Social

Stakeholder Engagement and Community Investment Policy

The purpose of this Policy is to outline Equitrans Midstream’s strategy and implementation for Stakeholder Engagement and Community Investment. This area entails financial and non-financial contributions aimed at helping local communities, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders address social and environmental development priorities. Programs covered under this Policy will focus on objectives that incorporate the following Key Stakeholder Priorities:

1. Environmental stewardship
2. Good neighbor community programs
3. Energy efficiency and access to low-carbon and renewable energy
4. Environmental Justice
5. Sustainability
6. GHG offsets and climate-change resiliency

This Policy adheres to the tenets of Equitrans Midstream’s mission: to operate with integrity, accountability, and transparency while delivering sustained value for customers and shareholders; providing an engaging workplace for employees; preserving and protecting the environment; and supporting the communities where we live and work as we provide reliable energy infrastructure in a safe, efficient and responsible manner.

In accordance with our commitment to social and corporate responsibility, this Policy also reflects our intent to operate in the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the United Nations has identified 17 SDGs, for the near-term we will focus on the seven SDGs listed below, which we believe are most aligned with our business operations and footprint; and we will continue to evaluate opportunities to focus on additional, relevant SDGs in the future.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Life on Land

Life Below Water

General Approach
Equitrans, with the support of its Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, is assuming a proactive stance regarding stakeholder engagement and community investment that will serve to enhance and/or build thriving communities, while achieving ETRN’s other overarching business goals. As such, Equitrans either may initiate or choose to participate in a variety of stakeholder engagement and community investment and educational programs, including: 

• Creating a centralized, streamlined and accessible mechanism that enables internal stakeholders to provide input about opportunities in line with the established criteria
• Establishing a mechanism to identify the skills and expertise of internal stakeholders with a willingness to volunteer to support not-for-profit organizations or initiatives that promote safety, health, environmental, economic, and cultural development within Equitrans Midstream’s operational footprint
• Engaging with area schools and applicable environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) to advance initiatives intended to strengthen communities and advance Equitrans Midstream’s mission as aligned with the ENGOs objectives
• Providing grants to not-for-profit organizations or initiatives that promote safety, health, environmental, economic, and cultural development within Equitrans Midstream’s operational footprint
• Partnering with applicable not-for-profit organizations, trade associations, schools, and other entities to advance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM); trades; and other initiatives that help advance Equitrans Midstream’scommitment to sustainability, diversity, and community investment
• Working in partnership with landowners, economic development groups, chambers of commerce, and civic and environmental organizations to increase recognition of Equitrans as a responsive, good neighbor

Implementation

Effective integration of Equitrans Midstream’s stakeholder engagement and community investment policy centers on consistency throughout Equitrans. As such, Equitrans will implement this Policy under the following parameters:

• Use of a centralized computer system through which to track outreach and investment across operations, including Sustainability, Equitrans Midstream Foundation, Land, and Government Affairs
• Generation of an internal quarterly report that includes:
  • Names of organizations and individuals with whom Equitrans has undertaken engagement and whether the engagement is proactive or reactive
  • Type of engagement (e.g., monetary, volunteer, mentoring, or a combination)
  • Name of the lead Equitrans representative and related Equitrans team members who managed the engagement
  • Level of engagement (funding, volunteer hours)
  • Outcomes (e.g., positive feedback, increase in advocacy, neutralization of opposition)
• Review and assessment of activities by a team composed of a cross-section of Equitrans managers, outreach, and operations staff
• Year-end compilation of information that Equitrans can integrate into CSR metrics and use to help determine future engagement opportunities and guide future investments
• Review Equitrans Midstream’s planned stakeholder and community monetary investments and develop a plan to increase allocation commensurate with applicable peer-benchmarking
• Ensure all stakeholder and community investments align with Equitrans Midstream’s focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and Key Stakeholder Priorities

Engagement with Indigenous Peoples

Equitrans recognizes that while our current operations do not have extensive intersections with Indigenous Peoples, we are committed to open, transparent, and good faith bilateral engagement with Indigenous Peoples to address and mitigate any potential cultural, social, and environmental impacts on their communities. Equitrans Midstream respects the culture and distinctive history of Indigenous Peoples, regardless of the status of federal or state level recognition on such communities, and acknowledges their inherent legal and constitutionally protected rights. Equitrans believes that this collaborative relationship will facilitate the identification of opportunities for Equitrans to support the economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability of Indigenous Peoples in our communities.

Sustainable Communities

In the regions where we operate, social responsibility is a vital interest and we work hard to integrate it into all aspects of our business. We also believe wholeheartedly in giving back to our local communities and provide substantial support to local nonprofit and charitable organizations that are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living in the area. We accept and review a variety of requests through our Corporate Sponsorship and Local Giving Program – and local groups and organizations who wish to submit a sponsorship or donation request may do so by completing our local giving form.

Funding requests for 501C3 organizations can be submitted to our Equitrans Midstream Foundation. As the charitable arm of the Corporation, The Equitrans Midstream Foundation is committed to meaningful engagement and philanthropic partnership to improve the lives of individuals in the communities where we live and work. The Foundation primarily focuses its giving in the areas of community development, education and the environment. Additionally, the Equitrans Midstream Foundation supports the causes that matter most to our employees though an Employee Matching Gift Program.

Printable PDF file: ETRN Stakeholder Engagement and Community Investment Policy