Stakeholder engagement
How We Partner with Our Communities: The One Team Approach
At Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC, we recognize the importance of engaging with our neighbors. Our values of Start with Safety, Go with Honor, Deliver with Commitment, guide us to understand our communities’ needs as they support our continued industrial progress.
As an operator, we value fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of background or income. We believe earning and keeping the trust of our neighbors is just as important as operating our assets safely and reliably. This involvement will lead to more resilient communities and environments.
Committed to the principles in the API RP 1185, our internal strategy creates a One Team Approach focused on Environmental and Community Resilience. Specifically, we integrate five perspectives — Business Leaders and Operations, Public Affairs, Human Resources, Procurement and Social Impact. This framework helps us promote resiliency and allows us to engage proactively, inclusively and collaboratively with communities along our pipeline rights-of-way.
“Our commitment to pipeline public engagement is rooted in earning and maintaining trust in the communities where we operate and in being guardians of public and environmental safety.”
DON BALDRIDGE
Executive Vice President, Midstream and Chemicals
Business Leaders and Operations
Our communities expect us to operate safely and responsibly. To do so, we maintain robust emergency plans to stay prepared for the unexpected.
Our leaders practice responsiveness and continuous improvement as they serve their communities. This gives us opportunities to learn from feedback and past experiences, thus improving how we engage and communicate with our neighbors.
Operational changes will inevitably affect employees, contractors, labor unions or communities. That’s why we start early and stay engaged by proactively reaching out to stakeholders so their perspectives are heard and considered in decision-making. This ensures an equitable transition that prioritizes stakeholder safety and well-being.
In reference to the International Labor Organization’s guiding principles, we mitigate impacts through redeployment, skills training and community renewal in coordination with local officials to support emergency preparedness.
To fulfill our role as guardians of public and environmental safety beyond our facilities, we must follow environmental regulations before beginning new site operations. Our investment in health and social risk assessments has helped us identify potential issues about proposed routes or projects.
Stakeholders expect clear and timely communication, which is why we strive to keep our business and operations leaders informed through digital platforms, in-person outreach and more.
Human Resources
To recruit talent, we meet our people where they are. We routinely collaborate with high schools, colleges, technical schools and community and professional organizations. We also offer internship programs and scholarships and participate in career fairs to grow candidate pipelines. This approach invites diverse perspectives, and our one-on-one presence makes it easy for people to provide input or ask us questions in community meetings or online.
Employee Resource Groups strengthen connections and help us tailor communication to meet the needs of a range of cultures, including tribal nations. Paired with volunteer efforts and strategic partnerships, we can review and improve our public engagement practices over time.
Procurement
The Phillips 66 Supplier Diversity Program stimulates local economic development by providing equal and impartial opportunities to small and diverse businesses in the communities we serve.
While fostering a more resilient supply base, we share lessons learned and emerging best practices across the pipeline sector to improve performance and promote safety.
Public Affairs
We promote transparent and inclusive communication through community awareness campaigns, education and listening panels, social media, our website, public meetings and community hotlines. These avenues support the sharing of clear, accessible information about the lifecycle of our pipeline operations, safety practices and potential impacts.
Our refineries have Community Advisory Panels or Councils (CAPs or CACs), made up of volunteer community members and refinery leadership who meet regularly to discuss site safety and operating performance, special educational topics, planned maintenance activities and community outreach programs. Our midstream pipeline operators have year-round education and listening panels to ensure we respond promptly and thoughtfully when questions or concerns are raised.
We actively maintain a respectful, two-way dialogue with tribal nations through multiple channels and initiatives. We maintain relationships via our Public Affairs teams, CAPs and CACs, particularly with tribes near our operational facilities. We seek to involve tribal representatives in our emergency training and drills.
Phillips 66 provides dedicated resources, clear roles and ongoing oversight to help ensure the effective implementation of API RP 1185 across our operations.
Our partnerships with the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, the Pipeline Research Council International, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the GPA Midstream Association and others support our goal of enhancing industry standards. These collaborations reinforce our commitment to the communities that depend on the energy we transport.