Shell slammed for breaching environmental legislation

Petrochemical company Shell has been cited for violating environmental legislation for a second time in less than a year.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued both a complaint – in which it proposed a penalty of $153,057 (£93,795) – and a compliance order against Shell Chemical Yabucoa in Puerto Rico for disregarding the federal Clean Water Act.

Acting regional administrator George Pavlou said that the EPA will continue to hold to account anyone who violates the laws that protect the island’s waters.

"Water is central to the health of Puerto Rico’s economy and its people and Shell’s violation of the Clean Water Act is unacceptable," he said.

The complaint alleges that Shell broke the Clean Water Act by inappropriately maintaining its deep ocean outfall equipment and discharging illegal pollutants, while the compliance order requires the company - which employs 102,000 people in more than 100 countries and territories - to rectify its actions.

Written by Lauren Steadman