ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has issued an update on their website, announcing its new Enclosed Ground Flare (EGF) has formally been brought into operation.

Since 2018, SEPA has played a crucial role in bringing the Mossmorran Complex into regulatory compliance through a series of stringent measures to reduce flaring impacts on local communities.

We welcome the completion of this significant installation of a new Enclosed Ground Flare (EGF) at the ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) at Mossmorran.

Over the coming months we will be carrying out a full audit of the new ground flaring system and closely monitoring for compliance.

Communities around the Mossmorran Complex are now able to see the air quality in their area in close to real time, with the launch of a new monitoring network from SEPA.

It follows on from community participation in the design of a new air quality monitoring network, and a refreshed online regulatory hub designed to make it easier than ever to find information about SEPA’s regulation of the Fife Natural Liquids Plant and Fife Ethylene Plant. 

Access the SEPA Monitoring Air Quality Network 

You can find out more about our new monitoring network on our Air quality monitoring page.

SEPA has granted a variation to ExxonMobil Chemical Limited to bring the new enclosed ground flare into the site permit. The application included a request to amend the completion date to 30 June 2023, due to delays with the construction work. 

SEPA has been in regular contact with the Project Team on progress with the enclosed ground flare. This includes regular meetings and site inspection work to verify progress with construction of the new ground flare. While some delays have been experienced due to supplier issues, weather and the complicated construction work, SEPA is satisfied that work should be completed by the end of June 2023.

The variation also:

• Sets the definition of major flaring at a level that is considered reasonable given current knowledge on the performance of the new elevated flare tip and EGF.
• Includes administrative changes;
• to remove out of date conditions relating to one-off reports and the use of temporary boilers.
• to update and clarify monitoring standards for air emissions.

The following documents are available to view.

• Variation decision document
• Variation to permit - January 2023

New ground flares at Shell UK Limited’s Mossmorran site

SEPA welcomes Shell UK Limited’s community announcement about its commitment to install new, enclosed ground flares at the Mossmorran Complex.

Industrial installations undertaking specific types of activity are required to use ‘Best Available Techniques’ (BAT) to prevent or minimise emissions and impacts on the environment. BAT will change over time as new technologies becomes available, and it is important that sites review their facilities and procedures to ensure they are using the best economically and technically viable available techniques.

In August 2019 SEPA varied the site permit requiring Shell to provide a project plan for a totally enclosed ground flare system. The new ground flares will result in reduced air emissions through improved combustion, lower noise output and reduce the use of the elevated flare. In June 2022 SEPA varied the permit to require the installation of the flares, once ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has its new ground flare capacity operational.

Having reviewed the design and timeline for Shell’s project, SEPA is satisfied that the proposal is BAT and deliverable on time. The variation includes requirements for a detailed Project Plan to be provided to SEPA by 31 January 2023 and for the new ground flare to be operational by 31 December 2025.

Ongoing planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA’s ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, should significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA is aware of a short period of elevated flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited on Sunday 2 October. This occurred during a planned shutdown for maintenance work.

Flaring is now contained within the ground flares and SEPA will continue to monitor the situation until the work has been completed and site returns to normal operations. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

SEPA’s ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following community notice has been shared with SEPA regarding planned works at the Shell-operated Fife NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) plant. 

"As you may be aware, we recently replaced one of the Fife NGL plant’s elevated flare tips with a more modern sound-reducing tip.

"As part of this work, we have also installed a combustion-monitoring camera, which will automatically control the amount of steam being added to the flare during flaring events. Steam is used to minimise smoke and ensure full and efficient combustion of the flare.

"In order to calibrate this camera and the system, some short, intermittent periods of planned low volume flaring will be required in our elevated flare stack during daylight hours on Wednesday 31 August. We will need to turn the steam to the flare on and off so the flare will be smoky at times. We have informed the regulator SEPA of this planned work.

"We are committed to investing in and managing our operations to minimise the frequency and impact of flaring. I hope this note helps you know what to expect, and provides some insight as to why the flaring is taking place."

SEPA expects the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

More information, including contact details for the Shell Fife NGL plant, is provided on the Community Notices section of their website.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Planned work at Shell UK Limited, Mossmorran: Tuesday 26 April - Sunday 1 May

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with Shell UK Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will be carrying out modifications to its steam system between Tuesday 26 April and Sunday 1 May.

This work is required as part of the project to install a new flare tip on Shell’s elevated flare and is part of the programme of improvement SEPA has required the Complex to carry out over the last few years. It is separate from the investment to install a new flare tip at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited carried out in 2021.

During the work there will be no steam available to the Shell UK Limited flare system. Steam is used to optimise combustion and minimise smoky flaring. No elevated flaring is expected from Shell’s facility as part of the work and SEPA is satisfied that the operator has plans in place to manage capacity to reduce the risk of unplanned flaring from the plant. As a result, there may be some very limited elevated flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited during the work, as it usually makes use of the Shell ground flare system. ExxonMobil’s flare is not affected by the steam outage and SEPA expects it to operate as normal during this period.

Planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA’s ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, should significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA’s ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with Shell UK Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will be carrying out modifications to its steam system between Monday 11 April and Wednesday 20 April 2022. During the work there will be the need to have a number of short steam outages.

This work is required as part of the project to install a new flare tip on Shell’s elevated flare and is part of the programme of improvement SEPA has required the Complex to carry out over the last few years. It is separate from the investment to install a new flare tip at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited carried out in 2021.

Steam is used to optimise combustion and minimise smoky flaring. This means if either of the operators need to flare during the work there may be a short period of smoke until the steam is reinstated. While no elevated flaring is expected as part of the work, SEPA is satisfied that robust plans are in place to make sure that if this happens the steam is turned back on quickly to ensure any smoke is minimised. Work will take place during daylight hours and steam will be reinstated in the evenings and during any breaks in the work.  

Planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA’s ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, will significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA’s ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In 2019 we confirmed that our air quality monitoring around the Mossmorran Complex would continue throughout the period of investment and the installation of new flare tips and ground flares. At the same time we committed to working with partner agencies with air quality responsibilities to assess future requirements.

In September 2021, we held four community engagement sessions in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive to listen to the needs of the community. We used the feedback to inform our review of the monitoring we undertake and how we share the results of that monitoring with the local community.

To date, our monitoring has shown no breaches of the air quality objectives, but it was clear in hearing from the community that there continues to be a concern about air quality in the area. The community asked for:

• Permanent monitoring of air quality in the communities around Mossmorran.
• Simple, easy to understand and timely data, with the ability to get more detail if required.

Why are things changing?

We have reviewed how we will monitor air quality and taking the feedback from communities into account we are planning to make some changes to how we monitor air quality and how we make information on air quality available, in a way that will hopefully provide greater reassurance to local communities. We are implementing a new monitoring plan that will:

• change the monitoring locations;
• increase the number of monitoring points;
• increase the range of air pollutants that we measure.

