The Permian Strategic Partnership and the Permian Road Safety Coalition Kicked Off Distribution of $1.1 Million of First Responder Life-Saving Equipment
MIDLAND, TX – (May 26, 2021) — The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) and the Permian Road Safety Coalition (PRSC) today held a kick-off event for its collaborative “First Responder Life-Saving Equipment Initiative.”
The PSP and PRSC previously announced this $1.1 million donation of life-saving equipment to first responders in 22 counties across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. The event, held at the Northeast Midland Volunteer Fire Department, included a complimentary lunch for first responders as well as remarks from PSP CEO Tracee Bentley, PRSC Executive Director Scott Scheffler, Reeves Sheriff Arturo “Art” Granado, Northeast Midland County Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jimmy Don Evans and ConocoPhillips Lower 48 HSE Manager Vanessa Rawlins. Midland County Commissioner Robin Donnelly was also in attendance. A live equipment demonstration during the event conveyed the impact immediate access to these tools can have in times of urgent need.
“We all understand the importance of improving road safety in our region, being a key area of focus for the Permian Strategic Partnership, and we are committed to advancing our work to reduce incidents through improved infrastructure. Partnering with the PRSC on this initiative allows us to help fulfill an urgent need and support our first responders by equipping them with the best possible tools as they work tirelessly to protect our citizens,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the PSP.
“This significant contribution by the Permian Strategic Partnership will help the PRSC place critical emergency response equipment and training in the hands of our region’s first responders that will in turn have the potential to save lives on rural county and state roadways in the Permian Basin,” said Scott Scheffler, executive director of the PRSC. “We are honored to have played a part in this initiative from the start, we want to thank all of the first responders and local government leaders for their leadership throughout this initiative as we all work together to save lives on our Permian roadways.”
First responding agencies, many of whom are staffed by volunteers, have limited infrastructure and resources and it is not unusual now to see responders travel over an hour by road to respond to calls for assistance.
“Let me extend our congratulations and thanks to the Permian Strategic Partnership and Permian Road Safety Coalition for extending the already successful First Responder Life-Saving Equipment Initiative to all 22 counties of the Permian Basin,” said Eddy County Fire Chief Josh Mack. “Eddy County was fortunate to be included in the initial phase of the program last year and we have already seen the positive impact of the equipment in the field. Please know how much we appreciate the positive collaboration between industry and first responders – it truly makes a difference each day.”
This partnership is funding emergency equipment such as battery powered “jaws of life,” fire extinguishers, mobile lighting tools and rescue helicopter landing zone kits and related training for “first on scene” local responders or prepositioned closer to remote activity areas in need of these resources.
First responder agencies receiving equipment are in the following counties: Andrews, Borden, Crane, Culberson, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum Counties in Texas; and Eddy and Lea Counties in New Mexico. Twenty-two counties in all.
Additional statements from industry leaders are included at the end of this release.
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About the Permian Strategic Partnership
The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) is a coalition of 17 leading Permian Basin energy companies who joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and natural gas resources of the Permian Basin in the states of New Mexico and Texas. The PSP member companies are: Apache, BPX Energy, Chevron, Cimarex, ConocoPhillips, Devon, Diamondback, Endeavor, EOG Resources, Halliburton, Occidental, Ovintiv, Pioneer, Plains All American, Schlumberger, Shell, and XTO Energy. For more information, visit www.permianpartnership.org.
About the Permian Road Safety Coalition
The Permian Road Safety Coalition (PRSC) is based in Midland, Texas and leads a collaborative effort with oil and natural gas operators, oil field service and transportation companies, non-governmental and governmental organizations to improve road safety and reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths in the Permian Basin. Learn more at www.permianroadsafety.org.
Industry Leader Statements
Chevron
“Permian Basin first responders play a vital and heroic role every day across this vast region. As a founding member of both PSP and the PRSC, Chevron is proud to support this initiative, which helps ensure that these brave men and women have the equipment they need to do this important and life-saving work.” – Jeff Gustavson, Vice President, Chevron Mid-Continent Business Unit
ConocoPhillips
“This collaborative effort will ultimately save lives, and we are proud to help provide critical tools to our first responders that will enable their on-scene response in the most remote areas of the Permian Basin.” – Vanessa Rawlins, PRSC Board Chair and ConocoPhillips Lower 48 HSE Manager
EOG
“The safety of employees, contractors, and community members is always our first priority. Providing our first responders with this state-of-the-art equipment further enhances their capabilities, and EOG is pleased to support this initiative.” – Keith Trasko, VP & GM of EOG’s Midland Division
Shell
“Shell shares our communities’ desire for safer roads, and we continue to address this on many fronts,” said Frits Klap, Senior Vice President, Shales US for Shell Exploration and Production. “We have truly exceptional first responders in the Permian Basin, but distance and remoteness can present challenges when every minute counts. It is our hope that these kits can be used to help save lives in the Permian Basin.”