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Shell should be held accountable and forced to either halt production or significantly reduce emissions for the sake of the environment and public safety.

Posted by John Donovan: 10 June 2023

BEAVER, Pa.- In a stunning display of frustration and anger, Beaver County residents have had enough of Shell’s relentless assault on the environment with its cracker plant. Since its opening last year, the Shell Polymers Monaca plant, also known as the Shell cracker plant, has been a cesspool of pollution violations, leaving local residents reeling.

On Thursday, a gathering of approximately 50 members from the Shell Accountability Campaign descended upon downtown Beaver to make their voices heard. The residents have reached their boiling point, demanding that leaders take action against Shell’s blatant disregard for the community’s health and well-being.

“We’re not asking for much, just a little thing called a livable environment,” sarcastically quipped Dustin White Sr. “I guess Shell thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to sacrifice our health and the health of our workers for the sake of their bloated profits. How considerate of them.”

The protestors aimed to publicly shame the Shell corporation for setting up shop in their backyard, armed with a list of demands and a petition that they intended to present at the Beaver County commissioners meeting. They’ve had enough of Shell’s toxic legacy and are determined to hold them accountable.

Shell’s plant has recently come under fire, receiving three pollution violation notices from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. One of the notices was for the plant’s high-pressure flares, which emitted visible emissions in February. The local residents gathered in Beaver on Thursday to share their stories of how the plant has negatively impacted their lives.

“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” shared Andie Grey, who has personally experienced the plant’s effects. “Flaring at night, unpleasant smells, constant noise—these disruptions have become our daily reality. As residents, we shouldn’t have to endure this pollution and disturbance in our own backyard.”

The residents of Beaver County are demanding immediate action, calling for the cracker plant to be shut down until the myriad of problems is adequately addressed. They believe that Shell should be held accountable and forced to either halt production or significantly reduce emissions for the sake of the environment and public safety.

Natalie Leslie, a Chippewa Township resident, expressed her exasperation, stating, “It’s truly infuriating to witness Shell’s total disregard for humanity and our local community. Our environment is deteriorating rapidly, and they couldn’t care less. It’s disheartening to say the least.”

During the county commissioners’ meeting, residents passionately voiced their concerns, demanding better air monitoring, real-time notifications of emissions, and transparency from Shell. They presented a petition with over 60,000 signatures, highlighting the widespread support for their cause.

Shell’s spokesperson, Curtis Thomas, tried to downplay the situation, stating, “We respect people’s right to express their point of view,” while conveniently failing to acknowledge the gravity of the issues raised by the protesters. Shell’s track record speaks for itself, with countless violations and fines, yet they continue to operate with impunity.

County commissioners, while sympathetic to the residents’ plight, were quick to absolve themselves of responsibility, citing their lack of authority to regulate Shell or its operations. They acknowledged their disappointment with Shell’s negligence but maintained that their hands are tied.

The situation in Beaver County highlights the desperate need for action against Shell’s destructive practices. The community demands justice, and they won’t rest until the greedy titan is held accountable for its crimes against both the environment and the people who call Beaver County home.

Right of Reply: Shell is invited to point out for correction any factual inaccuracies and supply closing comments for publication as part of this article on an unedited basis. 

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