34 Land and Shoreline Restoration Valero volunteers from the Houston and Texas City refineries partnered with the Galveston Bay Foundation to plant 140 trees and restore part of an oyster reef , which help to reestablish coastal habitat, reduce erosion, prevent hurricane storm surges and aid in carbon capture. The Kemah reforestation tree-planting event was held on the foundation’s new property, which will eventually house its future headquarters, the Gessner Center. The center will act as a gathering place for the community and will educate adults and students about Galveston Bay, conservation and the importance of water. Approximately 7,500 pounds of oyster shells were collected from local restaurants, bundled into sacks, and placed along the Galveston Bay shoreline to restore 38 feet of oyster reef. Oyster reefs help filter water and prevent storm surges, provide a nursery for oyster larvae and other marine animals, and allow sediment to settle along the shoreline, helping to restore coastal habitats. Wetlands Restoration The St. Charles refinery continued its longstanding partnership with the Pontchartrain Conservancy with a $1 million contribution to fund a five-year plan for wetland restoration . Over the course of this project, 28,000 tree saplings will be planted across 140 acres. Once mature, these trees are estimated to capture more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Valero volunteers are invited to participate in planting events twice a year, and approximately 400 local students will engage in coastal restoration efforts. The Benicia refinery captures clean sediment dredged from its dock area to raise the elevation of nearby subsided wetlands, which helps protect and recover wildlife and plant species. Dredging is performed annually to maintain adequate depth for ships to berth safely at the docks. Valero began donating clean dredged sediment to the Montezuma Wetlands Restoration Project in 2012 and as of January 2022, it has reclaimed 550 acres of wetland from the tides , and early signs of species colonization, including fish, birds and elk, have been recorded. VALERO HAS DONATED NEARLY 260,000 CUBIC YARDS OF CLEAN DREDGED MATERIAL, EQUIVALENT TO ROUGHLY 12.5 MILLION 50-POUND BAGS OF SAND.