The new monitoring equipment will allow us to explore improved ways of presenting data and trends on the levels of the pollutants measured.

More information on the enhanced monitoring plan is available online mossmorran-air-quality-stakeholder-update.pdf (sepa.org.uk).

As part of the transition to the new monitoring programme, we carried out work between 1 and 3 March to change some of the equipment being used.

What has SEPA done so far in implementing the new monitoring plan?

A new sensor array has now been installed in Auchtertool. The benefits of this are:

• It is the same type of monitor that we will be using as part of the enhanced monitoring programme that will come online later this year.
• These units are easier to locate than the trailer we have used up to this point due to their size and power requirements and has been installed in a similar but more accessible location.
• It is the same type of unit that is being used by Fife Council as part of its air quality assessments. This means that data should be comparable, and therefore between the two organisations we will have a better picture of air quality across the county.
• It measures a similar range of pollutants as the trailer, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter. It will also allow us to measure other pollutants of interest in the future.

The trailer of equipment that we had located at a site to the North East of the site for the last few years has been removed. The transition to our new approach and the new sensor array means the trailer is no longer required.

This is only a small change in our current monitoring. There have been no other changes to our monitoring at this time and the particulate monitors in Lochgelly, Auchertool and Donibristle and our noise monitors at Lochgelly and Auchtertool remain in place.

You can find out more about the new equipment on the AQMesh website.

What happens next?

We are committed to providing updates to the community as we continue our transition to our new approach.

We will publish more information later in the year, including:

• Information on the equipment we are installing.
• Timescales for work.
• How we will improve access to the air quality data collected.

Updates will be published on our Mossmorran hub.

In September 2021, we held four virtual community engagement sessions in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive. These events were a key step in listening to the needs of the community and informing our review of the monitoring we undertake around the Mossmorran complex and how we share the results of that monitoring with the local community.

Following the sessions, we have reviewed the way we will monitor air quality. Read the review paper on how we will monitor air quality at the Mossmorran Complex in the future.  

If you wish to understand more about how we monitor air quality at the Mossmorran complex, you can view the information we presented at our community engagement sessions.

If you have any questions about the paper, please email community@sepa.org.uk.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has received the following notification of planned low-level flaring at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited on Monday 4 April.

“A very small flame may be seen from our elevated flare for a period during daylight hours on Monday 4 April. This is to help our neighbouring plant conduct inspections required on shared infrastructure. The process is planned and we will work together to minimise any potential disturbance. ”

SEPA continues to monitor operations at the site. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

More information, including contact details for ExxonMobil FEP, is provided in their Community Notice.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today Thursday 31 March published its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data for 2020. This is the latest data set to be recovered and published by SEPA following the cyber-attack in December 2020.

SPRI provides a valuable picture of the amount of pollutants released in Scotland from SEPA regulated industrial sites. It is a publicly accessible electronic database which provides information for policy makers, academics and the public about the pressure Scottish industry puts on the environment through pollutant emissions. SPRI does not assess the compliance of the facilities or the health and environmental impact of the releases.

The latest data reveals greenhouse gas emissions fell by 6% between 2019 and 2020. This reduction continues the decreasing trend seen over the last 13 years, with an overall drop of around 60% since 2007.

More information is available in our full SPRI media release.

Mossmorran Complex emissions

While the overall trend in Scotland for carbon dioxide and methane are down, the emissions for individual sites are impacted by their activities. Although ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant was offline for a short period at the beginning of 2020, overall emissions are more in line with previous years – following a small reduction in 2019, due to an extended plant outage.

Despite the increase in emissions SEPA monitoring has not shown any impact on local air quality, it clearly demonstrates the need for a move to flaring being the exception rather than routine.

Local air quality

SEPA has conducted a wider range of air quality monitoring since January 2019, and regular air quality data reports continued to be published on our website during 2020 at sepa.org.uk/Mossmorran.

SEPA’s monitoring results show no breaches of any of the air quality objectives during 2019 due to emissions from the Mossmorran Complex and all measurements were in the low band of Defra’s daily air quality index (DAQI) for all applicable pollutants.

Reported SPRI emissions

• Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited increased from 2019, following a small reduction in 2019 due to an extended plant outage, bringing overall emissions are more in-line with previous years.
• Particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited decreased slightly.
• Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur oxides from Shell U.K. Limited decreased, following an increase in 2019 due to increased flaring during ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s shutdown, bringing overall emissions are more in-line with previous years.

14 January 2022 – 24 March 2022: 7 complaints

• Most complaints related to planned flaring events at the Complex in March which were required to allow inspection and maintenance work.
• This flaring was required to carry out planned maintenance to ensure the ongoing safe and compliant operation of the site.
• During Monday 7 March planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.
• Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.
• In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken. More detail is given in our Investigation of Environmental Noise report.

During Monday 7 March planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.

Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.

In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken. More detail is given in the following report.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will make planned use of the elevated flare for a period during daytime on Monday 7 March.  

While the process will require planned elevated flaring, the agency is content that plans are in place to minimise the impacts on local residents and businesses. The flaring is required to undertake a scheduled inspection of one of the product pipelines and forms part of the HSE inspection regime. 

SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible. Noise and air quality monitoring will continue.

More information, including contact details for ExxonMobil FEP, is provided in their Community Notice.

Extension to planned flaring - Tuesday 8 March

SEPA has been advised by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited that it expects to be flaring again this morning for three to four hours at a similar rate to yesterday.  This will conclude the flaring activity.

SEPA is continuing to monitor in the local area for air quality and noise.

Noise Investigation Report - Friday 11 March
During Monday’s planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.

Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.

In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken. More detail is given in the Noise Investigation Report.

ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) has issued its February 2022 update on progress towards the installation and operation of its new Enclosed Ground Flare. This and previous updates can be found on the ExxonMobil FEP website at FEP project updates | ExxonMobil UK.

Notification of controlled elevated flaring at INEOS Grangemouth site - 15 July 2022

The following community notice has been shared with SEPA regarding the INEOS Grangemouth site. 

"On-going maintenance work on one of our manufacturing plants continues through today.

"As a consequence over the next 24 hours there will be spells of controlled elevated flaring from the south side of the site that may be evident to those in the vicinity. The teams will make every effort to reduce the level and duration of the flaring.

"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may have.

"We remain committed to informing our local community and those who work nearby of any activity that might result in flaring."

SEPA continues to liaise with the site and monitor operations. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring, and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

10 September 2021 – 13 January 2022:  25 complaints

• Most complaints related to concerns about flaring at the Mossmorran Complex.
• A number of complaints expressed concerns over dark clouds or smoke that people are observing above the complex. There was no indication of smoke at these times, but it is noted normal emissions can appear dark depending on the light conditions at the time.

