Eagle Point Refinery
The Eagle Point Facility actively participates in the Mantua Grove Community Advisory Panel (CAP) beginning after Sunoco acquired the facility in January of 2004. The Mantua Grove CAP is composed of area businesses, colleges, and community members.

The CAP serves as an open discussion forum where members of the community, business leaders, and public officials can share information and concerns pertaining to the refinery/area. Topics of discussion include health, environmental, and safety issues.

Marcus Hook Refinery
The Marcus Hook Refinery participates in the community-wide Environmental Advisory Council (EAC). EAC membership consists of citizens from Marcus Hook and the surrounding communities and a representative from each of the 11 participating companies (including Sunoco). Additionally, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP), Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) and other agencies participate from time to time. Monthly meetings are open to the public. EAC's Agenda Committee develops the agenda for the meetings, as well as for educational and other related forums. Each month the Committee discusses environmental performance information for all area industries and review any events that occurred during the prior month. Also, DNREC and PaDEP discuss regulations and initiatives, such as NPDES permits, that are pertinent to all the industries.

The EAC elects its own officers. Meetings are run by the EAC Chairperson with a set format, including a public comment/question and answer period. Normally, highlights from the EAC meetings are shared at monthly Township and Borough meetings. 

Philadelphia Refinery
The Philadelphia Refinery participates in the South/Southwest Philadelphia Community Advisory Panel (CAP), which the company established in 1995. The CAP's eighteen members represent various neighborhoods, civic associations and community groups in South and Southwest Philadelphia that may be affected by the refinery operations. Philadelphia Police and Fire Department representatives also serve as CAP members. Each member is encouraged to name an alternate who can fill in when necessary. However, to keep the channels of communication functioning, alternates are encouraged to attend all meetings.

The CAP meets each month, except August, at the refinery or at a member organization's location. All decision-making, including meeting agenda development, is achieved by consensus. A third-party facilitator, paid by Sunoco, runs the meetings. The refinery also provides administrative support for the group.

In addition to the regular agenda items (i.e., HES performance, etc), some of the topics discussed during 2005 were an expansion project at the crude oil units, security issues and the terrorism drill conducted with the Philadelphia Police department and other security agencies, Hydrogen Fluoride usage and transportation, and the Process Technical Academy at the BOK High School.

Toledo Refinery
The Toledo Refinery Community Advisory Panel meets quarterly. Membership includes school administrators, business representatives, clergy, block watch organizations and hospital administrators from the surrounding area. Representatives of area emergency response departments and Toledo Environmental Services also participate. Sunoco's refinery manager, along with the health and safety, environmental, and public affairs managers attend regularly, as well as the refinery's union president.

The meetings are chaired by CAP members on an alternating basis. The agenda for the meetings is mutually agreed upon by the CAP and Sunoco. Administrative support is provided by Sunoco and includes sending out meeting notes and agendas, making reminder calls and arranging for speakers as requested by CAP members.

The Sunoco Neighbor Task Force was established in 2003 as a subcommittee of the CAP, specifically comprising of refinery neighbors (within two-three miles). Four members of the CAP helped to establish the Task Force, identify additional members, and currently served on the panel as well. The Task Force was facilitated by a third-party firm whose fees were paid by Sunoco. Focus during the past two years involved identifying topics of major importance to members and identifying area experts to meet with the group along with Sunoco personnel. Topics included air and water environmental issues, health, emergency preparedness, conservation, refinery economics, etc. The goal was to have open dialogue and discussion with Sunoco personnel and to provide neighbors with specific answers to their questions and/or concerns.

In September 2006, the Task Force etermined it had served its purpose and opted to merge with the Toledo Refinery Community Advisory Panel. Click here to read more about this merger.

Tulsa Refinery
The Tulsa Refinery Community Advisory Panel consists of about twenty members including environmental consultants and lawyers, nearby residents, representatives from adjacent businesses, a representative from the Tulsa fire department, a hospital safety officer, a government official, bankers, educators and health professionals.

Sunoco is represented by appropriate management personnel who are considered non-voting members of the CAP. Sunoco employees in attendance include a recorder to take minutes, the refinery manager and the communications specialist. Other staff members often are asked to attend and make presentations to the group, such as the environmental manager or the health and safety manager. All decisions are made by consensus.

Meetings are held bimonthly and facilitated by the Sunoco communications specialist. CAP members assist in the development of the meeting agendas, with Sunoco often offering suggestions on educational or informational topics of interest. CAP members are given a refinery operations update, as well as a status report on safety and environmental issues, at each meeting. CAP members are also invited to assist the Tulsa Refinery with planning Open Houses and other events.

