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2002 ChevronTexaco Corporate Responsibility Report Environmental IssuesCase Study >(Continued)Environmental Protectionon Barrow Islandtaxes and royalties. Annually, gross domestic product (GDP) would beincreased by $2 billion and projected exports by $1.2 billion.for the gas processing facilities and associated infrastructure would be nomore than 740 acres (300 hectares). The combined area used on the islandfor oil operations and gas processing would remain at less than 5 percentof the island.At the request of the Western Australian government, Gorgon Venture partnerscompleted a comprehensive Environmental, Social and Economic (ESE)Review of the project. The governmentspecified that the ESE Reviewmust demonstrate that the proposedGorgon gas development could generatesocial and economic benefits,maintain the conservation values ofthe island as well as demonstratenet conservation benefits. This isChevronTexaco works to ensurethe first resource development proposalsubjected to such a comprehe-that native animals, such as thisperentie lizard, coexist with oilnsive sustainability review processfield operations.in Western Australia.The project’s potential ecological impacts have been assessed by independent,specialized ecologists. Their work shows that the proposed developmentwould not result in significant adverse impacts to important wildlifehabitats, restricted vegetation types or marine areas with unique conservationsignificance. A key element of environmental management is buildingon the existing robust quarantine procedures.With government and environmental approvals, construction on theGorgon project could begin in 2005.Case Study >Conservation Awards ProgramFor nearly two decades, ChevronTexaco has underwritten the 49-year-oldConservation Awards Program, the oldest such privately sponsored programin North America. The program honors individuals and organizations fortheir outstanding contributions to the conservation of natural resources.Over the history of the program, the awards’ 1,000-plus recipients havehelped protect wildlife, create natural preserves, establish parks andlaunch educational programs to heighten environmental awareness.In 2002, ChevronTexaco Conservation Awards were given for, amongother things, establishing an environmental radio show, setting up a civicbeautification organization and producing educational habitat films forschoolchildren.Although the development of Gorgon gas would bring substantial benefits,the gas field does present some unique challenges. Gorgon gas containsa relatively high content of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which results in substantialtreatment cost and potentially relatively large greenhouse gasemissions. Barrow Island provides a unique opportunity to reinject CO 2into saline reservoirs deep beneath the island. Reinjection, combined withcurrent best practice in plant design, would make the development one ofthe most greenhouse gas-efficient projects of its type in the world.In addition to using environmental best practices, the project alsowould provide significant economic benefits. We expect the developmentto provide some 6,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, throughoutAustralia, of which 1,700 jobs would be in Western Australia. Over thelife of the project, we estimate there would be approximately US$6.5billion in new investment and $10 billion in state and commonwealth© 2003 ChevronTexaco Corporation. All Rights Reserved.36