Disasters & Accidents
Documenting accidents and disasters at similar petrochemical facilities to highlight the potential risks facing the Ohio Valley.
Why This Matters
Petrochemical facilities like the ethane cracker proposed for Dilles Bottom carry inherent risks. Across the United States, similar plants have experienced fires, explosions, chemical releases, and long-term emissions violations. Understanding this history is essential for evaluating what a cracker plant could mean for our communities, our air, and our water.
The Ohio Valley already bears a legacy of industrial pollution. Adding a large-scale petrochemical facility would compound existing environmental burdens and introduce new hazards to a densely populated river corridor.
Regional Case Studies
Shell Beaver County
During construction and early operation of the Shell ethane cracker in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, the facility was cited for thousands of air-quality violations, including exceedances of volatile organic compounds and visible emissions limits.
Chemical Valley Incidents
The Kanawha Valley in West Virginia — known as "Chemical Valley" — has experienced multiple chemical plant accidents over decades, including leaks, fires, and groundwater contamination affecting drinking-water supplies for thousands of residents.
Gulf Coast Petrochemical Fires
Texas and Louisiana host the highest concentration of petrochemical infrastructure in the country. Major incidents — including the 2019 TPC Group explosions in Port Neches and repeated flaring events — demonstrate the frequency and severity of accidents in this industry.
Emissions & Safety Violations
Cracker plants and associated petrochemical operations routinely report emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, ethylene oxide, and formaldehyde. These substances are linked to respiratory illness, cancer, and developmental harm. Data from EPA enforcement records show that many facilities operate with repeated permit exceedances, often with limited penalties.
- Flares and fugitive emissions are among the most common sources of unpermitted releases.
- Communities within a few miles of cracker plants face the highest exposure risk.
- Emergency-response capabilities in rural areas like Dilles Bottom may be insufficient for large-scale industrial accidents.
The track record of petrochemical facilities across the country reveals a pattern of incidents that communities rarely anticipate when these plants are first proposed. Fires, explosions, and accidental chemical releases have occurred at similar ethane cracker and plastics complexes, sometimes requiring evacuations and causing lasting environmental damage. For residents of the Ohio Valley, these documented events serve as cautionary tales rather than abstract warnings. The region already contends with existing industrial pollution, and the addition of a major petrochemical facility would introduce new risks to air quality, water sources, and public health. Examining these past disasters helps local citizens, elected officials, and concerned organizations understand what is at stake and why vigilance matters throughout every stage of the permitting and construction process.
Historical Context in the Ohio Valley
The upper Ohio River Valley has long been shaped by heavy industry — from steel mills to coal-fired power plants. This legacy includes Superfund sites, compromised air quality, and elevated rates of certain health conditions. A new ethane cracker would add a major new source of pollution to a region already classified as being in non-attainment for federal air-quality standards.
Concerned Ohio River Residents (CORR) believes that learning from past disasters is the first step toward preventing future ones.
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