Sunoco 2009 Annual Report Download - page 26

Weather conditions and natural disasters could materially and adversely affect our business and operating
results.
The effects of weather conditions and natural disasters can lead to volatility in the costs and availability of
energy and raw materials or negatively impact our operations or those of our customers and suppliers, which
could have a significant adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our inability to obtain adequate supplies of crude oil could affect our business and future operating results in
a materially adverse way.
We meet all of our crude oil requirements through purchases from third parties. Most of the crude oil
processed at our refineries is light-sweet crude oil. It is possible that an adequate supply of crude oil or other
feedstocks may not be available to our refineries to sustain our current level of refining operations. In addition,
our inability to process significant quantities of less-expensive heavy-sour crude oil could be a competitive
disadvantage.
We purchase crude oil from different regions throughout the world, including a significant portion from
West Africa, and we are subject to the political, geographic and economic risks of doing business with suppliers
located in these regions, including:
• trade barriers;
• national and regional labor strikes;
• political unrest;
• increases in duties and taxes;
• changes in contractual terms; and
• changes in laws and policies governing foreign companies.
Substantially all of these purchases are made in the spot market, or under short-term contracts. In the event
that we are unable to obtain crude oil in the spot market, or one or more of our supply arrangements is terminated
or cannot be renewed, we will need to find alternative sources of supply. In addition, we could experience an
interruption of supply or an increased cost to deliver refined products to market if the ability of the pipelines or
vessels to transport crude oil or refined products is disrupted because of accidents, governmental regulation or
third-party action. If we cannot obtain adequate crude oil volumes of the type and quality we require, or if we are
able to obtain such types and volumes only at unfavorable prices, our results of operations could be affected in a
materially adverse way.
We are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations that require substantial expenditures and
affect the way we operate, which could affect our business, future operating results or financial position in a
materially adverse way.
We are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those relating to the
protection of the environment, waste management, discharge of hazardous materials, and the characteristics and
composition of refined products. Certain of these laws and regulations also require assessment or remediation
efforts at many of our facilities and at formerly owned or third-party sites. Environmental laws and regulations
may impose liability on us for the conduct of third parties, or for actions that complied with applicable
requirements when taken, regardless of negligence or fault. Environmental laws and regulations are subject to
frequent change, and often become more stringent over time. Of particular significance to us are:
•Greenhouse gas emissions: Through the operation of our refineries, chemical plants, marketing
facilities, coke plants and coal mines, our operations emit greenhouse gases, or GHG, including carbon
dioxide. There are various legislative and regulatory measures to address GHG emissions which
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