Stewardship from the Start

Planning is key to the delivery of our company’s environmental stewardship commitment, which is why we adopted a site assessment standard that protects four key types of sensitive receptors: 

Prior to initiating construction activity, we carefully assess the varying aspects of a proposed location, from its geography and topography to the potential existence of sensitive wildlife habitat, cultural resources, residences and other public-occupied sites. Protection of the nation’s waters, including streams, wetlands and floodplains, is also important to our assessment. Our analysis includes both a desktop and field review to identify the presence or absence of these sensitive receptors.

Central to our program procedures is going above and beyond compliance requirements. This means flagging any sensitivities within the proposed limits of disturbance (LOD) of our operations, plus a minimum of 100 feet beyond the LOD. If an environmentally sensitive receptor or cultural resource is identified within the proposed LOD, we avoid or minimize impacts by relocating site activity or developing a plan to protect the resource, including obtaining necessary environmental permits.

We work closely with stakeholder groups, including landowners and federal, state, and local governments, to coordinate site planning and protect any areas or species of concern. For example, in the Powder River Basin, we collaborate with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Land Management to protect migratory birds by altering or rescheduling operations to preserve their nesting/brooding cycles.