Environmental Stewardship At The Heart Of Third Annual Colonial Cares Initiative

Colonial Pipeline employees and contractors participated in eight volunteer activities in October with Colonial’s environmental partners that protect lands and watersheds located on our Right-of-Way. 

The environmental stewardship is part of Colonial’s commitment to protect the environment where we share our pipeline. The open dialogue allows us to discuss the importance of our pipeline and its role in our country’s energy infrastructure. It also allows us to collaborate on best practices in our operations, projects and emergency response plans to ensure we protect the environment.

Catawba River Cleanup (Charlotte, North Carolina) 
Colonial’s South Carolina and Charlotte team was hard at work with Catawba Riverkeeper volunteers cleaning up trash and debris in the Catawba River and Lake Wylie.

Cahaba Wildlife Refuge Tree Planting & Invasive Species Removal (Bibb County, Alabama) 
Colonial Pipeline’s Alabama team participated in a preservation day organized by Cahaba Riverkeeper. Colonial participants split into two teams. The first planted 75 hardwood trees around the river while the second cleared an area that had been overtaken with invasive plants. Their efforts will have a long-lasting and positive impact on the river.

Bicentennial Greenway Project (Greensboro, North Carolina) 
In partnership with the Piedmont Land Conservancy, Colonial’s Greensboro team helped clean out gardens and remove small trees along the Bicentennial Greenway, adjacent to our Greensboro tank farm. The team also tested their carpentry skills, which proved to be pretty good, as they fixed fence railings and decking along the route giving it a much-needed upgrade.

Union Beach Cleanup (New York Harbor) 
Colonial’s Linden team joined the NY/NJ Baykeeper to remove trash from Union Beach, New Jersey. These efforts will help keep our beaches clean, protect beachgoers and save wildlife from harm. That’s a win-win-win and we appreciate the way our staff members take pride in bettering their community!

Peachtree Creek Cleanup (Atlanta, Georgia) 
This one may have set a record for Colonial clean up days. The company’s Georgia team and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper volunteers removed 1,720 pounds – 86% of a TON – of trash and debris from Peachtree Creek in Atlanta during its annual day of environmental stewardship. While it is sad to know some people would be so careless with their trash, it is gratifying to know the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper watches these waters and we have people in the Colonial family that will step up to help address the situation.

Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center Project (Frederick County, Maryland) 
In collaboration with Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Colonial’s Maryland team and our friends from AIME and Mock & Associates, tested their fencing skills while installing new cedar posts at the Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center. These fences will help protect the farm’s fruit and chestnut trees from hungry deer who like nothing better than to grab snacks on the property from time to time.

Stroud Water Research Center Project (Chester County, Pennsylvania) 
Colonial Woodbury Junction employees visited the Stroud Research Center and planted 100 shade-tolerant, hardwood trees throughout the property. Through the team’s efforts, the additional trees will reinforce the neighboring forest’s understory and help rid the White Clay Creek of pollution and runoff. Planting 100 trees sure seems like a lot, but it wasn’t nearly enough for these hard workers as the team also cleared out a section of land where Stroud will build a new pavilion for its research center.

Oyster Shell Reef Construction (Biloxi, Mississippi) 
Volunteers from Colonial’s Mississippi team put their marine engineering abilities to the test this in April as they helped The Nature Conservancy of Mississippi construct oyster shell reefs near Biloxi Beach to protect the coastal area from erosion and storm surge. We can also confirm that no oysters were harmed or ​“shucked” before using them to build the reef!