Community Outreach

Equitrans L.P., a subsidiary of Equitrans Midstream Corporation, (Equitrans) and the Ohio Valley Connector Extension (OVCX) project team believe that community outreach, education, and engagement are essential elements of the project lifecycle and will play an important role in the overall success and development of the proposed OVCX project. To date, the OVCX project team has completed several stakeholder outreach activities, which can be viewed on our OVCX Outreach Timeline or on the Project Schedule portion of the project website. The basis of our activities lies in Equitrans’ Vision, Mission and five Core Values, which are the principles that guide our behaviors and decisions.

As it relates to the project’s outreach activities, the OVCX team is committed to four pillars of responsibility: safety, public participation, emissions reduction, and environmental justice. As we engage with our many stakeholders and members of the community, these four pillars will be the foundation of our outreach activities throughout the development of the OVCX project.

Safety

For Equitrans, the safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors, and community members takes precedence in all we do. The successful execution of our projects and operations is based on our belief that “Zero is Possible,” which means we staunchly believe every workplace injury is preventable. To realize success, everyone at Equitrans has a collective responsibility to exhibit safety leadership and, most importantly, to keep safety as their top priority – above all else.

As part of our safety culture, we recognize excellence in safety performance, and also work to vigorously address opportunities for improvement. In addition to meeting, and striving to  exceed, all applicable laws and regulations, Equitrans has detailed procedures for the safe use of company equipment and provides extensive training to employees and contractors regarding best practices. Together, our programs, processes, and procedures are designed to ensure that our work environment remains safe for individuals and their co-workers, and for the community.

Public Participation

Equitrans Midstream is committed to conducting business ethically and responsibly. This means we consider the social, economic, and environmental impacts of our operations. For this reason, we work closely and in partnership with landowners, local communities, community organizations, and relevant government agencies to learn as much as we can about the communities in which we operate and how we may be of greater service.

Equitrans endeavors to ensure that we communicate early and often with local landowners and community members, and we are creating more opportunities to continue an open dialogue for their concerns and questions. In addition, we are committed to identifying areas where we can find common ground and empower our local communities to provide feedback and assistance during the development lifecycle of the OVCX project.

Emissions Reduction

At Equitrans, compliance is just a start. We are committed to responsible operations that will safeguard the environment and protect the health of our employees, contractors, and communities – always. We take pride in being a responsible operator and, more importantly, we are persistent in our efforts to improve processes and procedures, utilizing the best available technologies and operational practices designed for reducing environmental impacts. Along with ensuring compliance with all environmental agencies’ permitting regulations, we work to ensure we meet, or exceed, federal, state, and local regulations that govern air emissions. When practicable, we employ emissions reduction technologies that exceed our permitting obligations.

Furthermore, Equitrans Midstream is committed to implementing best practices and achieving measurable improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations. We have implemented a Climate Policy, which includes methane and GHG emission reduction targets. We will regularly engage community members to understand their expectations and foster collaboration, and we will transparently communicate our progress and performance to all stakeholders.

Environmental Justice

At Equitrans, we rely on proactive community engagement and feedback to foster a culture of trust, inclusivity, and transparency. We believe that all people should be treated fairly, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. Equitrans views its projects and operations through the lens of responsibility and accountability to the communities in which we serve. We believe it is our social responsibility to provide clean, safe, affordable energy, while also seeking to be a long-term good neighbor and partner in the communities in which we operate. As part of our social license, our commitments are outlined in our Stakeholder Engagement and Community Investment Policy, which we strive to integrate it into all aspects of our business.

We also wholeheartedly believe in giving back to our communities, providing support through funding and volunteerism to local nonprofit and charitable organizations that are devoted to improving the quality of life for everyone in the area. Equitrans Midstream is committed to engaging with local community members, organizations, and elected officials, as well as with other decision makers and thought leaders, to ensure we understand the needs and challenges faced by those living in our operating communities.