New York (Platts)--13Jan2009

The US' Environmental Protection Agency has fined Shell just over $1
million and ordered the company to spend at least $273,800 tightening its
pollution controls at its Puerto Rico chemical facility.

"This agreement marks a solution to a longstanding series of serious
violations," said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg in a statement
late Thursday.

The Shell facility in Puerto Rico, purchased from Puerto Rico Sun Oil in
2001 did not hold a pollution discharge permit from the EPA at the time of
purchase. The company then failed to bring the facility up to EPA standards
after it was purchased.

The chemical facility failed to treat storm water, process waste water
and regulate discharges within permit limits.

"Shell...failed to fulfill the agreement by discharging pollutants in
excess of permit limits, discharging pollutants into Santiago Creek (Quebrada
Santiago) and the Caribbean Sea (Mar Caribe) at unpermitted locations, failing
to report certain discharge data, and lacking adequate operation and
maintenance of a discharge pipe into the Caribbean Sea," the statement added.

Aside from the fine, Shell will now remedy Clean Water Act violations
that occurred at the facility.
--Sofina Mirza-Reid, sofina_mirza-reid@platts.com