Four Exxon Mobil Corporation Facilities Receive Prestigious Wildlife Habitat Council Certifications
Irving, Montana, New Jersey and Wyoming Sites Awarded
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Four Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) facilities have received the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) certification for efforts to conserve and restore natural ecosystems in and around company operations. The company's headquarters in Irving, Texas, the Billings Refinery in Billings, Montana, the Clinton Research Facility in Clinton Township, New Jersey, and the Black Canyon Dehydration Facility in Kemmerer, Wyoming, received the prestigious awards.
When WHC was formed in 1988, the founders conceived a new and innovative concept of bringing together conservation and business. This was the first cooperative effort between the environmental community and industry.
A total of 214 sites were recognized at the 2008 Symposium for creating a Wildlife at WorkSM program. In addition, 97 Corporate Lands for LearningSM programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.
"Exxon Mobil Corporation is dedicated to preserving wildlife and ecosystems around the globe while taking on the world's toughest energy challenges," ExxonMobil Corporate Environmental Manager Rick Mire said. "We accept this year's positive recognition from the Wildlife Habitat Council for these four facilities and hope to see other sites continually recognized for their dedication to the environment as well. Our facilities' wildlife areas are something we take pride in and often share with visitors for them to enjoy and experience."
"This year, our 20th Anniversary, WHC celebrates two decades of solid leadership and on-the-ground achievements by our members in wildlife habitat preservation and conservation education," said Robert Johnson, WHC president. "WHC members are continuing to lead the way to further define and demonstrate how corporations can use their lands to preserve our biodiversity, while preparing new generations through conservation education to understand how to be better leaders and managers for tomorrow's sustainable businesses and communities. Congratulations to ExxonMobil for their volunteer-based efforts to preserve the biodiversity of their community and the world, and to connect people to nature."
Certified by WHC since 2003, the company's Irving headquarters provides significant opportunity for local wildlife to flourish on 245 acres. Enhancement programs began in 1996 with an Eastern Bluebird habitat. The site recently installed 15 new bluebird nest boxes and protected them against colonization by fire ants. Today, wildlife teams maintain an on-site stream, Hackberry Creek. Employees regularly sponsor cleanups of the area to safely remove garbage without disturbing natural habitat, while also featuring nature walks and activities for the ExxonMobil Green Team and other outdoor programs.
The Billings Refinery site is located on 720 acres abutting the Yellowstone River and other large habitat areas. In addition to building nesting platforms for ospreys, employees and their families also constructed 30 American Kestrel nest boxes and monitor them on a regular basis. The American Kestrel, often known as the "Sparrow Hawk," is the smallest North American falcon. The site's wildlife team is currently replanting a former quarry area and partners with area Boy Scout troops and school classes on other environmental activities.
The Clinton Research Facility in New Jersey recently was certified as a "Corporate Lands for Learning Site." Located in rural New Jersey, two-thirds of the 750-acre site is available for wildlife habitat projects. Site activities include bluebird boxes, native bird habitats and environmental education activities with the local community.
The most significant effort on ExxonMobil's Kemmerer location is a joint effort with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to create the Sawmill Creek Trout Pond to provide a habitat for natural spawning. Today, employees at the site are making efforts to further enhance the creek to meet recent changes in water sources.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation is a leading international energy company whose subsidiaries have operations in most of the world's countries. In the United States, ExxonMobil has significant exploration and production, refining and marketing and chemicals operations. ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil and gas producers and reserves holders in the United States, with a portfolio including Alaska, onshore Gulf Coast and deepwater Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there are approximately 13,000 Exxon and Mobil branded service stations in the U.S., as well as seven refineries, four of which are integrated petrochemical facilities. For more information about ExxonMobil, please visit the company's website at www.exxonmobil.com.
About Wildlife Habitat Council
Celebrating 20 years in conservation, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 46 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org.
Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
Released November 25, 2008