independent Oversight of the Sale Process
- A third-party environmental and safety audit should be conducted before any sale.
If Shell is planning to leave, they cannot be allowed to walk away without cleaning up their mess. We must demand that Shell fulfill its responsibilities before it sells the Beaver County plant to yet another corporate polluter. While this potential sale is still speculative, BCMAC will keep the community updated every step of the way and ensure residents have the information they need to demand transparency, accountability, and justice if Shell decides to move forward. Together, we can hold Shell accountable and fight for the future our community deserves.
Hilary Flint
Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC)