DEP reviewed a plan approval application—that was later modified—for the construction and initial operation of the facility. DEP’s review is highly technical and complex, requiring reviews and modeling by engineers, meteorologists and other environmental professionals in DEP’s Southwest Regional Office and Harrisburg Central Office. After a thorough and complete review of the application and determination that the proposed activity can be done in a manner that complies with applicable rules and regulations—including the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards—DEP generates a proposed plan approval that includes specific conditions, including monitoring and reporting.
What’s New:
On November 14, 2023, DEP responded to an inquiry by Shell about how to treat circumstances when the ethane cracking furnaces are heated only by pilots and there is no hydrocarbon feed (“Pilots Only Operation”).
On September 11, 2023, DEP requested a control plan to address violations. The August 28, 2023 inspection report and September 11, 2023 notice of violation (NOV) contain additional information. On September 19, 2023, Shell requested an extension to the due date for the control plan.
On April 17, 2023, DEP requested a control plan to address violations. The April 3, 2023 inspection report, April 3, 2023 notice of violation, and March 27, 2023 malfunction report below contain additional information. On April 26, 2023, Shell submitted the control plan requested by DEP.
On February 17, 2023, Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), Clean Air Council, and Eyes on Shell sent a letter to DEP with enforcement requests. On February 28, 2023, DEP responded to this letter.
On December 14, 2022, DEP requested additional information from Shell in the form of a “Emission Exceedance Report and Mitigation Plan” (EERMP) technical report. On January 30, 2023, Shell responded to DEP’s December 2022 request for additional information. DEP responded to Shell on March 17, 2023. Shell responded to DEP on March 31, 2023.
Emissions data, including 12-month rolling emissions totals for the Shell Petrochemical Complex.
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12-month Rolling Emissions Totals – Received November 7, 2022 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received December 19, 2022 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received January 20, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received February 21, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received March 23, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received April 21, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – (March resubmittal) Received May 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received May 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received June 20, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received July 21, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received August 21, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received September 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received October 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received November 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received December 18, 2023 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received January 17, 2024 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received February 19, 2024 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received March 18, 2024 (Excel)
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12-month Rolling Emission Totals – Received April 16, 2024 (Excel)
Section B, Condition #012 of Air Quality Plan Approval 04-00470C requires Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC (Shell) to submit a Risk Management Plan (RMP) which meets the requirements of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, 40 CFR Part 68 and the Federal Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act when a regulated substance listed in 40 CFR §68.130 is present in a process in more than the listed threshold quantity at the facility. The RMP is required to be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On August 31, 2022, Shell submitted a letter notifying DEP that it submitted the RMP to EPA on April 6, 2022. Information on the RMP Rule and accessing RMP information is available on EPA’s website.
Plan Approvals and Extensions:
On March 7, 2024, DEP received extension requests for air quality plan approvals 04-00740A, 04-00740B, and 04-00740C submitted by Shell.
On October 3, 2023, DEP approved the air quality plan approval extension requests for 180 days.
On September 14, 2023, DEP received extension requests for air quality plan approvals 04-00740A, 04-00740B, and 04-00740C submitted by Shell.
On April 6, 2023, DEP approved the air quality plan approval extension requests for 180 days.
On March 14, 2023, DEP received extension requests for air quality plan approvals 04-00740A, 04-00740B, and 04-00740C submitted by Shell.
On September 15, 2022, DEP approved the air quality plan approval extension requests for 180 days.
On August 17, 2022, DEP received extension requests for air quality plan approvals 04-00740A, 04-00740B, and 04-00740C submitted by Shell.
On February 18, 2021, DEP approved plan approval modifications
04-00740B and
04-00740C.
On December 18, 2019, Shell submitted a plan approval modification application for
04-00740B. On February 14, 2020, Shell submitted a plan approval modification application for
04-00740C. Public notice of DEP’s draft plan approval was published in the October 3, 2020 edition of the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
More info (begins on page 5503). In response to comments received to date, DEP accepted written comments on draft plan approvals
04-00740B and
04-00740C until Nov. 16, 2020.
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Proposed Plan Approval 04-00740C – September 25, 2020 (PDF)
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Review Memo 04-00740C – September 22, 2020 (PDF)
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Summary of Revised Air Dispersion Modeling for Inhalation Risk Assessment – September 21, 2020 (PDF)
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As Built Air Quality Modeling and Inhalation Risk Evaluation – September 21, 2020 (PDF)
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Summary of Revised Air Quality Analyses for Prevention of Significant Deterioration – September 21, 2020 (PDF)
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Cover Letter for Submittal of Additional Information – September 3, 2020 (PDF)
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Attachment A-C Submittal [REDACTED] – September 3, 2020 (PDF)
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LDAR Attachment August 6 - 2019 (PDF)
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Flare Minimization Plan [REDACTED] – September 2020 (PDF)
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Cover Letter for Submittal of Additional Information – April 24, 2020 (PDF)
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Enclosure 1-5 Submittal [REDACTED] – April 24, 2020 (PDF)
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Plan Approval Application [REDACTED] – February 14, 2020 (PDF)
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Plan Approval Modification Comment and Response Document 04-00740A – December 30, 2016 (PDF)
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Air Quality Plan Approval Modification 04-00740A – December 30, 2016 (PDF)
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Proposed Plan Approval Modification 04-00740A – November 3, 2016 (PDF)
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Modification Review Memo 04-00740A – October 31, 2016 (PDF)
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Supplemental Interprecursor Trading Request – August 15, 2016 (PDF)
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Plan Approval Modification Application – April 11, 2016 (PDF)
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Air Quality Plan Approval – June 18, 2015 (PDF)
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Plan Approval Comment and Response Document – June 18, 2015 (PDF)
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Air Quality Modeling and Inhalation Risk Evaluation – March 19, 2015 (PDF)
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Air Dispersion Modeling for Inhalation Risk Assessment – March 19, 2015 (PDF)
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Air Quality Analysis for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) – March 19, 2015 (PDF)
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Review Memo – April 1, 2015 (PDF)
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Proposed Plan Approval – March 30, 2015 (PDF)
A Title V Operating Permit is required for the continued operation of the facility and would include all applicable air quality requirements for the facility.
On February 22, 2024, DEP sent a letter to Shell notifying the operator of the regulatory deadline to submit a Title V Operating Permit application.
On November 15, 2023, Shell submitted an application for General Plan Approval (GP-1) for the installation and subsequent temporary operation of three gas-boilers.
On December 1, 2023, DEP authorized use of the GP-1.
NPDES Permit PA0002208, issued in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania Clean Stream’s Law, establishes limits on what can be discharged, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that wastewater discharges from Shell’s facility do not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
What’s New:
On February 24, 2021, DEP approved NPDES renewal permit PA0002208.
On September 5, 2019, Shell submitted a renewal application for NPDES permit PA0002208. Public notice of DEP’s draft permit renewal was published in the August 8, 2020 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
More info (begins on page 4045).
On August 17, 2018, DEP issued the final NPDES permit PA0002208 Amendment 2 (A-2).
On June 23, 2017, DEP issued the final NPDES permit PA0002208 Amendment 1 (A-1). This followed a public comment period and public hearing on the draft permit PA0002208 A-1 published September 3, 2016.
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Final - NPDES Permit PA0002208 A-1 (PDF)
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Final – Fact Sheet Addendum and Comment Response Document for PA0002208 A-1 (PDF)
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Shell Comment Addendum on Draft NPDES Permit A-1 – May 10, 2017 (PDF)
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EIP et al Comments on Draft NPDES Permit A-1 – December 26, 2016 (PDF)
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Louise Loncar Comments on Draft NPDES Permit A-1 – December 22, 2016 (PDF)
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Public Hearing Transcript – December 15, 2016 (PDF)
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Testimony Documents 1 – December 15, 2016 (PDF)
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Testimony Documents 2 – December 15, 2016 (PDF)
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EIP et al Comments on Draft NPDES Permit A-1 – October 18, 2016 (PDF)
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Shell Comments on Draft NPDES Permit A-1 – October 17, 2016 (PDF)
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Draft - NPDES Permit PA0002208 A-1 – September 3, 2016 (PDF)
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Draft - Public Notice for PA0002208 A-1 – September 3, 2016 (PDF)
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Draft - Cover Letter for PA0002208 A-1 – August 25, 2016 (PDF)
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Draft - Fact Sheet for PA0002208 A-1 – August 19, 2016 (PDF)
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Supplemental Application Material NPDES Amendment Application February – August 2016
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Shell NPDES Submitted and Updated Amendment Application – November 9, 2015 (PDF)
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NPDES Permit PA0002208 For Storm Water Discharge – July 1, 2015 (PDF)
This permit authorizes water discharged from the hydrostatic testing of tanks and pipelines.
As part of the construction of petrochemical complex, Shell is remediating the contaminated former Horsehead Corporation zinc smelter property under the Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling (Act 2) program. Shell has submitted and DEP has approved a remedial investigation report, risk assessment, and cleanup plan under the Act 2 program. Shell is currently completing groundwater attainment monitoring and then will submit a final report. Pursuant to the Cleanup Plan, Shell has covered most of the site with clean fill and has installed a synthetic cap over previous disposal areas on the property to prevent contact with any contaminated soils. Shell has collected all potentially contaminated storm water during construction and treated it prior to discharge under its NPDES permit. Groundwater use at the site will be restricted under an environmental covenant following completion of Act 2.
For more information on the Act 2 process, visit
DEP's Land Recycling Program page.
On November 17, 2023, Shell submitted a final report.
On February 6, 2024, DEP issued a technical deficiency letter.