Frankford Plant
The Frankford Plant typically holds Community Advisory Council (CAC) meetings eight times per year. Three of these meetings are held jointly with the CAC from the nearby Rohm and Haas chemical facility. The CAC is a diverse group including community residents, Philadelphia HAZMAT, Fire and Water Departments, a local schoolteacher, the plant manager and other plant personnel as appropriate. A third-party facilitator runs the meetings and assists the CAC members with developing the meeting agendas.

The CAC has formed a Shelter-In-Place subcommittee, led by the Philadelphia Fire Department Hazardous Materials Administration Unit, to develop Shelter-In-Place guidelines for use during a major emergency or release, educational programs, and conduct drills at local schools. The subcommittee's efforts led to an augmentation to the Philadelphia Fire Code Section 409, "Shelter-In-Place," which mandates that all Philadelphia schools practice shelter-in-place drills twice each school year.

Haverhill Plant
The Haverhill (OH) Plant Community Advisory Panel is a joint effort between Sunoco and DuPont. The CAP consists of about twenty members and includes nearby residents, representatives from adjacent businesses, local emergency management agency officials, health care professionals, educators, high school students, and retirees. Additionally, twice a year the Haverhill CAP has a joint session with DOW Chemical CAP. The Haverhill plant manager, HES manager and HR manager represent Sunoco at the CAP and make presentations regarding plant operations and HES performance.

The Haverhill plant manager and environmental manager represent Sunoco at all CAP meetings and functions. CAP members developed an educational shelter-in-place program consisting of a video and handouts, which is presented to local governments, schools, area fire departments and at county fairs.

Houston Operations
The Sunoco Chemicals Houston Operations (Bayport and La Porte plants) proudly serves on the Citizens Advisory Council to La Porte Industry (LPCAC), which is the largest multi-company CAC in the U.S. with 36 plant sites represented from La Porte, TX. Several years ago the group decided being "big" meant that plants can learn from each other, not just from themselves, so improvements in performance could benefit the entire community. This approach is viewed as addressing the "continuous improvement" philosophy of Responsible Care. LPCAC conducts focused meetings each month and collects and analyzes industry information in the following areas: The Annual Safety Report, the Annual Emissions Report, and the annual Risk Management Plan (RMP) Risk Reduction Report.

LPCAC membership is very diverse. Members include teachers, students, retired plant workers, mechanical engineer, chemical engineer, an interior designer, the city emergency services director, a school public information officer, an environmental management professor, a social worker, a business leader, and a state representative's staff member to name a few.

The LPCAC’s 2005 meetings included a review of an Air Study begun in the Houston area in 2000; discussion of an Air Toxics newspaper series done by the Houston Chronicle; plant tours, and pre- and post-hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuation, readiness, and impact analysis.

In 2006 the LPCAC plans to cover such issues as projects affecting traffic, enhancing community security through best practices for process safety; railroad safety and security; air quality update; and how high school and college students view the petrochemical industry.

Neal Plant
Sunoco's Neal (WV) Plant is a member of the Neal Plant Community Advisory Panel, a joint effort between Sunoco and Ashland Chemical. The CAP consists of about twenty members and includes nearby residents, representatives from adjacent businesses, emergency responders, health care professionals, educators, high school students and retirees.

The plant manager represents Sunoco at the CAP and other staff members are occasionally asked to attend and make presentations. CAP members have worked with the local schools to conduct shelter-in-place awareness and training. The CAP also advocated for a local 911 system and worked with the local fire department to landscape its new firehouse.

Neville Island Plant
The Ashland/Neville/Sunoco Chemical CAP was formed by the Neville Island Plant (Pittsburgh, PA) in late 1992. The CAP originally included 12 community members and three company representatives and is facilitated by a paid consultant. After consolidating with other local American Chemistry Council (ACC) members’ company advisory bodies, the CAP has grown to 25 community members representing environmental groups, local residents, public service groups, the medical profession, students, emergency response personnel and local police. There are approximately eight non-voting participants representing the three businesses involved in the CAP, which meets monthly.

On Earth Day weekend the CAP joined with other local ACC companies to sponsor a 5K race/run on Neville Island. The proceeds from this race support a summer nature education program organized on Neville Island to introduce youngsters to nature and ecology as related to the island environment. In 2005, the CAP explored several topics including presentations on Brownfield development on Neville Island, Biodiesel Fuel technologies, a report on an epidemiological study of the air in the Ohio Valley region related to cancer incident rates, and "CAT EYES", which is a program to involve community members in terrorism activity alerts. Meeting discussions also address air, water and waste management issues.

Each January the CAP develops a meeting plan for the upcoming year to address topics of concern and interest to the community. The CAP’s 2006 goals are to encourage more community involvement and communication to help the industrial members of the CAP better understand the concerns of the community.

HES Glossary
view glossary.

Conversion Table
view table.

Summary Report
download PDF