Sunoco LP
For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Feb 19, 2026.
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FY2025 · Filed Feb 19, 2026
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Item 1. Business
PART I
Item 1. Business
General
As used in this report, the terms “Partnership,” “Sunoco,” “we,” “us” or “our” should be understood to refer to Sunoco LP and our consolidated subsidiaries as applicable and appropriate.
Overview
We are a Delaware master limited partnership. We are managed by our General Partner, which is owned by Energy Transfer. As of February 13, 2026, Energy Transfer owned 100% of the membership interest in our General Partner, 28,463,967 of our common units and all of our IDRs. In addition, Energy Transfer controls SunocoCorp, which owns all of the outstanding Class D Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Class D Units”) and pursuant to the Delegation Agreement (as defined below) has been delegated Energy Transfer’s power and authority to appoint the board of directors of our General Partner.
We are primarily engaged in energy infrastructure and distribution of motor fuels across 32 countries and territories in North America, the Greater Caribbean and Europe. Our midstream operations include an extensive network of over 14,000 miles of pipeline and over 160 terminals. Our fuel distribution operations distribute over 15 billion gallons annually to approximately 11,000 Sunoco and partner branded locations, as well as independent dealers and commercial customers.
The following simplified diagram depicts our organizational structure as of February 13, 2026.
Significant Achievements in 2025
On October 31, 2025, we completed the previously announced acquisition of Parkland, whereby Sunoco Retail LLC (“Sunoco Retail”), a wholly owned corporate subsidiary of the Partnership, indirectly acquired all the outstanding shares of Parkland, in exchange for cash and SunocoCorp units that were contributed by SunocoCorp to the Partnership at the close of the Parkland Acquisition. Under the terms of the agreement, Parkland shareholders received 0.295 SunocoCorp units and C$19.80 for each Parkland share. Parkland shareholders could elect, in the alternative, to receive C$44.00 per Parkland share in cash or 0.536 SunocoCorp units for each Parkland share, subject to proration to ensure that the aggregate consideration payable in connection with the transaction would not exceed C$19.80 in cash per Parkland share outstanding as of immediately before close and 0.295 SunocoCorp units per Parkland share outstanding as of immediately before close. In connection with the closing of the Parkland Acquisition, we paid approximately $2.60 billion to Parkland’s shareholders and transferred 51,517,198 SunocoCorp common units, which we had received from SunocoCorp in exchange for our issuance of 51,517,198 Sunoco Class D Units to SunocoCorp.
Parkland is a leading international fuel distributor, marketer and convenience retailer with operations in 26 countries across the Americas. Parkland’s functional currency is the Canadian dollar, and its consolidated structure includes subsidiaries with multiple other functional currencies.
As part of the transaction, the Partnership repurposed and renamed an existing subsidiary as SunocoCorp. Prior to the Parkland Acquisition, SunocoCorp did not have any significant assets, liabilities or operations; in connection with the Parkland Acquisition, the Partnership deconsolidated SunocoCorp and SunocoCorp became a publicly traded entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. SunocoCorp units began trading on the NYSE effective November 6, 2025. Subsequent to the Parkland Acquisition, SunocoCorp holds Sunoco Class D Units, representing limited partnership interests in Sunoco that are generally economically equivalent to Sunoco’s publicly traded common units on the basis of one Sunoco Common Unit for each outstanding SunocoCorp unit. For a period of two years following closing of the transaction, Sunoco will ensure that SunocoCorp unitholders receive distributions on a per unit basis that are equivalent to the per unit distributions to Sunoco unitholders.
On January 16, 2026, the Partnership completed the previously announced acquisition of TanQuid for approximately €465 million (approximately$540 million as of January 16, 2026), including approximately €300 millionof assumed debt, less approximately €39 million of cash acquired. TanQuid owns and operates 15 fuel terminals in Germany and one fuel terminal in Poland. The transaction was funded using cash on hand and amounts available under the Partnership's Credit Facility.
In the first quarter of 2025, Sunoco acquired fuel equipment, motor fuel inventory and supply agreements in two separate transactions for total consideration of approximately $17 million. Aggregate consideration included $12 million in cash and 91,776 newly issued Sunoco Common Units, which had an aggregate acquisition-date fair value of approximately $5 million.
In the second quarter of 2025, Sunoco acquired a total of 151 fuel distribution consignment sites in three separate transactions for total consideration of approximately $105 million, plus working capital. Aggregate consideration included $92 million in cash and 251,646 newly issued Sunoco Common Units which had an aggregate acquisition-date fair value of approximately $13 million.
In the third quarter of 2025, Sunoco acquired approximately 70 fuel distribution consignment sites and 100 supply agreements in five separate transactions for total cash consideration of approximately $85 million, plus working capital.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Sunoco acquired a total of 27 fuel distribution consignment sites and 36 dealer sites, as well as commercial customers, in four separate transactions for total cash consideration of approximately $64 million, plus working capital.
These transactions were accounted for as asset acquisitions, and the purchase price was primarily allocated to inventories, property, plant and equipment and other non-current assets.
