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2002 ChevronTexaco Corporate Responsibility Report Environmental IssuesCase Study >Environmental Monitoring with(Continued)Hyperspectral ImagingAs the result of a baseline survey, the company developed a detailedmap for its operations in the Niger Delta to accurately depict the differentvegetation types of the region. The area comprises brackish andfreshwater swamps, both of which are interspersed and connected bycreeks, but they still maintain distinct characteristics in a delicate balance.Oil and gas activities can disrupt this balance. For example,pipeline construction or dredging activities that cross vegetation typescan introduce salt water into freshwater zones causing damage to thefreshwater habitats. By developing this detailed map, CNL is able toplan its construction activities to avoid sensitive areas and help preservethe delicate balance of the ecosystem. CNL also uses the technologyfor planning facilities, improving dredging practices, restoring impactedsites and developing Environmental Sensitivity Index maps to aid inoil spill response.Product StewardshipApproach: Identifying Issues Early and Minimizing RiskChevronTexaco seeks to manage the environmental, health and safetyimpacts of its products throughout their entire life cycle. This concept isknown as “product stewardship.”Product stewardship is an integral part of ChevronTexaco’s health, environmentand safety policy and approach. We require our businesses to:> Identify potential health, environment and safety impacts early in thedevelopment of new or improved products, and minimize risks topeople and the environment throughout each product’s life cycle.> Communicate information on potential hazards to people who useour products or who might be affected by them, including workers,customers, third parties and distributors.ChevronTexaco has a variety of processes and programs in place thathelp it meet these commitments. For example, several of our downstreamoperating companies have established formal risk managementprocesses in which they conduct routine product stewardship reviewson all product lines on a three- to five-year cycle. They also conductproduct stewardship reviews for major changes and projects that havepotentially significant environmental, health and safety impacts. Tooversee those efforts, several businesses employ staffs devoted exclusivelyto product stewardship.Product stewardship reviews sometimes result in significant changes.For example, a review of the 2003 introduction of ethanol into gasolinemarketed in California resulted in the development of an internalethanol storage and handling standard that we believe is among themost comprehensive in the industry.We also work to educate customers and the public on safe and responsiblehandling of our products. We are implementing a new, Web-basedglobal system for managing material safety data sheets (MSDSs) andother health, environment and safety information. These documentsprovide information on safe handling procedures for each ofChevronTexaco’s products. Many countries require that this informationbe made available, and ChevronTexaco is working to provideMSDSs worldwide. The Web-based system currently stores more than50,000 MSDSs, and we plan to complete implementation of the worldwideMSDS system in 2004. We also have a 24-hour-a-day global hotlinethat provides public access to on-call technical specialists who cananswer questions about our products.© 2003 ChevronTexaco Corporation. All Rights Reserved.54