We have the following update on work to replace one of the flare tips at the Fife NGL plant.

The short and medium-term investment we’re requiring the operators at the Mossmorran complex to make will make a real difference to local communities - from noise-reducing flare tips to planning, designing then delivering new ground flare capacity.

We understand the impact of restrictions put in place to tackle the spread of Covid-19 has had an impact on the original timelines for delivering some of this work.

In April 2020, when we set out our regulatory approach in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were clear that where businesses are unable to fully meet their permit conditions, they should contact us.

In October 2021, Shell Limited applied for a variation to its permit as it would be unable to complete the backup flare-tip installation and install new monitoring equipment within the original timescale as planned. The date applied for the backup flare tip was June 2022.

SEPA requested further information to enable us to determine whether this timescale was appropriate.  Shell provided additional detail regarding the project time scales and we have issued a variation notice to vary the site’s permit.

The permit variation can be found here.

As explained in its community notice on Wednesday 8 December, Shell U.K. Limited has informed SEPA that it will carrying out a noise assessment on the Fife NGL ground flares, which will require their use on Thursday 9 December.

At times during this work the ground flares may be visible from the immediate vicinity of the fence-line and to a few nearby properties. In order to minimise any impact, the work will be carried out during daylight hours.

SEPA expects Shell U.K. Limited to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible.

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited: Enclosed ground flare project community update - September 2021
• Have your say: monitoring the Mossmorran Complex - Complete our survey
  

We recently held four online events to allow members of the public to have their say on the future of monitoring at the Mossmorran complex in Fife. These events were hosted by SEPA, in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Local communities were invited to join us in a series of online information events which:

• Explained the role of SEPA and other public bodies in the regulation of the Mossmorran complex
• Explained how air quality, noise and vibration are assessed and share information on what we currently monitor, including where, why and what it tells us.
• We listened to your concerns about air quality and the impacts of noise and vibration.
• Help us understand what you would like to know about monitoring activities and how we can share the results of this in an accessible and informative way

If you were unable to join us, it's not too late to have your say. Please contribute by completing our survey:

Monitoring the Mossmorran Complex - Scottish Environment Protection Agency - Citizen Space (sepa.org.uk)

Find out more on our information leaflet and press release.

SEPA continues to review and follow up on complaints and will publish information on this page to show what action was taken. 

The information below is updated in-line with meetings of the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Liaison Committee. For further information on this committee visit Air quality | Fife Council

11 June 2021 – 9 September 2021 - 33 complaints

• Most complaints related to concerns about flaring at the Mossmorran Complex.

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 11 July 2021

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has informed SEPA that, as part of its safe restart, it has now begun using the elevated flare. SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible.

SEPA’s specialist staff have been in local communities carrying out regulatory, noise and air monitoring for the last two weeks. This work will continue throughout the duration of the elevated flaring to monitor any impacts on local residents. No notable impacts have been observed so far.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring remains in place at four locations around the site. Monitors show no breaches of air quality standards. More data will be made available on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

 Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Community Update - 11 July 2021

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 5 July 2021

SEPA’s daily regulatory briefings with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited are ongoing and the restart is progressing. Ground flaring is ongoing and may be visible. There may also be some intermittent elevated flaring. SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible.

SEPA’s regulatory, noise and air monitoring remains in place across local communities. Our specialist staff have been, and will continue to be, in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents. No notable impacts have been observed so far.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring remains in place at four locations around the site. Monitors show no breaches of air quality standards. More data will be made available on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 4 July 2021

SEPA’s daily regulatory briefings with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited are ongoing and the restart is progressing. Ground flaring is ongoing and may be visible and there may be some elevated flaring. While the re-start process will require planned elevated flaring, SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible.

SEPA’s regulatory noise and air monitoring continues across local communities. Our specialist staff have been, and will continue to be, in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring is continuing at four locations around the site and data will be made available here, on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 2 July 2021

SEPA’s daily regulatory briefings with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited are ongoing and the restart is progressing. Ground flaring is ongoing and may be visible.

Following an update from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited this afternoon, we also expect some intermittent elevated flaring this evening (2 July).

SEPA’s regulatory noise and air monitoring continues across local communities. Our specialist staff have been, and will continue to be, in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents. No notable impacts have been observed so far.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring is continuing at four locations around the site and data will be made available here, on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 30 June 2021

SEPA’s daily regulatory briefings with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited are contintuing and the restart is progressing. Ground flaring is ongoing and may be visible.  

SEPA’s regulatory, noise and air monitoring remains in place across local communities. Our specialist staff have been, and will continue to be, in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents. No notable impacts have been observed so far.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring is continuing at four locations around the site and data will be made available here, on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 28 June 2021

SEPA’s daily regulatory briefings with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited are continuing and ground flaring is ongoing and may be visible. 

SEPA’s regulatory, noise and air monitoring remains in place across local communities. Our specialist staff have been, and will continue to be, in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents. No notable impacts have been observed so far.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring is continuing at four locations around the site and data will be made available here, on our Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

 Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Community Update - 28 June 2021

 
Fife Ethylene Plant restart update: 23 June 2021

 SEPA’s daily regulatory brief with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has confirmed that its restart is progressing and ground flares are now operational.

SEPA regulatory, noise and air monitoring remains in place across local communities. Our specialist staff will be in local communities to monitor any impacts on local residents.

SEPA’s air quality monitoring is continuing at four locations around the site and data will be made available on SEPA’s Mossmorran hub as soon as possible once the restart is complete.

Follow @exxonmobil_fep on Twitter for operational updates.

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Community Update – 23 June 2021

SEPA continues to review and follow up on complaints and will publish information on this page to show what action was taken. 

The information below is updated in-line with meetings of the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Liaison Committee. For further information on this committee visit Air quality | Fife Council

9 April 2021 – 10 June 2021: 16 complaints

• All complaints related to concerns about flaring at the Mossmorran Complex.
• Over half of these complaints were associated with flaring during works at Shell FNGL as part of the project to install a new flare tip on their elevated flare and was part of the programme of improvement SEPA has required the Complex to carry out over the last few years.

As explained in its community notice on Wednesday 5 May, Shell U.K. Limited began reintroducing gas to its Fife NGL plant at the Mossmorran Complex this week. The operator advised that there would be periods of low intensity flaring in the elevated stack as a result. 

Last night (6 May) there was a higher level of flaring than expected at the Shell site. It is important to stress that the plant is designed to cope with this type of situation and flaring is an important safety mechanism during the restart process. However, we are aware that there was a period of smoky flaring and are actively working to understand the cause of this.

Exxonmobil Chemical Limited’s Fife Ethylene Plant currently remains offline.

SEPA’s four remote air quality monitoring points around the site, at Lochgelly, Auchtertool, Donibristle and Little Raith continue to capture data. Monitors continue to demonstrate no breach of air quality standards. SEPA’s noise monitoring also continues and work to analyse noise monitoring results are ongoing.

