BIODIVERSITY
We recognize the importance of fostering the conservation of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and understand the need to use natural resources wisely. We 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. We review potential biodiversity impacts prior to construction and where possible we reduce the impacts of construction and operational activities through one or more of the following methods: avoidance, minimization, restoration, or offsetting.
Biodiversity PolicyProtecting Sage Grouse
The natural habitat of certain animal and bird species exists in close proximity to our operations. It is important to Genesis Energy to identify such habitats and to respect their coexistence with our operations. For instance, our soda ash production facility in Southwest Wyoming is located in a sage grouse habitat area. The sage grouse is a bird that is currently designated as a “species of concern” with the potential of being added to the endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act. We carefully manage new projects to minimize impacts on their habitat and engage in efforts to protect the species.
We work closely with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other state agencies to closely monitor sage grouse population numbers and with nearby landowners to help ensure the health of the bird’s habitat in the surrounding area. We are a founding member of the Wyoming Mining Natural Resource Foundation and serve on its board of directors. “The Foundation has developed an initial conservation strategy which is designed to engage landowners and land managers, agencies, academia and stakeholders to work together with the mining industry to implement durable conservation practices on the ground.”