NORCO, Louisiana — Shell Chemical Company LP has agreed to install $10 million worth of pollution monitoring and control equipment at its Louisiana Norco Chemical facility as part of a settlement for the company allegedly violating the Clean Air Act and state laws.
According to the Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), Shell allegedly failed to operate industrial flares properly at its St. Charles Parish facility.
“This agreement is the latest in EPA’s and the Justice Department’s continuing efforts to work with our state partners to protect the American public from harmful air pollution," Justice Department assistant attorney general Jeffrey Wood said in news release.
“This settlement will improve air quality for citizens of Louisiana by reducing emissions of harmful air pollution,” EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a statement.
As part of the consent decree for the settlement, Shell is required to operate and install equipment which is estimated will reduce air emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by about 159 tons per year. Shell will also pay $350,000 in civil penalties including $87,500 for LDEQ.
“[This] agreement demonstrates EPA’s dedication to working with states to pursue violations of laws that are critical to protecting public health and bring companies into compliance," said LDEQ Secretary Dr. Chuck Carr Brown in a statement. “Actions like this one not only serve to clean up the air our citizens breathe, they send a message that we will not tolerate violations of federal or state laws."