Interested Parties
Our Commitment to Indigenous Communities.
We acknowledge that our operations traverse the traditional territory of many diverse First Nations and tribal lands in Canada and the United States. We honor and respect the enduring connection to this land, which has been a place of cultural significance, stewardship, and community for generations.
We believe the best relationships between Indigenous Peoples and our company and industry are mutually beneficial and built through trust, clear communication, transparent objectives, safe work practices, and a shared sense of responsibility to the land and the environment.
Our goal is to communicate with Indigenous communities in an open and transparent manner that respects the sovereignty and culture of each group, while sharing information about our assets and activities in the area. We seek to form collaborative relationships with federal, state/provincial and local agencies and Indigenous communities, and will continue to engage with these groups in an open and respectful manner.
In alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, our commitment to Indigenous relations acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples have treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as diverse protocols, histories, languages and cultures unique to each community.
We endeavor to:
- Work with Indigenous Peoples and governments at the earliest stage practical to share timely, clear and useful information regarding proposed developments and projects.
- Recognize that Indigenous Peoples have unique and important relationships with the environment and land and incorporate this perspective into the development of our projects.
- Tailor our engagement approach to address the protocols of individual communities.
- Support fair and equal access to employment and business opportunities for Indigenous communities and their members.
- Conduct our operations in a safe and environmentally and culturally responsible way.
Cultural resource protection during construction.
We seek to consult with Indigenous communities in areas where we operate and consider their input regarding the route, design, and construction of our pipelines. We strive to protect culturally sensitive areas.
If concerns arise about a proposed route, we carefully consider those concerns as well as options to reroute our pipeline, use less invasive installation technologies or provide access to the right-of-way during construction activities to allow specially trained archaeologists to monitor for possible cultural resources. Where appropriate, we work with Indigenous communities to engage additional heritage focused cultural monitors at specific culturally sensitive locations. When applicable, we also participate in the intergovernmental consultation process in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and in doing so, seek the effective representation and participation of Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples.
Collaborating with landowners.
At Plains, we understand that the success of our business and the safety of our communities requires cooperation and collaboration between us and our neighbors. We are committed to treating interested parties near our pipelines and other facilities fairly, openly, and with respect.
We work and communicate with interested parties from the construction of our assets and facilities through to the end of their lifecycles. We also strive to identify and learn about landowner’s interests and confirm the accuracy of the information as appropriate to a specific pipeline system, geographic area, or circumstance.
We seek to identify whether communities may need more targeted engagement because they might not have previous experience with pipelines and/or related facilities, or because they may face other barriers that require a more dedicated and personal approach to our communications and interactions.
We have an annual process for refreshing lists of known parties and identifying new ones, and also plan, prepare and establish clear channels for parties seeking to connect with Plains as the operator.
We want to hear from you.
Whether you’re an existing landowner we’ve previously engaged with or a new landowner with questions for our team, we’re here to answer your questions.