Shell Falcon Pipeline LP is facing 13 misdemeanor charges for allegedly violating Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law during the construction of a pipeline in western Pennsylvania. 

The charges were filed last Friday by the Environmental Crimes Section of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office following an industrial waste leak during the construction of a 45-mile segment of the Falcon Ethane Pipeline System.

According to the attorney general's office, Shell contractors failed to report instances where drilling mud, which can contain pollutants, leaked underground and, in some cases, surfaced in "unintended locations." This mud constitutes industrial waste and pollutes the environment wherever it ends up.

Charging documents also allege that Shell violated its permit by failing to install real-time data logging devices on its drilling equipment and not reporting the failures to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

"Pennsylvania's environmental laws are in place to keep families and communities safe from harm caused by major construction projects," said Attorney General Michelle Henry. "This company chose to ignore those laws and kept quiet about issues that should have been disclosed to prevent potential impacts."

Shell is charged with seven counts of unlawful conduct under the Clean Streams Law, three counts of the prohibition against the discharge of industrial wastes, and three counts of the prohibition against other pollutions.