The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD), a collaborative between environmental organizations and energy companies to encourage prudent and responsible development of shale gas resources in the Appalachian region, announced that it has certified Chevron Appalachia (Chevron) as the first company to successfully complete the center’s evaluation and verification process. Chevron has earned full CSSD certification against all 15 of the Center’s Performance Standards that serve as the foundation for CSSD’s recently-established independent third-party evaluation and verification program. These standards center on operational performance as part of the producer’s environmental stewardship and continuous improvement processes.
Like any company that earns CSSD certification, Chevron must continue to adhere to CSSD’s Performance Standards in the Appalachian Basin, integrating CSSD’s publicly available best practices into the company’s long-term continuous improvement process. CSSD will monitor adherence and continue to build and expand on its initial 15 Performance Standards.
To earn its CSSD certification, Chevron conducted a two-year preparatory process based on CSSD’s initial 15 Performance Standards for air and water that were developed to reflect leading industry practices in the Appalachian Basin. The evaluation and verification process was commenced by auditor Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification under contract to CSSD. The auditor conducted a pre-audit to familiarize itself with Chevron’s comprehensive management system and determine audit readiness of Chevron’s Appalachian Basin operations.
After that, the audit team conducted the full-scale certification audit in June 2014 that consisted of in-depth documentation review, staff interviews at Chevron’s offices and a field-based component that verified that Chevron’s operational practices were in conformance with applicable standards.
In keeping with CSSD’s Performance Verification Protocol, which details the frequency and intensity of the field and audit activities, the Bureau Veritas audit team visited 22 Chevron sites (16 in southwestern Pennsylvania, four in West Virginia, and two in Ohio) that represented Chevron’s geographic and operational locations throughout the Appalachian Basin.
Once the audit was complete, Bureau Veritas, submitted its findings in a report to CSSD. CSSD’s internal Certification Decision Committee, consisting of individuals not aligned with any CSSD participant, then reviewed the audit report and determined eligibility for certification.
Certification, which is valid for 24 months, after which companies can seek renewal, is based on the Center’s 15 initial Performance Standards for air and water. Companies can seek certifications in Air & Climate, Water & Waste, or both, concurrently. Auditors evaluate the applicant’s operations to the standards that are specific to the certification a company chooses.
Source: Center for Sustainable Shale Development
