Shell is to spend around $160million to settle legal complaints about chronic pollution problems at its refinery and petrochemical plant along the Houston Ship Channel.
The Dutch oil giant will also pay a $2.6million fine and will spend $200,000 to reduce emissions from local school buses after striking an agreement with regulators.
The deal comes after Shell was told to reduce emissions of benzene, sulphur dioxide and other pollutants from industrial flares at its Deer Park refinery.
“The provisions of the settlement are consistent with Shell Deer Park’s objectives and ongoing activities to reduce emissions at the site and upgrade our flaring infrastructure,” Shell’s Kayla Macke told Fuel Fix.
The company also will install a system that will provide public data for nearby homes on pollution levels at the edges of the complex.