What’s New
The application period for Environmental Mitigation Community Fund projects will run from January 4, 2024, through February 29, 2024. See the application section below for more information and a link to the application.
Background
In June 2016, Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC (Shell) proposed plans to construct a petrochemicals complex in Potter Township, Beaver County. Shell has renamed the facility Shell Polymers Monaca Site. The facility includes an ethylene cracker that uses ethane (a natural gas product) to produce polyethylene (a common type of plastic). This first-of-its-kind facility in Pennsylvania required several complex environmental reviews, approvals, and permits from DEP for new construction, remediation of contamination from previous industrial activities on the property, and operation. The facility has been constructed and began operating in fall 2022.
On May 24, 2023, DEP and Shell executed a consent order and agreement (COA) in which Shell formally acknowledged that the company exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants and agreed to make repairs to reduce future exceedances, pay a $4,935,023 million civil penalty, and spend $5 million to fund Environmental Mitigation Community Projects to benefit the environment, heath, and quality of life of the community near the facility.
- COA (5-24-2023) (PDF)
- Press Release: Shapiro Administration Secures $10 Million Payment from Shell, Including $6.2 Million for Local Community to Resolve Air Quality Violations
Steering Committee
DEP announced members of the steering committee who will be tasked with developing a protocol to allocate the $5 million Environmental Mitigation Community Fund for projects to benefit the environment, heath, and quality of life in Beaver County. The Shapiro Administration secured the funding as part of its settlement of air quality violations by Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC during the commissioning of its cracker plant in Potter Township.
- Press Release: DEP Announces Steering Committee for $5 Million Environmental Mitigation Community Fund, Committee to Host Open Meeting
- Steering Committee Member List with Biographies (PDF)
Protocol
Environmental Mitigation Community Fund steering committee has finalized the protocol to allocate $5 million in funding for community projects in Beaver County. The protocol establishes the basic outline of how the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund will be distributed and what entities are eligible to apply for funding.
- Press Release: DEP Announces $5 Million From Shell Cracker Plant Payment to be Used for Projects with Environmental, Health, or Quality of Life Benefits in Beaver County
- Environmental Mitigation Community Fund Protocol (PDF)
Protocol Implementation Plan
The Environmental Mitigation Community Fund Steering Committee has finalized the Protocol Implementation Plan to govern the composition of the Advisory Board as well as the selection and distribution of awards for approved projects.
- Press Release: DEP Seeks Project Applications for $5 Million Beaver County Environmental Mitigation Community Fund
- Protocol Implementation Plan (PDF)
Advisory Board
DEP announced the advisory board comprised of members representing organizations serving Beaver County and those spearheading environmental justice within DEP that recommend community project applications for selection and award funding.
Environmental Mitigation Community Fund Application
The application period for Environmental Mitigation Community Fund projects will run from January 4, 2024 through February 29, 2024. The application is housed on The Pittsburgh Foundation’s website.
Eligible community projects must benefit the environment, health, and/or quality of life to residents of Beaver County. Prohibited projects include, lobbying, legal services or representation, promotion of hate, discrimination, or violence, and direct advocacy against any party to the COA, government entity, or private and/or public organization, Proposed projects must be in Beaver County.
The advisory board will approve at least one project that provides for regular, independent testing of the air quality in the vicinity of the facility and at least one project focusing on meaningful community education and engagement that fosters civic participation.
Organizations eligible to apply for project funding must be described as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS or partner with a 501(c)(3) organization and must be either based in Beaver County or partner with a Beaver County-based organization.
Projects Recommended for Funding
On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, DEP announced that the advisory board has recommended 21 projects for funding to benefit the environment, heath, and quality of life of the Beaver County community.
The advisory board has compiled the full list of shortened project descriptions (provided by the applicants) along with the amount requested, the advisory board’s recommendation to fund the project or not and its reasoning for the recommendation.
Public Engagement
In-Person and Virtual Public Meetings
The Environmental Mitigation Community Fund steering committee held an open meeting to receive community feedback on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Community College of Beaver County as they worked to develop the fund allocation protocol.
Meeting livestreams were offered by RiverWise and Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) through each organization’s Facebook page to maximize community participation and access.
The Environmental Mitigation Community Fund advisory board held two in-person meetings at Penn State Beaver and one virtual public meeting to provide information, answer questions, and listen to feedback from the public on the protocol implementation plan, the application process, eligible projects and organizations, and the selection process and criteria. In-person meeting livestreams are offered by RiverWise through the organization’s Facebook page to maximize community participation and access.