Available Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 400, Dallas, Texas 75225. Our telephone number is (214) 981-0700. Our Internet address iswww.sunocolp.com. We make available through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not part of this report. The SEC maintains an Internet site atwww.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
Our Relationship with Energy Transfer
One of our principal strengths is our relationship with Energy Transfer. As of February 13, 2026, Energy Transfer owned 100% of the membership interest in our General Partner, all ofour IDRs and 28,463,967 of our common units and pursuant to the Delegation Agreement delegated its power and authority to appoint the board of directors of our General Partner to SunocoCorp, which is also controlled by Energy Transfer. Given the significant ownership, we believe Energy Transfer will be motivated to promote and support the successful execution of our business strategies. In particular, we believe it will be in the best interest of Energy Transfer to facilitate organic growth opportunities and accretive acquisitions of third parties, although Energy Transfer is not under any obligation to do so.
Energy Transfer is one of the largest and most diversified midstream energy companies in North America. Energy Transfer, through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in:
natural gas midstream, intrastate and interstate transportation and storage operations; and
crude oil, natural gas liquids (“NGL”) and refined products transportation, terminalling services, and acquisition and marketing activities as well as NGL storage and fractionation services and liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) regasification.
Our Business and Operations
Our business is comprised of four reportable segments: Fuel Distribution, Pipeline Systems, Terminals and Refinery.
The following map depicts the major assets of our business and excludes corporate and field offices and certain assets that are less significant to Sunoco. This map includes the assets of TanQuid, which the Partnership acquired on January 16, 2026; however, the descriptions of our business and operations by segment below exclude TanQuid, given the timing of the transaction subsequent to December 31, 2025.
Fuel Distribution Segment
We are a distributor of motor fuels and other petroleum products that we supply to customers that include third-party dealers and distributors, commission agent operators, and commercial businesses, in addition to our directly operated convenience retail facilities. We are the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas and are the exclusive wholesale distributor of Sunoco, Aloha, Sol, Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and EcoMaxx-branded motor fuels, supplying an extensive distribution network of customer and company operated locations. We also are one of the largest distributors of Chevron, Texaco, ExxonMobil and Valero branded motor fuel in the Americas. The other petroleum products that we distribute include marine fuel, aviation fuel, propane and lubricating oil.
The fuel distribution channel also provides for revenue associated with credit card services, franchise royalty offerings, and rental income from controlled properties leased to independent operators.
We purchase motor fuel primarily from independent refiners and major oil companies and distribute it across the United States, Canada and the Greater Caribbean to:
approximately 9,200 retail facilities operated by independent customer operators, which we refer to as “dealers” or “distributors,” pursuant to long-term distribution agreements;
approximately 1,300 independently operated commission agent locations where we sell motor fuel to customers under commission agent arrangements, which we refer to as “commission agents”;
approximately 330 company operated convenience retail facilities; and
over 13,000 other commercial businesses, including retail stores, other fuel distributors, municipalities and industrial customers.
Dealer and Distributor Business
In 2025, we distributed fuel under long-term contracts to our approximately 9,200 dealer and distributor customers. These customers buy fuel directly from us and sell the fuel to consumers at the pump. Sunoco-branded supply contracts generally have both time and volume commitments that establish contract duration. The supply contracts require, among other things, that the customers maintain the operating standards established by the applicable brand.
Commission Agent Business
During 2025, our Fuel Distribution business distributed fuel to approximately 1,300 commission agent locations. Under these arrangements, we control motor fuel inventory and price at the site. Similarly to our dealer and distributor business channels, the customers are responsible for operating standards established by the applicable brand.
The dealer, distributor and commission agent business channels continue to grow and remain an attractive part of our company performance. We continually seek to expand through the addition of new branded dealers, distributors and commission agent locations, new commercial customers and through acquisitions of contracts for existing independently operated sites from other distributors. We evaluate potential new customers based on the quality of their facilities and operations, including the facility’s size and location, projected monthly volumes of motor fuel, and operating experience. We may extend credit to certain customers based on our credit evaluation process.
Company Operated Retail Business
Sunoco owns and operates convenience retail facilities in desirable markets including Hawaii, certain markets of the US mainland and on the New Jersey Turnpike, which is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the nation. These directly operated facilities further provide for complementary revenue to our fuel distribution given their expanded service offerings including merchandise sales.
Unbranded Customers Business
We distribute unbranded fuel to numerous other customers, including retail facilities and commercial businesses, municipalities and a multitude of commercial company customers, which also remains an attractive and growing part of our fuel distribution business segment. These customers are primarily commercial, governmental and other parties who buy motor fuel by the load or in bulk and who do not always enter into exclusive contractual relationships with us. We also sell propane, lubricating oil and other petroleum products, such as heating fuels, to our customers on both a spot and contracted basis. With the addition of Parkland, Sunoco’s lubricant business now spans large portions of Canada, western U.S. and throughout the Caribbean. In addition, we receive income from the manufacture and distribution sale of race fuels at our Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility.
