Community & Economic Impact

Refinery

What would be the economic impact of the upgrades at the Detroit refinery?
The project will create approximately 60 new full time refinery jobs and 75 additional full time contractor positions in addition to the 320 people and 160 contractors already employed at the Detroit refinery. That will add an additional $16.5 million to the refinery's annual payroll of $74 million. Modifications at the refinery will provide construction employment for an average of 800 workers per day, peaking at 1,200 workers during the three-year construction period. In addition, the pipeline construction will create hundreds of jobs for the four to six month construction period. These will consist of primarily union jobs and total construction wages will exceed $350 million by the time project is completed.

Marathon’s projected $1.9 billion investment in the Detroit HOUP will generate $174 million in new tax revenues the city of Detroit through 2030, and millions of dollars in spin-off spending on goods and services in Michigan and the local communities.

How is Marathon involved in the community and dedicated to growing responsibly?
Marathon is a good corporate citizen and actively participates in the economic, environmental and social fabric of southeastern Michigan. Marathon contributes tens of thousands of dollars each year to a variety of programs that support youth initiatives; education; and community, environmental and safety programs.

In 2007 we hosted two community open houses that provided an opportunity for more than 250 local residents, community organization members and government officials to learn more about the proposed expansion project at the refinery, ask questions and meet face-to-face with members of the Marathon team.

To keep the community informed, Detroit refinery representatives meet monthly with its Citizens Advisory Panel composed of representatives from the surrounding neighborhoods and communities.

In 2000, Marathon was the first company in the U.S. to adopt the chemical and petroleum industry’s Responsible Care® principles across all organizations. These principles focus on the continuous improvement of environmental, health, safety and security performance areas. The Detroit refinery also is the first refinery in the world to receive Responsible Care’s 14001 certification recognizing the company’s commitment to the quality of its health, environmental and safety systems.

In 2007, Marathon received Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision’s Community Builder Award for demonstrating consistent involvement with and support for community improvement efforts. Marathon was chosen specifically for the multi-year support it has given for neighborhood cleanup events during the Motor City Makeover and Rouge Rescue Days, and for the company’s involvement in installation of playground equipment at Mark Twain Elementary School. In addition, the award recognized Marathon’s initiative to provide a venue for ongoing dialogue with the community by establishing its Community Advisory Panel.

Pipeline

How would communities along the pipeline benefit from its construction?
The pipeline will provide an additional $1.7 million in tax revenue to Monroe and Wayne counties beginning in the year when the pipeline is constructed. These annual property tax payments will be allocated among the local governmental units, based on pipeline mileage, through which the pipeline passes.

What are you doing to minimize impacts?
To begin, we contacted more than 250 landowners along the route to inform them about the survey work and preliminary studies that a project of this scope requires. A 29-mile route was selected for safety and environmental stewardship that includes 152 property owners. Many of these property owners have our pipeline on their property today. For safety reasons, we desire to be at least 50 feet away from homes or other buildings with the new pipeline, while also minimizing impact to the environment.

We have conducted extensive surveys to gather data that will help us minimize cultural and environmental impacts along the route. All surveys were conducted by qualified surveyors walking the route and collecting various types of data. The surveys included a civil or centerline survey, which marked the line route. Ecological surveys were conducted to identify and mark any environmentally sensitive plants or animal habitats along the route. Archaeological surveys were also conducted to investigate for signs of cultural or historical artifacts.

How will you communicate with property owners and other interested parties about this project?
We are working diligently to ensure that affected property owners and governmental entities receive timely information about what is occurring at various stages of this project.

We notified more than 250 property owners along the route to inform them about the survey work and preliminary studies that we conducted. Our land agents have worked one-on-one with these property owners. Township and county officials were also contacted, and provided with a copy of the letter that property owners received and a preliminary map of the route.

We conducted informational meetings in January 2007 with property owners along the route to provide them with an opportunity to learn more about the phases of the project, and our commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.

Finally, this Web site – www.DetroitHOUP.com – is another way that we are communicating with the property owners, public and other stakeholders.