The proposed pipeline by Shell Pipeline Company Falcon Ethane Pipeline would begin at the MarkWest Houston Processing and Fractionation Facility in Washington County and travel through Washington, Allegheny and Beaver Counties before ending at the Shell Chemical Appalachia Petrochemical Complex in Potter Township, Beaver County.
A separate segment of the pipeline would connect a MarkWest facility in Cadiz, Ohio and the Utica East Ohio plant in Scio, Ohio to the petrochemical complex in Beaver County. In total, approximately 45.5 miles of pipeline would be located in Pennsylvania and the pipeline will cross portions of southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and the West Virginia panhandle.
Below is information on DEP's review and approval of the permit applications and other useful project information. The material is presented here to enable the public to readily review the application material, noted technical deficiencies and the company's responses to the technical deficiencies. The other material on this web page represents other documents associated with this project that the Department has received. Additional materials will be added to the site as the Department continues with its review of the permit applications.
Additional documents, such as additional correspondence and emails between the DEP and the Applicant, may be in DEP files maintained at the corresponding DEP office. Persons wishing to review the entire file for this application should contact the Southwest Regional Office to schedule a file review.
What's New
Compliance and Enforcement Information
Notices of Violation:
On October 12, 2022, DEP executed a consent assessment of civil penalty (CACP) with Shell Pipeline Company LP and its contractor, Minnesota Limited LLC, for violations of its permit and Pennsylvania laws and regulations that occurred in 2019 and 2020 during construction of the company’s Falcon pipeline project.
Air Quality Determination of Plan Approval/Operating Permit Exemptions
On March 1, 2019, DEP completed Air Quality permit determinations in response to Shell Pipeline Company's Request for Determination (RFD) submissions.
On September 10, 2018, Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, PennFuture, Earthworks, Environmental Integrity Project, FracTracker Alliance, and Breathe Project/Breathe Collaborative submitted comments on Shell Pipeline Company's Request for Determinations (RFDs) seeking exemptions from Air Quality Plan Approvals associated with its Falcon Ethane Pipeline.
* Sierra Club et al. submitted numerous supplemental paper documents that are available in DEP's Southwest Regional Office and accessible by scheduling an Informal File Review. Information on the Informal File Review Process is available
here.
Shell Pipeline Company provided additional information at DEP's request at various points during DEP's review of Shell's Request for Determinations (RFDs).
On June 20, 2018, Shell Pipeline Company submitted Request for Determinations (RFDs) seeking exemptions from Air Quality Plan Approvals for its Monaca Line Integrity Meter Station, Junction Custody Transfer Meter Station, and Houston Custody Transfer Meter Station along the Falcon Ethane Pipeline.
Approved Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Permit
On December 20, 2018, DEP approved 3 Chapter 105 permit applications and 1 Chapter 102 permit application from Shell Pipeline Company for the Falcon ethane pipeline project.
Comment Response Document
The Comment Response Document summarizes the comments submitted to DEP by approximately 1,500 commentators through the open comment period and during the three public hearings.
Shell Pipeline Company Ethane Pipeline Project Overview Information Sheet
This
information sheet (PDF) provides a summary of the project.
Public Participation Information
DEP is aware of the significant public interest regarding additional public participation opportunities for this project. DEP chose to extend the comment period on the Chapter 105 applications and opened a comment period for the Chapter 102 application. Comment periods for the Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit Applications and Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Application for Earth Disturbance Activities were open through April 17, 2018.
DEP elected to hold a public hearing in each of the counties on the pipeline route before the end of the comment period: Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington.
Permit Applications Received
Authorization to Discharge Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharges from Hydrostatic Texting of Tanks and Pipelines (PAG-10)
Joint Permit Applications for Pennsylvania Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit
On December 20, 2018, Shell Pipeline Company submitted final application documents that include all additional and revised information submitted to DEP individually since August 2018.
On August 1, 2018, Shell Pipeline Company responded to DEP's technical deficiency letter for the proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline Chapter 105 applications.
On June 1, 2018, DEP sent Shell Pipeline Company technical deficiency letters for the proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline Chapter 105 applications. These letters outlined technical deficiencies DEP identified during the technical review of the Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit applications.
On January 20, 2018, DEP provided notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Joint Permit Applications for the Pennsylvania Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit were under technical review for Shell Pipeline Company's proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline.
Notice of Intent (NOI) for Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit for Earth Disturbance Associated With Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities (ESCGP-2)
On December 20, 2018, Shell Pipeline Company submitted final application documents that include all additional and revised information submitted to DEP individually since August 2018.
On August 1, 2018, Shell Pipeline Company responded to DEP's technical deficiency letter for the proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline Chapter 102 application.
On February 28, 2018, DEP sent Shell Pipeline Company a technical deficiency letter for the proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline Chapter 102 application. This letter outlined technical deficiencies DEP identified during the technical review of the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit application. The applicant requested and DEP granted an extension for Shell to submit its responses to the Chapter 102 technical deficiency letter until August 1, 2018 to coincide with its submittal of the Chapter 105 responses to deficiencies.
On February 17, 2018, DEP provided notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities (ESCGP-2), Notice of Intent (NOI) was under technical review for Shell Pipeline Company's proposed Falcon Ethane Pipeline. The applicant submitted a NOI for coverage under an ESCGP-2, however, DEP has determined it appropriate to process the application as an Individual Chapter 102 permit.