Environmental

Emissions

We strive to minimize emissions from our operations, which vary by business segment and generally result from mining activities, crude oil storage tanks, marine vessels, combustion sources, and crude oil and natural gas transportation. Genesis operations emit criteria air emissions such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM), as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). 

The methods used to manage our air permitting and regulated emissions compliance include, but are not limited to:

• Tracking permit requirements and deadlines in a compliance tracking system
• Calculating annual emissions as required by federal and state regulations
• Reviewing plans for modifications to facilities and operations to determine whether permitting is required 
• Using control technology, such as vapor combustion units, scrubbers, low NOx turbines, floating roofs with vapor seals for storage tanks, when feasible, to reduce emissions
• Maintaining operational equipment
• Minimizing tank roof landings
• Operating all of our marine vessel engines and generators to meet Tier 3 standards, using low sulfur diesel, which meets IMO 2020 standards
• Phasing out ozone depleting substances from marine vessel A/C units

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Our GHG emissions are calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol and are calculated or reviewed by a third-party consultant. Scope 1 emissions include direct emissions from sources owned and operated by Genesis. Scope 2 emissions include indirect emissions from purchased electricity. See our Performance Table to view our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

View Our 2022 Performance Table

Energy Transition

We recognize that the energy transition is an important topic for our investors. We continue to look for ways to position ourselves to operate and participate in a lower carbon world.

Our offshore pipeline transportation segment has one of the largest pipeline networks in the Deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico, which are some of the least emission intensive barrels, from reservoir to refinery, of any barrel refined and consumed in the United States.

We expect our soda ash business to increase its participation in renewable energy markets in the future by producing a resource used in the production of LEED certified glass windows to retro-fit older buildings; manufacturing of glass for solar panels; and the production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide (some of the building blocks of lithium ion/phosphate batteries used in both the electrification of vehicles and long-term battery storage).

Our Sulfur Services business continues to help its host refineries lower their emissions by processing hydrogen sulfide gas streams using our proprietary, closed-loop, non-combustion technology to remove sulfur from the refiner’s hydrogen sulfide gas stream. In addition, NaHS is used by our customers to help further reduce air emissions from various chemical and industrial activities. For example, NaHS is used to remove nitrogen oxide (NOx) from the emissions stacks of certain activities around metal refining and finishing.

NaHS and soda ash are also both used in flue gas scrubbing to remove harmful particulates from what would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere. This is especially used at large industrial complexes and hydrocarbon-fired power plants.

Biodiversity

We recognize the importance of conserving biodiversity while maintaining healthy ecosystems and understand the need to foster the sustainable use of natural resources across all of our operations. We strive to operate in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and comply with guidelines provided by regulatory agencies, including:  the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our Biodiversity Policy covers all Genesis Energy operations and outlines the approaches we use to address biodiversity impacts in the areas where we operate. Prior to project commencement, we evaluate new projects for potential impacts on biodiversity through various means, including the use of an array of surveys to understand the scope of possible impacts. These surveys include:  environmental surveys (wetlands, vegetation, wildlife, etc.), cultural surveys (archaeological sites and areas of cultural significance), and civil surveys (land use and topography). After determining potential biodiversity impacts, where possible, we strive to reduce the impacts of construction and operational activities through one or more of the following methods: avoidance, minimization, restoration, or offsetting.

Key mitigation measures that we implement include, but are not limited to:

• Reclamation of pipeline right-of-ways using native vegetation
• Wetland delineation and cultural resources surveys
• Horizontal directional drilling to avoid impacts to sensitive areas such as wetlands
• Management practices to control erosion and sedimentation to prevent sediment discharges to sensitive habitats and waterways
• Purchasing wetland mitigation credits from wetland mitigation banks when wetland loss is unavoidable

Read Our Biodiversity Policy

Water

Water is a treasured resource and one that requires proper management. We maintain permits applicable to our consumption and discharge of water, and we administer controls on regulated discharges to minimize the release of pollutants to waterways. Additionally, we regularly monitor the risks that water scarcity and water stress may have on our operations. As part of our efforts to conserve water and minimize our environmental impacts, Genesis operates multiple facilities where process water is recycled and reused on-site. 

Unlike the upstream and downstream businesses operated by others in the energy industry, our midstream business segments have low water intensity needs for operations like:

• Integrity testing of tanks and pipelines;
• Ballast;
• Steam generation for heating products; and
• Equipment cleaning