Fuel Supplier Arrangements
We distribute branded motor fuel under the Aloha, Chevron, Citgo, Conoco, EcoMaxx, Exxon, Mahalo, Mobil, Phillips 66, Shamrock, Shell, Sunoco, Texaco and Valero brands. We purchase branded motor fuel from major oil companies and refiners under supply agreements. Our largest branded fuel suppliers in terms of volume are Chevron, Exxon, Phillips 66 and Valero. The branded fuel supply agreements generally have an initial term of three to five years.
We also distribute motor fuel, which we purchase in bulk, on a rack basis based upon prices posted by the refiner at a fuel supply terminal or on a contract basis with the price tied to one or more market indices.
Bulk Fuel Purchases
We purchase motor fuel in bulk and hold it in inventory or transport it via pipeline, barge, vessel, truck or rail. To mitigate inventory risk, we use commodity futures contracts or other derivative instruments, which are matched in quantity and timing to the anticipated usage of the inventory. We also blend in various additives, including ethanol and biomass-based diesel. We purchase fuel globally from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and North America. Our scale of operation allows us to provide a lower cost of supply. This operation not only supplies our network but mitigates exposure to volatility, supply disruptions, and geopolitical risks.
Transportation Logistics
We provide transportation logistics for most of our motor fuel deliveries through our own fleet of fuel transportation vehicles as well as third-party and affiliated transportation providers. In Canada, we predominately distribute through third-party carriers and independent brokers. We arrange for motor fuel to be delivered from the storage terminals to the appropriate sites in our distribution network at prices consistent with those historically charged to third parties for the delivery of fuel. We also deliver motor fuel, propane and lubricating oils to commercial customers involved in petroleum exploration and production.
We operate a waterborne logistics network, including the use of both Jones Act and foreign flag vessels, which is a critical component of our supply chain. The fleet supports sourcing crude and refined product barrels from diverse supply origins, including Asia, South America, U.S. Gulf Coast, Canada, and Europe, and facilitates delivery to downstream customers and storage locations. By maintaining a globally distributed sourcing footprint, we reduce reliance on any single region and capture arbitrage opportunities. The integration of our marine operations allows us to optimize inventory, manage transit times, and reduce overall logistics costs. Sunoco also operates blending operations across the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast and the Caribbean markets, creating additional supply advantages while meeting regulated specifications.
Technology
Technology is an important part of our Fuel Distribution segment. While our technology solutions can vary by country and acquisitions must be integrated, we utilize a proprietary web-based system that allows our wholesale customers to access their accounts at any time. We use Internet-based systems to assist with fuel inventory management and procurement and an integrated distribution fuel system for financial accounting, procurement, billing and inventory management.
Sale of Regulated Products
In certain areas where our convenience stores are located, state or local laws limit the hours of operation for the sale of alcoholic beverages and restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to persons younger than a certain age. State and local regulatory agencies have the authority to approve, revoke, suspend or deny applications for and renewals of permits and licenses relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages, as well as to issue fines to convenience stores for the improper sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Failure to comply with these laws may result in the loss of necessary licenses and the imposition of fines and penalties on us.
Pipeline Systems Segment
Our Pipeline Systems segment includes an integrated pipeline and terminal network comprised of approximately 6,000 miles of refined product pipeline (including the pipeline of J.C. Nolan), approximately 6,000 miles of crude oil pipeline (including the pipelines of ET-S Permian), approximately 2,000 miles of ammonia pipeline and 69 terminals.
The following details our pipelines and storage facilities, excluding our investments in J.C. Nolan and ET-S Permian, in the Pipeline Systems segment:
| Description of Assets | Miles of Pipeline | Storage Capacity (Barrels) |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Crude and Refined Products System | ||
| Panhandle Refined Product System | 1,991 | 1,740,000 |
| Panhandle Crude System | 547 | 1,795,000 |
| Valley Refined Products System | 1,005 | 2,486,000 |
| Valley Crude System | 474 | 6,117,000 |
| Total Southwest Crude and Refined Products System | 4,017 | 12,138,000 |
| Mid-Continent Refined Product System | ||
| East Pipeline | 2,147 | 5,906,000 |
| North Pipeline | 446 | 1,771,000 |
| Total Mid-Continent Refined Product System | 2,593 | 7,677,000 |
| Mid-Continent Ammonia System | ||
| Ammonia Pipeline | 2,021 | 19,000 |
| Total Ammonia System | 2,021 | 19,000 |
| Total | 8,631 | 19,834,000 |
J.C. Nolan
Through our investment in J.C. Nolan, we provide diesel fuel storage in Midland, Texas with storage capacity of 130,000 barrels, and transport diesel fuel from a tank farm in Hebert, Texas to Midland, Texas on a 500 mile pipeline with a throughput capacity of approximately 36 thousand barrels per day.
Through our investment in ET-S Permian, we operate more than 5,000 miles of crude oil and water gathering pipelines and provide crude oil storage capacity in excess of 11 million barrels.