Shell U.K. Limited’s plant is now running as expected and any further problems of the type experienced yesterday are not anticipated. A small flare (or crown) is now expected from Shell’s elevated flare until ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s current £140m upgrade to improve site reliability and reduce the impacts of flaring – including the installation of a noise reducing flare tip - is complete and the Fife Ethylene Plant restarts. The exception to this is a period of approximately two hours of medium volume elevated flaring from Shell next week, which is also covered in its community notice. 

SEPA will continue to monitor operations at the plant. We would like to thank the members of the public who reported seeing flaring last night and remind anyone who is concerned about a potential pollution issue to contact us using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The planned temporary shutdown of ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) Mossmorran is progressing. Elevated flaring began as planned just after 9 am on Monday morning (12 April) and stopped early evening. Flaring from FEP is now confined to ground flares.

Community members may have noticed a limited amount of elevated flaring from the complex Monday evening and yesterday morning. This was from the adjacent Shell U.K. Limited facility and is associated with its safe shutdown.

SEPA has had specialist regulatory and scientific staff deployed in local communities to carry out noise and odour assessments. Air quality monitoring is ongoing in four locations and continues to demonstrate no breach of air quality objectives. View the data covering the period of elevated flaring.

Terry A’Hearn, SEPA CEO, said:

“The planned, temporary shutdown of the Fife Ethylene Plant to allow for work to carry out planned maintenance and plant upgrades, including the installation of a low noise flare tip, appears to be progressing well with minimal disruption to the local community. SEPA is pleased to see the commencement of this £140m programme of work by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited which will significantly improve the reliability of the Fife Ethylene Plant, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.”

SEPA expects ExxonMobil to continue to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible and the site has advised it will prioritise the use of the ground flares to minimise the impact on the community. Limited low-level elevated flaring may be visible from Shell U.K. Limited as its shutdown also progresses.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will begin its planned temporary shut down on 12 April.

 While the process will require planned elevated flaring during the first day, the agency is content that plans are in place to minimise the impacts on local residents and businesses. The shut down is required to carry out planned maintenance and plant upgrades, including the installation of a low noise flare tip.

 SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible and will have specialist regulatory and scientific staff deployed in local communities. Noise and air quality monitoring will also continue.

 Terry A’Hearn, SEPA CEO, said:

 “The work ExxonMobil Chemical Limited is beginning next week marks an important milestone on the site’s pathway to compliance. We have been clear that flaring, while an important safety feature of industrial facilities, will become the “exception rather than routine” and new infrastructure will help address the issues that cause most disturbance to local people.

 “The £140m upgrade of the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, together with SEPA’s ongoing stringent regulatory requirements and permit variations, will significantly improve the reliability of the Fife Ethylene Plant, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.”

Irish Environmental Protection Agency Best Practice Review will lead to community participation in design of monitoring network, enhanced visibility of compliance & monitoring reports and new online regulatory hub

 Friday, 19 March 2021

• A ‘clear pathway to compliance’ now exists for the Mossmorran industrial complex.
• £140m upgrade of ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant to commence next month to improve site reliability.
• Installation of a noise reducing flare tip this spring, with ExxonMobil committing to the installation of a fully enclosed ground flare in 2022 which the company states will reduce the use of the elevated flare by 98%.
• The move follows Final Warning Letters, the submission of a report to the Crown Office for consideration of prosecution in July 2020 in relation to the flaring at the Mossmorran complex during April 2019 and a series of stringent regulatory requirements and permit variations on both operators requiring defined actions.
• SEPA publishes Irish Environmental Protection Agency best practice review which will lead to community participation in the design of a site monitoring network, enhanced visibility of compliance and monitoring reports and a new online regulatory hub.
• SEPA further commits to strengthen the regulation and monitoring of both sites across the investment period, with specialist monitoring, compliance, enforcement and support staff involved in work on the industrial complex.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has said there is now a ‘clear pathway to compliance’ for the Mossmorran industrial complex in Fife following years of unacceptable flaring.

A £140m upgrade of the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant is to commence next month (April) to improve site reliability and reduce the impacts of flaring which SEPA has said must become the ‘exception rather than routine.’  The investment will see over 1,000 workers deliver over 300,000 hours of work as part of a major investment at the site.

The improvement programme will see the installation of a noise reducing flare tip this spring, with the installation of a fully enclosed ground flare that ExxonMobil has committed to install in 2022 which the company states will reduce the use of the elevated flare by 98%. 

The move follows Final Warning Letters in 2018, the submission of a report to the Crown Office for consideration of prosecution in July 2020 in relation to the flaring at the Mossmorran complex during April 2019 and a series of stringent regulatory requirements and permit variations on both operators requiring defined actions.

Taken together, the package will significantly improve the reliability of the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA has specialist monitoring, compliance, enforcement and support staff involved in work on the industrial complex and the agency has committed to further strengthen the regulation and monitoring of both sites across the investment period in response to the agency’s peer review by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, published today.

The best practice review was commissioned by SEPA in May 2020 to share good practice and advise on any further actions that may be taken to drive compliance at the Mossmorran site.  The review was part of a package of measures announced by SEPA including an independent technical assessment of the ground flare installation timeline from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited, the publication of ambient air quality monitoring reports and support for Fife Council’s review of community liaison structures.

From the recommendations of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency best practice review, some nine actions are already underway by SEPA, a further eight will be taken forward, one will be considered and two are rejected.  Key recommendations will see  SEPA’s programme of environmental monitoring extended with community participation in its design, enhanced visibility of regulatory monitoring results and investment in a refreshed online community information hub.

Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:

“At SEPA we’ve been clear that compliance with Scotland’s environmental laws is non-negotiable, that flaring at the Mossmorran complex was unacceptable and must become the exception rather than routine.  We’ve used the full force of our powers, from regulatory requirements and operating permit variations to Final Warning Letters and submission of a report to the Crown Office for consideration of prosecution.

“We’ve also been clear that our actions present a clear pathway to compliance for the industrial complex and that what mattered to communities was actions rather than words.  Next month’s £140m investment programme by ExxonMobil, the installation of noise reducing flare tip followed by a new enclosed ground flare in 2022 are major milestones to compliance which will mean less flaring and less impact on communities on the occasions flaring is required in the future.

“In our focus on Mossmorran, we’re using every tool available to drive investment, improvements and hold both operators to account, including an independent technical assessment and a best practice review by our sister environment protection agency.  We welcome the report’s conclusions and recommendations and thank the independent Irish team for their work.  Whilst in most cases recommendations are already underway, we welcome further suggestions, with only a small number not appropriate in this instance.

“Communities across Fife have the right to a future where flaring is the exception rather than routine.  Robust regulation takes time but through our work and the significant investment by site operators, hope and a clear pathway to compliance is now in sight for local communities who can be assured of our enhanced vigilance over this important period and beyond.”

