
We integrate public comments and official guidance from regulatory and enforcement agencies in formulating our policies, including our environmental management, health and safety, human rights, and other policies. We are members of industry groups (such as the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) where we are recognized as an ESG leader through our presence on the ESG subcommittee) and the Energy Workforce and Technology Council (EWTC) and attend roundtables where stakeholder issues are discussed and consider peer company best practices. We also take into account employee feedback and suggestions on our policies.
We respect the people in the communities where we operate and are receptive to their concerns. Our customers, as leasehold owners, are primarily responsible for addressing community feedback regarding operations on their land. We participate in community discussions alongside our customers when appropriate. As discussed in “Talent Recruitment, Retention and Development,” we seek to hire workers in the communities near where we operate. We also prioritize procurement of services and materials from local suppliers in our areas of operations where practicable. Procurement from local suppliers helps to support local communities and economic development in the communities where we operate.
We care about the communities where we operate and participate in local efforts to support those communities. Some examples of these efforts in 2021 include our involvement in tree planting activities in the Northeast in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh, an environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing Pittsburgh’s vitality by restoring and protecting the urban forest through tree maintenance, planting, education, advocacy, and land conservation. Our participation in these events further demonstrates our support of our biodiversity commitment.
We also partnered with a customer to provide meals to the dedicated health care workers at a regional hospital near our operations to support them during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in certain geographic areas where we operate, we liaise with the local indigenous communities to discuss employment opportunities, understand and adhere to appropriate hiring guidelines, and foster communication to maintain positive relationships.
We are also a supporter of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which serves the Houston community through education and science, and Small Steps Nurturing Center, which operates two preschools for economically at-risk children living in inner-city Houston. Finally, in partnership with other organizations, we donated a drilling rig to the petroleum engineering department of a state university to help provide training to students and education around our industry and drilling business.