Terminals Segment
Through our Terminals segment, we operate four transmix processing facilities and 83 terminals (two in Europe, six in Hawaii, nine in Canada, 13 in the Greater Caribbean and 53 in the continental United States). Transmix is the mixture of various off-specification refined products created in the supply chain (primarily in pipelines and terminals) when various products interface with each other. Transmix processing plants separate this mixture and return it to merchantable products of gasoline and distillates. Our terminals provide storage and distribution services to support our fuel distribution business and other third-party customers.
Refinery Segment
Our Refinery segment is composed of the Burnaby Refinery, which was acquired in the Parkland Acquisition, with an operational capacity of approximately 55,000 barrels per day. The refinery consumes primarily sweet conventional crude oil and sweet synthetic crude oil to produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel among other products. The refinery meets federal and provincial regulations for lower carbon intensity transportation fuels through a combination of co-processing of bio feedstocks (i.e. canola oil, tallow, tall oil and others) and blending of low-carbon intensity fuels such as bio-diesel, renewable diesel, ethanol and others. Fuel from the refinery is sold primarily through Sunoco-owned retail network in British Columbia (“BC”), directly to Vancouver International Airport, and to commercial and cardlock customers.
SARA
Sunoco owns a 29%interest in SARA, which is a refinery based in Martinique with operations to sell refined crude oil in Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique.
Real Estate and Lease Arrangements
As of December 31, 2025, our real estate and lease arrangements were as follows:
| Owned | Leased | |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer and commission agent sites | 822 | 1,877 |
| Company-operated retail stores | 732 | 605 |
| Warehouses, offices and other | 307 | 210 |
| Total | 1,861 | 2,692 |
Competition
In the Fuel Distribution segment, we compete primarily with other independent motor fuel distributors. The markets for distribution of motor fuel and the retail store industry are highly competitive and fragmented, which result in narrow margins. We have numerous competitors, some of which may have significantly greater resources and name recognition than we do. Significant competitive factors include the availability of major brands, customer service, price, range of services offered and quality of service, among others. We rely on our ability to provide value-added, reliable service and control our operating costs in order to maintain our margins and competitive position. Additionally, we face strong competition in the market for the sale of retail gasoline and merchandise. Our competitors include service stations of large integrated oil companies, independent gasoline service stations, convenience stores, fast food stores, supermarkets, drugstores, dollar stores, club stores and other similar retail outlets, some of which are well-recognized national or regional retail systems. The number of competitors varies depending on the geographical area. Competition also varies with gasoline and convenience store offerings. The principal competitive factors affecting our retail marketing operations include gasoline and diesel acquisition costs, site location, product price, selection and quality, site appearance and cleanliness, hours of operation, store safety, customer loyalty and brand recognition. We compete by pricing gasoline competitively, combining our retail gasoline business with convenience stores that provide a wide variety of products, and using advertising and promotional campaigns.
In the Pipeline Systems segment, we compete primarily with common carrier and proprietary pipelines owned and operated by major integrated and large independent oil companies and other pipeline companies in our service areas. Competition between common carrier pipelines is based primarily on transportation charges, quality of customer service and proximity to end users. Trucks may deliver products competitively for short-haul destinations; however, trucking costs render that mode of transportation noncompetitive with pipeline options for long-haul destinations or for larger volumes.
In the Terminals segment, we compete primarily with both major energy and chemical companies as well as independent terminal owners. Although major energy and chemical company terminals often have the same capabilities as terminals owned by independent operators, they generally do not provide terminalling services to third parties. In many instances, even major energy and chemical companies that have storage and terminalling facilities are also significant customers of independent terminal operators, especially terminals located in cost-effective locations near key transportation links, such as deep-water ports. Major energy and chemical companies also need independent terminal storage when their proprietary storage facilities are inadequate due to size constraints, the nature of the stored material or specialized handling requirements. Independent terminal owners generally compete on the basis of the location and versatility of terminals, service and price. A favorably located terminal will have access to various cost-effective transportation modes both to and from the terminal. Transportation modes typically include waterways, railroads, roadways and pipelines. Terminal versatility is a function of the operator’s ability to offer complex handling requirements for diverse products. The services typically provided by the terminal include, among other things, the safe storage of the product at specified temperature, moisture and other conditions, as well as receipt at and delivery from the terminal, all of which must comply with applicable environmental regulations. A terminal operator’s ability to obtain attractive pricing is often dependent on the quality, versatility and reputation of the facilities owned by the operator. Operators with versatile storage capabilities typically require less modification prior to usage, ultimately making the storage cost to the customer more attractive. On the West Coast, regulatory priorities continue to increase demand for renewable fuels in the region, while at the same time, obtaining permits for greenfield projects remains difficult, which both add more value to our existing assets.
In the Refinery segment, our Burnaby Refinery competes with other refineries owned by major energy companies. The majority of the Burnaby Refinery’s production remains in British Columbia, Canada but faces competition with Alberta, Canada-based refineries which consume crude from Alberta, Canada and sell to the British Columbia market with transportation through the Trans Mountain Pipeline (“TMPL”) and other means. Competition is based primarily on transportation charges, reliability of supply and proximity to end users.