Laura Burke, Director General of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, said:

“The regulation of complex industrial facilities is important for the protection of communities and our environment and it is good practice for regulatory authorities to draw on each other’s expertise and to share experience.  Following our review, we have considerable confidence in SEPA’s approach to ensuring compliance at the Mossmorran complex. Our recommendations reflect that sharing of regulatory expertise and experience and it is clear that many of them are already being incorporated into SEPA’s approach or will be taken forward by the Agency.”

Ian Buchanan, SEPA Chief Officer Compliance and Beyond, said:

“We have been clear that flaring, while an important safety feature of industrial facilities, will become the “exception rather than routine” and new infrastructure, including new totally enclosed ground flares, will address the issues that cause most disturbance to local people.

“In May 2020 we announced a package of measures that set out a pathway to compliance - which included a technical assessment of the timelines for new ground flare installation by utilising independent technical advisor(s) to verify the proposed programme. This was followed in July by the submission of a report to COPFS for consideration of prosecution in relation to flaring during April 2019.

“We welcome ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s announcement yesterday (7 December) that timelines for the new totally enclosed ground flare unit - which will result in less noise, less light and less disturbance - to be safely operational can be brought forward. This is in line with the emerging findings of our technical review.

“We are working to clarify and understand the detail of yesterday’s announcement and will review that alongside the full independent technical assessment in due course.”

The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) 2019 data – this year experimental official statistics – that have been published by SEPA today [29 September 2020], detail the annual mass emissions from SEPA-regulated industrial sites.

The statistics show that Scotland’s carbon dioxide emissions have reduced significantly in the last 10 years. Emissions of the gas are down 57 per cent in the decade and 5 per cent annually to 11,293,145,941 kg since 2018. Methane emissions have also decreased significantly - by 44 percent - over the decade to 2019, and by 4 per cent between 2018 and 2019 to 26,777,357 kg.

More information is available in our full SPRI media release.

Mossmorran Complex emissions

While the overall trend in Scotland for carbon dioxide and methane are down, the emissions for individual sites are impacted by their activities. Due to the period that ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant was offline, overall emissions have reduced – though emissions of some pollutants have increased at the Mossmorran Complex as a whole due to flaring. Despite the increases in emissions having no impact on local air quality, it clearly demonstrates the need for a move to flaring being the exception rather than routine.

SEPA has already announced a series of important steps and a pathway to compliance at Mossmorran, which we continue to drive forward. We’ve been clear with both operators on what we and the community expect and have outlined the steps they need to take to make this happen.

We’ll keep a firm focus on compliance, monitoring and the package of measures required over the period ahead and will keep local communities informed of our progress.

Local air quality

SEPA has conducted a wider range of air quality monitoring since January 2019, and regular air quality data reports continue to be published on our website at sepa.org.uk/Mossmorran.

Comparing results recorded when there was no significant flaring from the complex with the results during the period Exxon was offline shows no noteworthy increase in the measured ambient air concentrations of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide or non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOCs), despite increases in mass emissions of these pollutants.

SEPA’s monitoring results show no breaches of any of the air quality objectives during 2019 due to emissions from the Mossmorran Complex and all measurements were in the low band of Defra’s daily air quality index (DAQI) for all applicable pollutants.

Reported SPRI emissions

• Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited decreased due to boilers and furnaces not being operational for part of the year, following the shutdown in August. This reduction offsets any increases due to flaring from the complex.
• Carbon monoxide, particulate matter, methane and NMVOC emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited increased due to increased flaring.
• Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur oxides from Shell U.K. Limited increased due to increased flaring during ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s shutdown. Shell U.K Limited continued to operate, albeit at a lower rate than normal.
• More detail on local air quality results is available in our report Emissions from the Mossmorran Complex in 2019 - report

The short and medium-term investment we’re requiring the operators at the Mossmorran Complex to make, from noise-reducing flare tips to planning, designing then delivering new ground flare capacity, will make a real difference to local communities. We understand that the impact of restrictions put in place to tackle the spread of Covid-19 has had an impact on the original timelines for delivering some of this work.

In April 2020, when we set out our regulatory approach in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were clear that where businesses are unable to fully meet their permit conditions, they should contact us. In June ExxonMobil Chemical Limited applied for a variation to its permit as it would be unable to complete the flare-tip installation as planned. The date applied for was August 2021.

SEPA requested further information to enable us to determine whether this timescale was appropriate. It is better that the installation is done during the planned shutdown, to minimise the impact on the community by avoiding additional flaring. SEPA requested ExxonMobil Chemical Limited tell us the last date it will use the existing flare as part of this shutdown. 

ExxonMobil informed us this date is 7 May 2021 and we have issued a variation notice to vary the site’s permit to state that the existing elevated flare cannot be used after this date and the plant can only restart once the noise-reducing flare tip is in place. We welcome the realism of a practical date for installation of this important element.

 Notice of variation to Permit - ExxonMobil Chemical Limited

SEPA has announced its intention to submit a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for consideration of prosecution in relation to the flaring the Mossmorran complex during April 2019. The report will be submitted shortly which follows unplanned flaring over a seven day period in April 2019 and an extensive regulatory investigation involving specialist regulatory, technical, scientific and enforcement teams from across the agency.

Over 900 complaints were received by our Pollution Hotline, the highest number the agency has received for any single environmental event. The move also follows a 2018 ‘Final Warning Letter’ issued to ExxonMobil Chemical Limited for a 2017 ‘preventable and unacceptable’ flaring incident.

Announcing a package of new measures, we’re confirmed a detailed technical assessment of the timelines for new ground flare installations by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited including utilising independent technical advisor(s) to verify the proposed programme.

The actions of ExxonMobil Chemical Limited continue to be under continual review during the current coronavirus pandemic with an intensified compliance programme to focus on the steps the company is taking to prevent and minimise flaring.

We are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive which has responsibility for site safety as part of the Competent Authority under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations.Our focus remains on ensuring the company addresses the root causes of unacceptable flaring.

We have published 39 scientific monitoring reports online, with these continuing to be published on a fortnightly basis on our sepa.org.uk/mossmorran hub. Published data continues to demonstrate no breach of UK air quality standards.

We’re also announcing an external review by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency of regulation to share best practice and advise on further actions that may be taken to drive compliance. The review will report by October 2020.

Recognising the requirement to strengthen arrangements for community engagement, we are actively supporting Fife Council’s review of ​the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee aimed at refreshing community ​participation and engagement around the Mossmorran complex. We are also confirming that we are collaborating with Fife Council to review monitoring with input from local communities and other public partners as soon as is safely practical to do so.

Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of SEPA, said:

“Compliance with Scotland’s environmental laws is simply non-negotiable. Over a number of years, communities across Fife have repeatedly endured unplanned flaring. Whilst flaring is an important safety mechanism of such facilities, it must become the exception, rather than routine.

