2025 Valero Report on Guiding Principles - Flipbook - Page 37
Introduction
Safety
Environment
Community
People
Governance
Appendix
Biodiversity
We engage in diverse ecological projects with local, state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as with
neighbors and nonpro昀椀t partners. We work together with local and regional organizations that provide a variety
of environmental services ranging from the protection of endangered species and restoration of wetlands
to reforestation, rehabilitation of former industrial sites and promotion of environmental awareness through
educational training programs.
Biodiversity Impact Assessments
As part of our permitting processes, we comply with local, state and federal regulations related to potential
biodiversity impacts in the planning, approval and implementation phases of certain capital projects.
phase
1
Pre-Construction/Planning Phase
A dedicated team of environmental experts works
closely with our engineering and commercial
departments to perform environmental due diligence.
As part of our consideration of threats to biodiversity,
we often perform environmental 昀椀eld studies to verify
and delineate natural resources within proposed
project areas. For signi昀椀cant green昀椀eld projects where
alternative locations are considered, the most viable
locations are surveyed. This data further drives project
decisions on avoidance of sensitive features and
habitats and informs site selection.
The following natural and cultural resource
considerations are part of the evaluation process:
• Locations of surface waters and wetlands.
• Threatened and endangered species habitats.
• Previously recorded archaeological sites, historic
structures and areas of tribal interest or signi昀椀cance.
• Existing developed areas versus undeveloped
green昀椀eld sites.
• Public lands, including parks, nature preserves and
wildlife conservation areas.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
昀氀oodplains.
• Surface water intakes.
phase
2
Permit/Approval Phase
Valero undergoes a robust permitting process and
collaborates with local, state and federal regulatory
agencies. Additionally, our subject matter experts review
impact assessments from the pre-construction and
planning phase.
For major capital projects, a presentation including
permitting information, impact avoidance plans,
identi昀椀cation of threatened and endangered species
and other biodiversity impacts, if applicable, is
presented at the executive management level. Major
capital projects must be approved by the Board before
advancing to the implementation phase.
phase
3
Construction/Implementation Phase
For site preparation and other related soil-disturbing
activities, we initiate stormwater management controls
to reduce impacts on lakes, rivers, streams and other
surface waters. These controls consist of a variety
of best management practices integrated into our
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, which comply
with federal, state and local stormwater pollution control
requirements.
During major construction and where warranted,
we also provide training programs on topics such
as threatened and endangered species awareness
and identi昀椀cation, stop-work protocols and reporting.
To protect ecosystems from unintended releases of
materials, we implement comprehensive pollution
prevention and incident response programs.
In 2024, Valero received
a second Conservation
Certi昀椀cation from the
Wildlife Habitat Council for
the conservation of Alma
re昀椀nery, a closed re昀椀nery in
Michigan. The project seeks
to foster naturally occurring
milkweed habitat during the
monarch butter昀氀y season.
Valero Report on Guiding Principles •
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