ESG Report - Report - Page 42
Feedback from Our Neighbors
At our Houston
refinery, local families
and neighbors join Valero
employees during the
annual Back to School Bash.
More than 600 random surveys of community members
and multiple interviews with stakeholders conducted
as part of the independent Enviromental Justice Audit
Report revealed that our neighbors held positive views
of Valero.
Community Surveys: a favorable impression of
Valero
In October 2022, Valero engaged a third-party
polling company to conduct more than 600 random
surveys in certain Valero neighboring communities.
An overwhelming majority of residents surveyed
recognized the importance of oil and gas companies
to the local economy, and a majority of residents
had a favorable impression of Valero as a company.
Additionally, a majority of residents did not believe that
environmental racism was an issue in their community.
However, a majority of respondents were at least
somewhat concerned about environmental issues in
their local area. This contrast suggests that while racerelated EJ concerns are limited, a general concern over
the level of pollutants in air and water exists.
Community Interviews: positive feedback from
organizations advancing EJ concerns to regulators,
local officials and nonprofits
Montrose Environmental conducted in-depth interviews
with stakeholders, including regulators, local officials,
community organizers and nonprofit representatives, to
collect their feedback. The following are some of their
comments:
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“When we look at our world, there’s so much going on ...
I feel like they [Valero] are working in all areas to be
sure that this city, this area, is safe for its citizens.”
– Carolyn Bibbs, President & CEO, Creative Life, Memphis,
Tennessee
“I constantly see Valero stepping up ... Valero won for
Industry Partner of the Year because of all the work they
do in the community.”
- Sharon Bailey Murphy, Executive Director of the Coastal
Bend Air Quality Partnership, member of the Corpus
Christi Community Advisory Council
“We were hit pretty hard by Hurricane Ida, and Valero
was one of those companies that really stood up and
supported so many needy families and parts of our
community that were devastated. If you consider that
57% are economically disadvantaged here, you can
imagine we have some pretty, pretty poor areas.”
– Dr. Ken Oertling, Superintendent, St. Charles Parish
Public Schools, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
“The plant manager has come to my place many times.
He said he has an open-door policy when it comes to
communication, and that's something that's new. But
that's something I think all industry should practice ...
connecting with the community where you're doing
business.”
- Hilton Kelley, Founder & Director, Port Arthur
Community In-Power & Development