“People rightly expect that their lives won’t be impacted by nearby industrial processes and yet again, over an extended period during Easter 2019, communities were impacted by unacceptable and preventable flaring. The incident resulted in over 900 complaints to our Pollution Hotline, the highest number we’ve received for any single environmental event.

“Consequently, following an extensive investigation into the flaring at Mossmorran during April 2019, we intend to shortly submit a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for consideration of prosecution.

“It’s right that we take enforcement action for the Easter 2019 flaring event.  What is just as important is that ExxonMobil Chemical Limited address the root-causes of ‘unacceptable flaring’. 

“Today we’ve announced a series of important steps and a pathway to compliance at Mossmorran. We’ve been clear with both operators on what we and the community expect and have outlined the steps they need to take to make this happen. Whilst flaring will continue to be required, this must become the exception rather than routine. We’ll keep a firm focus on compliance, monitoring and the package of measures required over the period ahead and we’ll keep local communities informed at sepa.org.uk/mossmorran”

REGULATION OF MOSSMORRAN DURING COVID-19:

We have published our SEPA COVID-19 Philosophy and overarching guidance on regulation during COVID-19. 

For Mossmorran we will:

• Work closely with the HSE as the Competent Authority under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations to continue to assure ourselves that ExxonMobil is taking appropriate steps to manage any risks that may arise from COVID-19.
  
  
• Continue our robust regulation and assessment of the site.  Whilst SEPA’s Compliance Assessment Scheme (CAS) cannot practically be applied during the 2020 calendar year, this will not limit or inhibit our compliance work or have an impact on our ability to take action should non-compliance issues arise.
  
  
• Focus our compliance work on those conditions where non-compliance may lead to a risk of impact on local communities and the environment, for example, the condition that requires that ExxonMobil must ensure that all appropriate preventative measures are taken against noise and vibration emissions through the application of BAT and ensure that no significant pollution is caused. 
  
  
• Continue to monitor noise and air quality across local communities and we have upgraded our monitors so that we are able to download all data remotely.  Air quality monitoring results published fortnightly at sepa.org.uk/mossmorran.
  
  
• Continue to focus on delivery of flaring improvements in the shortest possible timeframe.
  
  
• Review and follow up on to complaints, but for the safety of our staff and others, we may not be able to visit or engage with members of the community in person.  As our staffing levels have been impacted we encourage people to use our web reporting tool.  In addition, we will be unable to provide a personal response, as we would normally have done when complainants request to speak directly to a SEPA officer.
  
  
• Continue to respond to any significant elevated flaring by deploying staff on the ground whilst maintaining physical distancing. However, as all our staff are working from home our response may not be as rapid as it would be normally.

SEPA continues its twin-track approach to ExxonMobil – ongoing monitoring whilst working to address root causes of ‘unacceptable’ flaring - 24 January 2020

• SEPA confirms the continuation of its twin-track approach to ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd –ongoing monitoring whilst driving change to address the root causes of ‘unacceptable’ flaring.
• Public partners have been working closely together on the restart.
• SEPA will monitor the planned restart of ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran facility – with a deployment of air quality, noise and regulatory monitoring.
• SEPA is clear that all steps must be taken to minimise impacts on communities.
• Follow @ScottishEPA and @exxonmobil_fep for updates.
• SEPA will continue to publish monitoring information as quickly as possible on social media and sepa.org.uk/mossmorran.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (Friday 24 January 2020), confirmed the continuation of its ‘twin-track’ approach to the responsible restart of ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd’s Mossmorran facility in Fife.

With the agency having regular contact with the operator regarding its planned restart, SEPA confirmed it stands ready with a deployment of air quality, noise and regulatory monitoring.  

Whilst more than twenty reports from the agency continue to confirm no breaches of air quality standards due to flaring at Mossmorran, SEPA is continuing its deployment of air quality monitoring in multiple locations surrounding the site.  Locations in Lochgelly, Auchtertool and Donibristle, upwind and downwind of the complex, ensure that SEPA can monitor in local communities and take account of changes in wind direction. Full air quality reports are published at sepa.org.uk/mossmorran.

The agency has also deployed noise monitoring in Lochgelly and a residential location to the South East of the site, with additional responsive mobile monitoring to be deployed if required.  Noise monitoring data associated with our regulatory investigation cannot be published at this time.

SEPA has previously confirmed air quality monitoring will stay in place whilst the recently announced investments are made at Mossmorran. SEPA is also working alongside partner agencies with air quality responsibilities to assess future requirements.

The agency also confirmed progress in driving change to address the root causes of ‘unacceptable’ flaring including requiring noise-reducing flare tips and fully enclosed ground flare technologies to be installed that will significantly reduce the impact on the rare future occasions when flaring is necessary.

Rob Morris, SEPA Senior Manager, Compliance & Beyond, said:

“We’re clear that compliance with Scotland’s environmental rules is simply non-negotiable.  That’s why we’re continuing our twin-track approach to ExxonMobil.  In addition to continuing our monitoring across the responsible restart of the facility, we’re firmly focused on addressing the root causes of ‘unacceptable’ flaring.

“People rightly expect that their lives won’t be impacted by nearby industrial processes. In addition to requiring ExxonMobil Chemicals Limited and Shell U.K. Limited to install noise reducing flare tips, we’re finalising proposals requiring new ground flare capacity that will be planned, designed, built and safely integrated in the shortest period possible.

“Public partners have been working closely together regarding the restart. With regulatory, air quality and noise monitoring officers working to ensure a responsible and reliable restart, we’ll provide regular updates and publish monitoring information as quickly as possible on social media and sepa.org.uk/mossmorran. Useful information is also available via ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s Mossmorran’s social media. Anyone who is concerned about pollution can use SEPA’s online reporting tool at sepa.org.uk/report, available around the clock.”

Regulatory investigation in final stages
On Thursday 25 April 2019 the SEPA announced a formal regulatory investigation into the unacceptable flaring from the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited site in Fife that started on Sunday 21 April.

The investigation is now in the final stages. A small number of interviews remain to be conducted and a further update will be provided when complete.

Operating permit variations
SEPA has served a series of permit variations to lock in compliance at Mossmorran and reduce flaring impacts. The operating permit variations served on ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell U.K. Limited have required both operators to achieve ‘Best Available Techniques’ in the shortest timeframe possible.

The variations will require investments in equipment that reduces the impacts of flaring on local communities when flaring is necessary. Flaring, an important safety feature of industrial facilities, will become the “exception rather than routine” and new infrastructure will address the issues that cause most disturbance to local people.

New infrastructure
SEPA expects investment in noise-reducing flare tips and fully enclosed ground flare technologies at Mossmorran and that these will significantly reduce the impact on the rare occasions when flaring is necessary.