Public Engagement Events Flyer (PDF)
Virtual Public Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Meeting recording.
In-Person Public Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Meeting Recording
In-Person Public Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Meeting Recording
In-Person Public Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Location: Penn State Beaver Student Union Building Lodge, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061
Virtual Question & Answer Sessions
The advisory board held two virtual Q&A sessions for prospective applicants.
- Virtual Q&A Session 1: January 24, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Virtual Q&A Session 2: February 13, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Virtual Office Hours with DEP Special Deputy Secretary for the Office of Environmental Justice, Fernando Treviño and members of the advisory board
DEP held virtual office hours via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday January 9 - 30, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for potential EMCF applicants.
DEP will hold virtual office hours via Microsoft Teams Tuesdays and Fridays starting June 25 through July 2, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Click here to join the meeting
Join by phone: 267-332-8737 Conference ID: 265866589#
Frequently Asked Questions
The Environmental Mitigation Community Fund established by Paragraph 11(c) of the May 24, 2023 consent order and agreement (COA) between DEP and Shell will be a secure, interest-bearing escrow vehicle with a fiduciary agent to fund projects to benefit environment, health, and quality of life in communities impacted by Shell’s violations of Pennsylvania environmental laws and regulations at its facility in Beaver County.
This $5 million fund is one of the largest community funds in Pennsylvania history and the first of its kind in incorporating community involvement at each step of the process. It is DEP’s goal to make funds like this part of its enforcement strategy moving forward.
On May 24, 2023, DEP reached a settlement with Shell to resolve environmental violations that occurred during the commissioning of Shell’s petrochemical facility in Potter Townships, Beaver County. As part of the agreement, Shell formally acknowledged that the company exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants and agreed to make repairs to reduce future exceedances.
Of the nearly $10 million settlement, $4,935,023 is a civil penalty DEP collected for environmental violations (with the municipality eligible to receive 25%) and $5 million is separate money Shell agreed to spend for environmental projects to and mitigate environmental harms.
If you are already a 501(c)(3) organization in Beaver County or are partnering with a 501(c)(3) based in Beaver County and you can make the case that your project benefits the health, environment, and/or quality of life of Beaver County, your project could qualify.
Applications aren’t open yet, but you can sign up to receive emails from the Office of Environmental Justice with updates on the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund and other environmental initiatives. Be among the first to know how the application process will work and when the application will go live.
The steering committee that crafted the protocol encourages organizations and projects of all sizes to apply. Funding guidelines are being developed. Decisions have not been made yet.
At least one of the projects should provide for regular, independent, testing of the air quality in the vicinity of the facility and at least one of the project should focus on meaningful community education and engagement that fosters civic participation to design strategies seeking to improve the health and/or quality of life of the communities near to the facility.
The DEP’s Special Deputy for Environmental Justice, Fernando Treviño conducted several meetings with local community leaders, stakeholders, Shell, and with staff from DEP’s Southwest Regional Office. After receiving thirty-four recommendations for potential members, DEP’s Special Deputy for Environmental Justice selected sixteen finalists, securing industry and regional, expertise, and demographic representation. The list of sixteen finalists was reviewed and approved by a multidisciplinary working group within DEP. Special Deputy Treviño serves as the seventeenth member.
The Environmental Mitigation Community Fund was created pursuant to a settlement between Shell and DEP, regarding violations of the Air Pollution Control Act and regulations. The settlement specifically directs DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice to participate in this process. DEP has committed to community involvement and engagement through every step of the process.
No, the steering committee was formed to develop the protocol to allocate this $5 million in funding for community projects in Beaver County. The committee now begins work on a protocol implementation plan. Then this committee will be dissolved, and an Advisory Board will be formed – using a similar process to the one described above – to recommend projects for funding. Some of the current steering committee members may also become a part of the advisory board, but that board composition has yet to be determined.
The steering committee had their first public meeting on July 13, 2023, at the Community College of Beaver County. You can view recordings of that meeting via RiverWise or via Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community. DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice, which was identified to participate in the process per the settlement with Shell, has committed to hold a number of public meetings throughout the process. Meeting information will be posted on DEP’s website and social media channels and distributed to community stakeholders and organizations as it becomes available.
The process for selecting the advisory board has not been determined.
Contact
DEP welcomes community feedback on the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund.