August 2023

In the Weeds with Invasive Species

There's been a lot of talk lately about invasive species - especially the Spotted Lanternfly - a destructive insect native to Asia, which has taken over parts of Pennsylvania.?

But did you know that plants can be invasive too?

Seneca Resources works to manage and conserve Pennsylvania’s rich diversity of more than 3,000 native and wild plant species across public and private lands.? One way is by identifying and controlling invasive plant species. Like the Spotted Lanternfly, invasive plants aren't native to Pennsylvania and threaten healthy biodiversity. They often reproduce rapidly and can survive in adverse conditions, making them difficult and costly to control. Examples include the Tree-of-heaven (Chinese Sumac), English Ivy, and Poison Hemlock. Invasive trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, and grasses often quickly consume entire, healthy native habitats.

Seneca has a robust biodiversity management plan, which includes routine monitoring and treatment of invasive plant species, and partners with outside agencies like the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to survey its construction footprint. Seneca also works to minimize impacts to healthy native plants, implements erosion prevention strategies, and conducts native seed and tree plantings throughout its operations.

Learn more about invasive plants and how to prevent them from spreading.

Building a Culture of Safety

Safety is a core value of Seneca Resources, Highland Field Services,?and NFG Midstream, and we are continuously looking for ways to promote and encourage implementing safe work practices throughout our operations.

Field Safety Talks

Earlier this month, Seneca's Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) team took its safety message on the road, meeting with contractors and employees at its field operations. Representatives took the opportunity to thank individuals?for working safely and highlight the hard work that goes into preventing injuries on the job. They also discussed the importance of remaining diligent, practicing safety leadership, and utilizing stop-work authority so that everyone?can return home in the same or better condition than they arrived. More than 200 employees and contractors attended the events. The meetings come on the heels of Seneca's annual Contractor Safety Meeting, which took place in State College.?

Water Transportation?

In the spirit of focusing on safety in our operations, Seneca's EHS team also hosted a Water Hauler Safety Meeting,?specific to fluid transportation. ?

Active water haulers participated in the event, which discussed driving safety, being good stewards in the communities we operate and transport through, and on-the-job safety actions.?

Office Emergency Preparedness ?

Accidents and medical incidents can occur anywhere - including the workplace - and having employees trained in CPR and first aid?on-site ensures swift and effective response.

To increase awareness, NFG Midstream offered voluntary First Aid, CPR, and AED training classes for employees, providing an opportunity to learn valuable lifesaving techniques. Employees learned to identify emergencies, perform rescue breathing and chest compressions, and use an AED. There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the United States, according to a report from the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Immediate administration of CPR and first aid significantly increases the chances of survival and minimizes the potential for long-term injuries.

Helping Kids Get Back to School

It's that time of year - kids are heading back to school - and Seneca Resources is helping to get them the tools they need to be successful in the classroom. Throughout the summer, Seneca's employee volunteer program - Seneca Serves - hosted back-to-school drives, collecting backpacks and school supplies for families in need.

Houston employees donated 50 backpacks filled with supplies to BEAR... Be a Resource for CPS Kids - providing at-risk and CPS-involved students with the supplies they need to start the school year off right. Employees also volunteered at Books Between Kids, a non-profit organization that helps Houston’s at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries. Our team sorted hundreds of books that will be packed into boxes and sent off to local area schools.

In Pittsburgh, volunteers collected more than $700 worth of school supplies for?Glade Run Lutheran Services. The organization provides educational, mental health, and autism services in educational and community settings. In Eastern Pennsylvania, Mansfield employees donated several boxes filled with supplies to Adelphoi, which supports abused, neglected, delinquent, and other at-risk children and their families.