Seasonality
Our business exhibits some seasonality due to our customers’ increased demand for motor fuel during the late spring and summer months, as compared to the fall and winter months. Travel, recreation and construction activities typically increase in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for motor fuel. Therefore, the volume of motor fuel that we distribute is typically somewhat higher in the second and third quarters of our fiscal year. As a result, our results from operations may vary from period to period. Our commercial operations experience higher volumes in the winter months as a result of higher demand for diesel and heating oil in the winter.
Working Capital Requirements
Related to our retail store operations, we maintain customary levels of fuel and merchandise inventories and carry corresponding payable balances to suppliers of those inventories. In addition, Sunoco, LLC purchases and stores a significant amount of unbranded fuel in bulk. We also have rental obligations related to leased locations. Our working capital needs will typically fluctuate over the medium to long term with the price of crude oil, and over the short term due to the timing of motor fuel tax, sales tax, interest and rent payments.
Environmental Matters
Environmental Laws and Regulations
Sunoco is subject to various federal, state, provincial and local environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to underground storage tanks; the release or discharge of hazardous materials into the air, water and soil; the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of regulated materials and wastes; the exposure of persons to regulated materials; and the remediation of contaminated soil, groundwater or other environmental media. For more information, see “Sunoco’s operations are subject to federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations pertaining to environmental protection and operational safety that may require significant expenditures or result in liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on Sunoco’s business” in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Environmental laws and regulations can restrict or impact Sunoco’s business activities in many ways, such as:
requiring remedial action to mitigate releases of hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes caused by its operations or attributable to former operators;
requiring capital expenditures to comply with environmental control requirements; and
enjoining the operations of facilities deemed to be in noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining, imposing restrictions on or otherwise curtailing future operations. Certain environmental statutes impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes have been released or disposed of. Moreover, neighboring landowners and other third parties may file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or other wastes into the environment.
Sunoco does not believe that compliance with federal, state, provincial or local environmental laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to its unitholders, including SunocoCorp. Any future change in regulatory requirements could cause it to incur significant costs. We incorporate by reference into this section the disclosures included in Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Hazardous Substances and Releases
Certain environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), impose strict, and under certain circumstances, joint and several, liability on the owner and operator as well as former owners and operators of properties for the costs of investigation, removal or remediation of contamination and also impose liability for any related damages to natural resources without regard to fault. In addition, under CERCLA and similar state laws, as persons who arrange for the transportation, treatment or disposal of hazardous substances, Sunoco also may be subject to similar liability at sites where such hazardous substances are released. Sunoco may also be subject to third-party claims alleging property damage and/or personal injury in connection with releases of or exposure to hazardous substances at, from or in the vicinity of, our current properties or off-site waste disposal sites.
Sunoco is required to comply with federal and state financial responsibility requirements to demonstrate that it has the ability to pay for remediation or to compensate third parties for damages incurred as a result of a release of regulated materials from its underground storage tank systems. It meets these requirements primarily by maintaining insurance, which it purchases from private insurers.
The Burnaby Refinery is subject to several federal, BC provincial and municipal laws, regulations and bylaws that apply to the assessment, management and disposal of pollution, toxic substances and hazardous wastes. For example, the BC Environmental Management Act (“BCEMA”) imposes absolute, retroactive, joint and several liability on several classes of responsible parties, including current or previous owners or operators of contaminated sites, and persons that generated or arranged for the transport of the contaminating substance that agreed to handle the substance in a manner that caused a site to become contaminated. In addition, the BCEMA requires Sunoco to develop and implement a spill contingency plan for the transport of certain hazardous substances, including aviation fuel, crude oil, gasoline and kerosene, by pipeline or highway.
At the federal level, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (“CEPA”) imposes requirements for managing toxic substances and other pollution, including those related to petroleum storage tanks. Sunoco, along with certain corporate officers, may be subject to administrative fines, penalties and compliance orders for any failure to comply with these regulations. Sunoco is also subject to the federal Dangerous Goods Transportation Act and similar provincial laws and regulations when transporting or handling hazardous materials over road or water.
Environmental Reserves
Sunoco iscurrently involved in the investigation and remediation of contamination at motor fuel storage and gasoline store sites where releases of regulated substances have been detected. It accrues for anticipated future costs and the related probable state reimbursement amounts for remediation activities. Accordingly, it has recorded estimated undiscounted liabilities for these sites totaling $168 million as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, Sunoco has additional reserves of $254 million that represent its estimate for future asset retirement obligations for underground storage tanks.
Underground Storage Tanks
Sunoco is required to make financial expenditures to comply with regulations governing underground storage tanks (“USTs”) adopted by federal, state and local regulatory agencies. Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), as amended, the EPA has established a comprehensive regulatory program for the detection, prevention, investigation and cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks. State or local agencies are often delegated the responsibility for implementing the federal program or developing and implementing equivalent state or local regulations. Additionally, with respect to the Burnaby Refinery, the federal Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations impose technical standards for design, installation, operation and removal of federally regulated tanks. Sunoco may be required in the future to remove USTs, aboveground storage tanks and in-ground lifts containing petroleum-based products and hazardous substances should they represent a risk of release or threatened release into the environment. Sunoco has a comprehensive program in place for performing routine tank testing and other compliance activities, which are intended to promptly detect and investigate any potential releases. To date, compliance with applicable underground or other petroleum storage tank requirements have not had a material adverse impact on Sunoco’s business, though we cannot guarantee this will always be the case.