Noise reducing flare tips are to be installed by the operators within the following timescales:

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited in 2020
•  Shell U.K. Limited in 2021

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has committed to optimising timescales to install new ground flares - which will significantly address impacts from flaring. SEPA welcomes the £140 million investment announced by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and the assurances that reliability and performance will improve.

Shell U.K. Limited must provide SEPA with a project plan by the end of January 2020 for their future use of ground flares. SEPA is currently reviewing the detailed plans for the installation of ground flares that were received from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited at the end of October 2019.

• Formal regulatory investigation into April 2019 flaring underway.

• Over 900 complaints were received to date by SEPA’s 24 hour Pollution Hotline, one of the highest number for any single event.

• SEPA confirms the “level and extent of flaring is wholly unacceptable.”

• Move by SEPA follows ‘Final Warning Letters’ issued to ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd in April 2018 regarding flaring which was found to be “preventable and unacceptable”.

• It also follows SEPA and Health and Safety Executive investigations in 2018/2019, a tightening of permit conditions and an instruction to conduct a ‘Best Available Techniques’ (BAT) assessment.

• BAT Assessments were received from both operators on 30 April 2019 which are currently the subject of rigorous review by technical specialists.

• BAT Assessment are now available to view on the public register via www.sepa.org.uk/mossmorran

• SEPA today (17 May 2019) announced that further permit variations will be served on ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell UK Limited to design a programme of monitoring to assess the impacts of flaring on the local community and the environment.

• Whilst subject to a formal regulatory investigation, SEPA has a full range of enforcement powers available and will utilise these to require the impact of flaring be reduced

The unprecedented number of complaints we received is a clear message that the impacts on people’s lives is a major concern. SEPA has heard this message powerfully and clearly.

Full regulatory investigation

On Sunday 21 April SEPA received complaints from members of the public about flaring from the Mossmorran Complex. The flaring continued until Saturday 27 April.

A formal regulatory investigation into April 2019 flaring is underway which will take time to complete. The nature of a live investigation means there is some information that cannot be provided as quickly as people would like.

We appreciate this can be frustrating, but ask that you understand that gathering and protecting potential evidence is of the utmost importance.

SEPA officers have already contacted some members of the public who contacted us to record the impacts this flaring had on them. Understanding the real impacts provided by local communities, families and individuals is vitally important and this work is ongoing.

Following completion of the investigation SEPA will use its enforcement policy to decide what action should be taken. SEPA has a range of enforcement options including serving notices requiring specific action to be taken through to the submission of a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service recommending prosecution of an environmental offence.

Requirement for a programme of monitoring

SEPA today (17 May 2019) announced that further permit variations will be served on ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell UK Limited to design a programme of monitoring to assess the impacts of flaring on the local community and the environment - including air quality, noise and vibration.

We expect there to be a high level of community engagement in the development of the programme.

The companies will be expected to consult widely to ensure:

• monitoring will provide the information required to carry out the necessary impact assessment;
• the most appropriate technology and contractors are used to develop public confidence.

SEPA will scrutinise the proposed programme and make it publicly available. Providing it is suitably robust we will require the companies to implement it.

The date by which these proposals must be submitted will be contained within the Variations.

Best Available Techniques (BAT) Assessments

As part of the Permit Variations served by SEPA in 2018, both ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell UK Limited were required to complete BAT Assessments to consider the ways in which they can prevent, or where that is not practicable, reduce the impact of flaring.

These were received by SEPA by the deadline and are available to view on the public register

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited BAT Assessment
• Shell UK Limited BAT Assessment

While SEPA has conducted an initial review of the BAT Assessments, these are technical documents and we need sufficient time to analyse them in depth.  However, these assessments provide a significant opportunity and it is vital that both operators take this opportunity to deliver real changes.

SEPA will require the operators to take action to ensure they are using Best Available Techniques and any flaring is undertaken without unacceptable impacts on the community.

Working with partners

SEPA is working with a number of public agency partners in relation to the regulation of the of the Mossmorran complex in Fife. We will continue to liaise with the Health and Safety Executive, Fife Council, Health Protection Scotland and NHS Fife to share whatever information we can to ensure the impacts are understood and the regulatory controls are appropriate and effective.

The Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Independent Air Quality Monitoring Review Group will also continue to play a key role and SEPA recently carried out a three month programme of continuous air quality monitoring to provide information to this group and its members. Further details are available in our April 2019 monitoring report, published on the Mossmorran Hub.

Monitoring during the recent flaring event

• On 21 April SEPA staff attended locations around Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly to witness the flaring and experience the impacts. This work happened throughout the flaring event.
  
  
• Our air quality and noise monitoring team were deployed in the area with SEPA CEO, Terry A’Hearn on 22 April. Further monitoring was carried out during the flaring event.
  
  
• Information on the air quality monitoring SEPA carried out is available in our SEPA monitoring report for April 2019.
  
  
• We will continue to develop our monitoring response in conjunction with Fife Council, NHS Fife and through engagement with the local community.

SEPA can confirm the Best Available Techniques (BAT) assessments from Shell UK Limited and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited were received yesterday. Following a review of the proposals, we will provide an update ahead of the community meeting on Friday 17 May - which we will attend.

SEPA Mossmorran investigation in final stages as agency’s regulation drives investment to make flaring “the exception rather than routine”

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (19 December 2019) updated stakeholders on the progress of its regulatory investigation into “unacceptable” flaring by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited during April 2019. 

The agency also outlined the steps it continues to take to tackle the unacceptable impacts of flaring from the operation of the Mossmorran facility. 

Regulatory investigation in final stages

On Thursday 25 April 2019 the SEPA announced a formal regulatory investigation into the unacceptable flaring from the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited site in Fife that started on Sunday 21 April.

SEPA today announced that the investigation is now in the final stages. A small number of interviews remain to be conducted and a further update will be provided in the new year.

Operating permit variations

SEPA has served a series of permit variations to lock in compliance at Mossmorran and reduce flaring impacts. The operating permit variations served on ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell U.K. Limited have required both operators to achieve ‘Best Available Techniques’ in the shortest timeframe possible.

The variations will require investments in equipment that reduces the impacts of flaring on local communities when flaring is necessary. Flaring, an important safety feature of industrial facilities, will become the “exception rather than routine” and new infrastructure will address the issues that cause most disturbance to local people.

New infrastructure

SEPA expects investment in noise-reducing flare tips and fully enclosed ground flare technologies at Mossmorran and that these will significantly reduce the impact on the rare occasions when flaring is necessary.

Noise reducing flare tips are to be installed by the operators within the following timescales:

• ExxonMobil Chemical Limited in 2020
• Shell U.K. Limited in 2021

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has committed to optimising timescales to install new ground flares - which will significantly address impacts from flaring. SEPA welcomes the £140 million investment announced by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and the assurances that reliability and performance will improve.

