Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Martinez Renewable Fuels project took another step forward on Feb. 17, as the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development issued a Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report. The Notice of Preparation, or NOP, alerts government agencies and the public that the county will be preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and provides them with details about the project so they can assess it from their perspectives. Agencies and the public have 30 days to respond in writing or during a scoping meeting to be held by the county on March 15.

Marathon Petroleum’s Martinez Renewable Fuels project will convert its idled petroleum refinery to a renewable fuels manufacturing facility, with capacity to eventually produce approximately 730 million gallons per year of renewable fuels from bio-based feedstocks such as vegetable oils and rendered fats.

“The Martinez Renewable Fuels project will bring a new purpose to our facility, one that has a much lower environmental footprint by reducing air emissions, water usage, and wastewater discharge compared to the facility’s operations as a petroleum refinery,” said Amber Larsen, Environmental, Safety and Security manager at the Marathon Petroleum Martinez facility. “Despite the reduced environmental footprint, we opted to go through the more rigorous EIR process under CEQA. This will ensure our neighbors are aware of our project and have an opportunity to make their voices heard. Our core values include collaboration, respect, safety and environmental stewardship, and one way we live these values is through engagement with our stakeholders.”

The NOP issued by Contra Costa County includes a project description detailing the anticipated conversion work. For example, in addition to the reductions in emissions, water use and wastewater discharge, the NOP’s description notes that the project will not increase the volume of truck or marine vessel traffic in or around the refinery.

The project description also provides technical details on the processing units to be modified: two hydrodesulfurization units, which removed sulfur from process materials; a hydrocracking unit, which converted heavier compounds into lighter ones; and a gas plant, which separates gases into different components.

Marathon Petroleum anticipates the Martinez Renewable Fuels project will begin producing renewable fuels in 2022 and ramp up to full capacity in 2023. The Martinez project would join a portfolio of Marathon Petroleum’s renewable fuels projects that have been ongoing for years, including the conversion of its Dickinson, North Dakota, refinery to a renewable diesel plant last year; investment in its advanced biofuels subsidiary, Virent; biodiesel production at Marathon’s Cincinnati facility since 2014; and ethanol production through a Midwest joint venture.

Forward-looking statements

This publication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements concerning: MPC’s climate-related challenges and opportunities, and sustainable energy strategy and the expected benefits thereof. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. You can identify our forward-looking statements by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "budget," "commitment," "design," "estimate," "expect," "focus," "forecast," "forward," "goal," "guidance," "imply," "intend," "look," "objective," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "policy," "position," "potential," "predict," "priority," "project," "projection," "proposition," "prospective," "pursue," "schedule," "seek," "strategy," "target," "could," "may," "should," "would," "will" or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied in the forward-looking statements include without limitation: the effects of any divestitures on the business or our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; future levels of revenues, refining and marketing margins, operating costs, retail gasoline and distillate margins, merchandise margins, income from operations, net income or earnings per share; the regional, national and worldwide availability and pricing of refined products, crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), renewable feedstocks and other feedstocks; consumer demand for refined products and renewable fuels; the depth and magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by governments or consumers resulting from the pandemic; future levels of capital, environmental or maintenance expenditures, general and administrative and other expenses; the success or timing of completion of ongoing or anticipated capital or maintenance projects, including the receipt of third party and/or regulatory approvals or permits required for such projects; the reliability of processing units and other equipment; business strategies, growth opportunities and expected investment; our ability to successfully implement our sustainable energy strategy and principles, including our greenhouse gas intensity and methane intensity targets, and realize the expected benefits thereof; unexpected technological developments; the effect of restructuring or reorganization of business components; the potential effects of judicial or other proceedings on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; continued or further volatility in and/or degradation of general economic, market, industry or business conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other infectious disease outbreaks, natural hazards, extreme weather events or otherwise; general economic, political or regulatory developments, including changes in governmental policies relating to refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, NGLs, renewable feedstocks, other feedstocks or renewable energy, regulation or taxation and other economic and political developments (including those caused by public health issues and outbreaks); compliance with federal and state environmental, economic, health and safety, energy and other policies and regulations, including the cost of compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, and/or enforcement actions initiated thereunder; the effects of actions of third parties such as competitors, activist investors or federal, foreign, state or local regulatory authorities or plaintiffs in litigation; the impact of adverse market conditions or other similar risks to those identified herein affecting MPLX; and the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in MPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of MPC's Forms 10-K and 10-Q are available on the SEC's website, MPC's website at https://www.marathonpetroleum.com/Investors/  or by contacting MPC's Investor Relations office.