Air Emissions and Climate Change
The Clean Air Act and similar state laws impose requirements on emissions to the air from motor fueling, storage and transportation activities in certain areas of the country, including those that do not meet state or national ambient air quality standards. These laws and implementing regulations may require the installation of vapor recovery systems to control emissions of volatile organic compounds to the air during the motor fueling process or otherwise in the course of our operations. For example, in October 2024, the EPA finalized changes to its new source performance standards (“NSPS”) for new, modified and reconstructed storage vessels containing volatile organic liquids, a term which includes certain of our products. The EPA’s final rule created new NSPS subpart Kc, which broadened the definition of modification for storage tanks (which would result in significantly broader application of this rule to existing tanks), introduced more stringent emission control requirements for certain tanks, imposed additional annual monitoring requirements for certain tanks, and require control of degassing events, amongst other matters. Costs to comply with new rules under the Clean Air Act can be substantial. In addition, under the Clean Air Act and comparable state and local laws, permits are typically required to emit regulated air pollutants into the atmosphere. Although we can give no assurances, we are aware of no changes to air quality regulations that will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Various federal, state, provincial and local agencies have the authority to prescribe product quality and volatility specifications for the motor fuels that Sunoco sells, including with respect to products produced at the Burnaby Refinery, largely in an effort to reduce air pollution. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in substantial penalties. To date, compliance with applicable product quality and volatility specifications for motor fuels has not had a material adverse impact on Sunoco’s business, though we cannot guarantee this will always be the case.
In Canada, CEPA and similar provincial and local laws and regulations impose restrictions, permitting obligations and other requirements with respect to emissions of pollutants from industrial facilities, including the Burnaby Refinery. These laws and regulations require Sunoco to meet specified air contaminant emissions limits, undertake air quality monitoring activities, implement odor management activities and meet reporting obligations, among other requirements. Governmental authorities may also impose fees on emissions. If Sunoco fails to comply with applicable laws or permit obligations, it may be subject to significant fines and penalties.
In recent years, there have been a number of efforts at the federal, state and provincial levels focused on reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions from various sources in the United States and in Canada. With respect to the United States, at both the state and the federal level, legislators have from time to time considered legislation to reduce GHG emissions in the United States such as a carbon emissions tax or a cap-and-trade program or direct emission regulation by the EPA. For example, in 2022 President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA 2022”) into law, which created significant incentives for renewable energy initiatives and imposed a fee on excess methane emissions from certain oil and gas facilities. The EPA issued a final rule implementing the fee in November 2024. However, in February 2025, Congress repealed the rule using the Congressional Review Act, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), enacted in July 2025, delayed implementation of the fee until 2034. We cannot predict with any certainty whether, how, or the timing for when the Trump Administration or Congress may take further action to repeal or revise this requirement in the IRA 2022. Notwithstanding the EPA’s recent final rule repealing the “Endangerment Finding” that underlies the majority of its GHG-related regulations, GHG emissions have been regulated by the EPA under previous administrations pursuant to the Clean Air Act as well as by state environmental authorities. For example, the EPA previously finalized new criteria pollutant and GHG emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, pickups, sedans and sport utility vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond. However, in February 2026, the EPA issued final rules rescinding the “Endangerment Finding” underpinning the majority of EPA’s GHG regulations and GHG emission standards for new motor vehicles and engines. Litigation challenging these rules is expected. As a result, there is significant uncertainty with respect to regulation of GHG emissions. Additionally, OBBBA eliminates electric vehicle credits previously available for new and used electric vehicles and commercial fleets. However, we cannot predict whether or not these regulatory repeals will ultimately be successful or if future administrations may seek to restore incentives and further promote or mandate the adoption of electric vehicles.
New federal or state restrictions on emissions of GHGs that may be imposed in areas of the United States in which Sunoco conducts business and that apply to its operations could adversely affect the demand for its products. However, on his first day in office, President Trump issued several Executive Orders rescinding many of the previous administration’s climate-related initiatives, including directing agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of certain funds, including funding for GHG mitigation projects. Even absent any significant GHG-related rulemakings in the near-term at the federal level, several states in which Sunoco operates, such as California, Colorado and Pennsylvania, may continue to aggressively pursue the regulation of GHG emissions.
