International oil major Shell will pay millions to settle accusations of air quality violations over three years at a large chemical facility in Beaver County, northwest of Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Sept. 4 announced the $15 million settlement with Shell to resolve allegations of air quality violations from 2023 to August 2026.

The facility, which began operations November 2022, includes a “cracker” that converts ethane, a component of natural gas, into ethylene, a building block of plastics and other chemicals. Nearby residents and community groups have been consistently pointing out heavy flaring and pollution from the facility, which has racked up multiple air and water pollution violations.

State regulators already secured a separate $10 million settlement with Shell in 2023 for previous environmental violations. Projects funded through that agreement included solar energy installations, museum exhibits, and local park upgrades.