FracTracker’s New Data Tool Visualizes Shell’s Pollution, Violations, and Malfunctions Ahead of Permit Public Hearing

New Features of the Petrochemical Facility Profiles

Detailed information about the facility’s emissions, violations, and air quality impacts is scattered across multiple state and federal databases, with significant delays between when events occur and when records become publicly available. The PFP was built to address that problem.

To address that gap, FracTracker Alliance developed the Petrochemical Facility Profile (PFP) for the Shell Polymers Monaca — aggregating local, state, and federal records into a single interactive tool. The profile includes six data dashboards covering emissions, air quality monitoring, toxic releases, violations and malfunctions, fenceline maps, and environmental justice and pollution burden. All data can be filtered, customized, and downloaded.

The PFP builds on existing FracTracker tools, including our Petrochemical Data Portals and the Shell Polymers Monaca Data Dashboard, developed in partnership with BCMAC. Five additional facility profiles for Gulf Region petrochemical sites are currently in development.

The Petrochemical Facility Profiles also summarizes additional data sources to create new data presentations and maps:

1. Emissions Data:  State reported emissions data from PA DEP is plotted and compared to permitted pollutant allowances for the facility.
2. Air Quality Monitoring Data:  Maps and charts show updated ambient air quality concentrations from fenceline and community monitors in the region. Data obtained from the The Environmental Sensor Data Repository (ESDR) are mapped and plotted, showing where and when elevated concentrations of pollutants were present in ambient air surrounding the facility. 
3. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Data:  Federal emissions and chemical release data reported in the U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) were summarized for the last five years.
4. Violations and Malfunctions Data:  Data from PA DEP compliance and enforcement records are summarized to track reported malfunctions, Notices of Violation (NOVs), and associated emissions over time. Tables also identify High Priority Violations (HPVs) and include direct links to source documents, allowing users to explore the details of each incident. 
5. Fenceline Maps:  Maps were created using parcel data to show the fenceline and property boundaries of each facility. Facility permits were reviewed to identify and map the exact pieces of facility infrastructure responsible for emissions.
6. Air Quality Standards and Permitted Emission Maximums:  Data plots and graphs for emissions inventories include indicators for permit emissions limits, while ambient air quality measurement plots include indicators for public health risk recommendations.