Shell U.K. Limited must provide SEPA with a project plan by the end of January 2020 for their future use of ground flares. SEPA is currently reviewing the detailed plans for the installation of ground flares that were received from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited at the end of October 2019.

Monitoring

SEPA continues to monitor air quality around Mossmorran. Regular reports have been published on our Mossmorran Hub and the results from these consistently show that levels of particulate matter are well within daily (UK) Air Quality Standards.

Currently, SEPA has air quality monitoring equipment at Lochgelly, Auchtertool and Donibristle. These locations ensure that we can monitor in local communities and take account of changes in wind direction. It also means we can monitor both upwind and downwind of the Mossmorran Complex.

SEPA is planning for these monitors to stay in place whilst the investments are made at Mossmorran. SEPA is also working alongside partner agencies with air quality responsibilities to assess future requirements.

Noise monitoring has also been carried out by SEPA in response to unplanned flaring. The data from this monitoring is associated with our regulatory investigations and cannot be published at this time.

If you do not have access to the internet and would like copies of our Air Quality Summary Reports, please contact 03000 99 66 99.

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited restart

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has confirmed that the safe, responsible and considered re-start of the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran will now occur in January.  SEPA has been advised of limited, low-volume flaring at Mossmorran on Sunday 22 December as ExxonMobil Chemical Limited prepares for this start-up. We will continue to monitor air quality throughout.

Further to detailed dialogue with the operator, SEPA welcomes the commitment to pause re-start operations during the Christmas and New Year period, and to work to minimise the impact of those operations on in the New Year.

In addition to an active programme of communications from the company, SEPA’s specialist regulatory and scientific officers will fully monitor the re-start.  We’ll provide regular updates during the re-start and will publish monitoring information as quickly as possible on sepa.org.uk/mossmorran

For more information

SEPA will continue take the action needed to ensure that the operators of the Mossmorran Complex (both ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell UK Limited) make the investment needed to address the root causes of unacceptable flaring and mitigations.

We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to help us understand the impacts of this flaring during our active investigation.

For further information, including a copy of our recently distributed community newsletter visit sepa.org.uk/mossmorran 

Previous 2019 updates are available in the drop down sections divided by date. Updates from previous years can be found at  Flaring at Mossmorran - previous updates

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell U.K. Limited served Final Warning Letters - 19 April 2018

Petrochemical companies ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited have been served with Final Warning Letters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) following an enhanced unplanned flaring event at the Mossmorran complex in Fife, during June 2017.

SEPA found residents were subject to considerable disturbance in their homes from noise, vibration and black smoke over the seven-day period in Summer 2017, during which a total of 74 complaints were received by the agency.

While the Final Warning Letters brings to a close SEPA’s regulatory investigation for June 2017, unplanned flaring events which took place in October 2017 and March 2018 are still under investigation.

The Final Warning Letters issued to ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited are available to view below:

ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd - Final Warning Letter - April 2018

Shell UK Limited - Final Warning Letter - April 2018

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) & the Health and Safety Executive today (Friday 8^th June 2018) announced a joint investigation into ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited, the operators of the Mossmorran petrochemical plants in Fife.

The move follows the serving of Final Warning Letters on both companies by the agency in April 2018 related to “preventable and unacceptable” unplanned flaring during June 2017. 

Operating permit variations are to be served on ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited following a review announced in April, to strengthen noise and vibration controls.  These will be published on SEPA’s website next week. 

Hearing first-hand accounts of the constituency MP, MSPs, Councillors and communities, SEPA Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn, explained why October, March and May flaring incidents and monitoring data required to remain under investigation to avoid prejudice to future enforcement action.

Speaking after the community meeting in Kirkcaldy, SEPA Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn, said:

“Every day, SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment and compliance with Scotland’s environmental rules is simply non-negotiable.  

“We were clear that unplanned flaring in June 2017 was preventable and unacceptable and we issued final warnings to both companies in that regard.  Despite that, communities have endured further unplanned flaring in October, March and again in May.

“We’ve listened carefully to community calls for a root and branch review and today’s announcement of a joint investigation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) & the Health & Safety Executive will examine issues at both sites.

“But more than that, in April we promised a review of operating permits.  Operating permit variations will be served on ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK in the next week.  These permits are legal documents which set out what each operator must do under law. 

“It’s right that people want to know more about October, March and May flaring incidents.  That said, people want action not words which is why I’ve come personally to explain why these incidents remain under investigation and why we need to avoid prejudice to future enforcement action.

“We’re listening to the community and it’s important the companies do too.”

24 May -SEPA has been notified by ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd that flaring at Mossmorran has now ceased.

In response to the latest flaring incident, SEPA mobilised a full response, including air quality and noise monitoring, to assess local impacts. We have launched a formal investigation.

We are clear that compliance is non-negotiable, and will continue to use our regulatory influence at all levels.

SEPA operates a 24 hour Pollution Hotline (0800 80 70 60).

June 2017 flaring investigation

SEPA received a considerable number of complaints from members of the public regarding flaring from the Mossmorran Complex (Shell and ExxonMobil) between 12 and 24 June. An investigation is currently underway.

Rob Morris, SEPA Area Manager, attended a meeting of the Mossmorran Action Group on 5 July.

"This was a very important opportunity for me as a representative of SEPA to meet and hear from those who have been affected by recent flaring at the Mossmorran petrochemical complex. It also allowed me to explain our regulatory role and some of what will happen next.

"A team of SEPA technical and enforcement specialists who are independent of regulating the site on a day-to-day basis will be carrying out a full investigation. SEPA gave commitment last night to giving future updates on how it is progressing with its investigations whilst stressing the importance of gathering appropriate evidence to inform any future enforcement actions."

SEPA response to local coverage in June

The following letter was submitted to the Courier and Central Fife Times on 23.08.17.

We fully understand that many local people are very concerned about the flaring that occurred at the Mossmorran complex in June.  Our focus is on ensuring that we investigate fully what happened and that similar events do not reoccur.

For clarity, SEPA regulates the environmental aspects of the Mossmorran complex where both Shell and ExxonMobil hold permits. These include conditions relating to flaring and controls applied under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations.

A team of SEPA staff are currently carrying out a full investigation.

We gave a commitment at the Mossmorran Action Group meeting held in Lochgelly in July to provide updates on the progress of our investigation, and we would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public that this remains the case. 

Our investigation will look into what caused the flaring to occur and assess whether there have been any breaches of permit conditions by either company.

This investigatory work is part of an evidence gathering process which will inform any future enforcement actions, one of which could be the submission of a report to the Procurator Fiscal, and as such we are not in a position to release the details of the investigation at this time.

Our investigation is therefore ongoing and we’d like to reassure the public that we will continue to engage with community representatives and will share what information we can when we can.

Ian Buchanan
Head of Regulatory Services
Scottish Environment Protection Agency