With respect to Canada, legislators at the federal and provincial levels have implemented or proposed to implement a number of regulations pertaining to GHG emissions. For example, Sunoco is required to submit annual GHG emissions reports with respect to the Burnaby Refinery pursuant to the CEPA. Further, in 2018, Canada enacted the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which set federal standards for carbon pricing and allowed federal and provincial governments to impose a “tax” on carbon emissions. However, in March 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney removed the federal consumer carbon tax, and in April 2025, BC repealed the provincial consumer carbon tax. Future efforts to reinstate these taxes or otherwise impose fees on GHG emissions could have a material adverse impact on our business. At the provincial level, the BC Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (“GGIRCA”) imposes emissions performance standards and ongoing emissions reporting and reduction requirements for certain industrial facilities, with payment obligations to the provincial government for emissions in excess of statutory limits. The GGIRCA further establishes a compliance mechanism that includes creation, trading and usage of compliance credits, which are generated by facilities that emit GHGs below their specified limit or from specified offset project proponents.
The profitability of the Burnaby Refinery and its business are dependent upon opportunities and obligations to create, sell, purchase and retire compliance credits, legislated carbon-intensity standard considerations and legislated and market pricing stringency considerations in which such compliance credits are made to be tradeable. Changes impacting these credits, including changing market conditions may negatively impact Sunoco’s profitability or otherwise increase compliance costs, which may in turn adversely affect our Refinery Segment business and results of operations.
At the international level, the United States, Canada and 194 other countries previously reached an agreement during the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the “Paris Agreement”), a long-term, international framework convention designed to address climate change over the next several decades. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement. In January 2026, President Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. State or local governments may, however, elect to continue to participate in international climate change initiatives and pursue state- or regional-level climate change-related regulations. Any efforts to control and/or reduce GHG emissions by the United States or other countries, or concerted conservation efforts that result in reduced consumption, could adversely impact demand for Sunoco’s products and, in turn, our financial position and results of operations.
Climate change may also result in various physical risks, such as the increased frequency or intensity of extreme weather events or changes in meteorological and hydrological patterns that could adversely impact Sunoco’s operations or those of its supply chains. Such physical risks may result in damage to Sunoco’s facilities or its customers’ facilities or otherwise adversely impact its operations, such as to the extent changing weather and temperature trends reduce the demand for our products or frequency with which consumers may visit its locations or impact the cost or availability of insurance. Moreover, certain parties, including local and state governments, have from time to time filed lawsuits against various fossil fuel energy companies seeking damages for alleged physical impacts resulting from climate change or relating to false or misleading statements related to fossil fuel’s contribution to climate change. In addition, several states, including New York and Vermont, have passed climate change-related “Superfund” laws that seek to impose liability for alleged damages from climate change on certain types of entities. Other states are also considering the adoption of such laws. Further, there are increasing financial risks to companies in the fossil fuel sector as members of the general financial and investment communities increase sustainability considerations in their practices. There is also a risk that financial institutions will be required to adopt policies that have the effect of reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector, although this trend has waned in recent years. To the extent implemented or pursued, these efforts may adversely affect the market for our securities and our ability to access capital and financial markets in the future.
Separately, in March of 2024, the SEC has published a rule establishing a framework for reporting of climate risks, targets and metrics. However, the rule is currently paused pending litigation, with such litigation held in abeyance until the SEC reconsiders, repeals or otherwise modifies the rule. In March 2025, the SEC voted to end its defense of the rule, though further action has not been taken at this time to repeal the rule. Similarly, in October 2023 the Governor of California signed the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (“CCDAA”) and Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (“CRFRA”) into law. The CCDAA requires both public and private U.S. companies that are “doing business in California” and that have a total annual revenue of $1 billion to publicly disclose and verify, on an annual basis, Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions. Both laws are vague and potentially overbroad with respect to their applicability, appearing to require only minimal contacts with California. The CRFRA requires the disclosure of a climate-related financial risk report in line with certain stakeholder frameworks every other year for public and private companies that are “doing business in California” and have total annual revenue of $500 million. Reporting under both laws would begin in 2026; however, both the CCDAA and CRFRA are currently subject to litigation, and in November 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit stayed enforcement of the CRFRA pending the outcome of litigation, and we cannot predict the final outcome. Currently, the ultimate impact of these laws on Sunoco’s business is uncertain, but to the extent implemented, Sunoco may face additional costs to comply with these disclosure requirements as well as increased costs of and restrictions on access to capital. Separately, enhanced climate related disclosure requirements could lead to reputational or other harm with customers, regulators, investors or other stakeholders and could also increase Sunoco’s litigation risks relating to alleged climate-related damages resulting from its operations, statements alleged to have been made by us or others in our industry regarding climate change risks, or in connection with any future disclosures Sunoco may make regarding reported emissions, particularly given the inherent uncertainties and estimations with respect to calculating and reporting GHG emissions. These various political, regulatory, financial, physical and litigation risks related to climate change have the potential to adversely impact Sunoco’s operations and financial performance.
Water
The U.S. Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, (the “Clean Water Act”), and analogous state laws, impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters of the United States (“WOTUS”). The definition of WOTUS has been subject to repeated change in recent years. Most recently, the EPA issued a final WOTUS rule in September 2023 that is currently only implemented in 24 states due to ongoing litigation. In November 2025, the EPA issued a proposed rule to further update and narrow the definition of WOTUS. To the extent any action further expands the scope of the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction, it could cause increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and/or criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the Clean Water Act, and can also pursue injunctive relief to enforce compliance with the Clean Water Act and analogous laws. Spill prevention control and countermeasure requirements of federal and state laws require containment and equipment to monitor, mitigate or prevent contamination of waters in the event of a refined product overflow, rupture, or leak from above-ground pipelines and storage tanks. The Clean Water Act also requires Sunoco to maintain spill prevention control and countermeasure plans at its terminal facilities with above-ground storage tanks and pipelines.
The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90”) amended certain provisions of the Clean Water Act as they relate to the release of petroleum products into navigable waters. OPA 90 subjects owners of facilities to strict, joint and potentially unlimited liability for containment and removal costs, natural resource damages and certain other consequences of an oil spill. State laws also impose requirements relating to the prevention of oil releases and the remediation of areas. In addition, the OPA 90 requires that most fuel transport and storage companies maintain and update various oil spill prevention and oil spill contingency plans. Facilities that are adjacent to water require the engagement of Federally Certified Oil Spill Response Organizations to be available to respond to a spill on water from above ground storage tanks or pipelines.
Transportation and storage of refined products over and adjacent to water involves risk and potentially subjects Sunoco to strict, joint, and potentially unlimited liability for removal costs and other consequences of an oil spill where the spill is into navigable waters, along shorelines or in the exclusive economic zone of the United States. In the event of an oil spill into navigable waters, substantial liabilities could be imposed upon us. The Clean Water Act imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters, with the potential of substantial liability for the violation of permits or permitting requirements.
In Canada, the BCEMA and other federal, provincial and local laws, such as the Petroleum Refinery Liquid Effluent Regulations issued under the federal Fisheries Act, impose permitting obligations and restrictions on the direct and indirect discharge of wastes and deleterious materials into land and water. Governmental authorities can impose administrative penalties or other regulatory consequences for failure to comply with these laws or permits issued thereunder or for harm to sensitive marine populations or their habitat, which penalties can be significant.
Environmental Reviews
If permits or other authorizations from the federal government are required, Sunoco’s future operations may be subject to broad environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of all “major federal actions” significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, which may include the granting of a federal permit for a major development project, such as a pipeline. Procedures for implementing NEPA vary at the agency level, and in their evaluations, agencies may consider impacts of the proposed action on air and water quality, wildlife, cultural resources, geology, socioeconomics and aesthetics. As a result of NEPA reviews, agencies may decide to deny permits or other authorizations for a project or to condition such authorizations on modifications or mitigation measures. Further, authorizations and reviews under NEPA are often subject to appeal or litigation, which may lead to further delays.
Endangered Species
The Endangered Species Act, or ESA, restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats. While some of Sunoco’s operations may be located in areas that are designated as habitats for such species, Sunoco believes that it is in substantial compliance with the ESA. However, the designation of previously unlisted or threatened species could cause Sunoco to incur additional costs or become subject to operating restrictions in the affected areas.
Pipeline Safety Regulation
Some of Sunoco’s pipelines are subject to regulation by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), pursuant to the Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (“HLPSA”). The HLPSA was amended by the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992, the Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (“PSIA”), as reauthorized and amended by the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006, the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011 (“2011 Pipeline Safety Act”) and the Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020. The HLPSA regulates safety requirements in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of crude oil and NGL pipeline facilities, while the PSIA establishes mandatory inspections for all U.S. crude oil, NGLs and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines in certain high risk areas, such as high-consequence areas (“HCAs”) or moderate consequence areas (“MCAs”).
In October 2025, members of Congress introduced the Pipeline Safety Act of 2025, which would reauthorize appropriation for PHMSA and modernize pipeline safety regulations.
PHMSA has developed regulations that require pipeline operators to implement integrity management programs, including more frequent inspections and other measures to ensure pipeline safety in HCAs and MCAs. The regulations require operators, including us, to:
perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;
identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact certain high risk areas;
improve data collection, integration and analysis;
repair and remediate pipelines as necessary; and
implement preventive and mitigating actions.
The 2011 Pipeline Safety Act, among other things, increased the maximum civil penalty for pipeline safety violations and directed the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate rules or standards relating to expanded integrity management requirements, automatic or remote controlled valve use, excess flow valve use, leak detection system installation and testing to confirm the material strength of pipe operating above 30% of specified minimum yield strength in HCAs. Consistent with the 2011 Pipeline Safety Act, PHMSA finalized rules that increased the maximum administrative civil penalties for violation of the pipeline safety laws and regulations to $200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of violations. In December 2024, those maximum civil penalties were increased to $272,926 and $2,729,245, respectively, to account for inflation. The PHMSA has also issued a final rule applying safety regulations to certain rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines that were not covered previously by some of its safety regulations.
Following legislation enacted by Congress, PHMSA has issued or proposed regulations that either seek to impose new obligations on pipeline operations or expand existing pipeline safety requirements. In the Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Congress authorized PHMSA’s spending through fiscal year 2023 and directed the Agency to move forward with several regulatory actions: the promulgation of rules related to changes in class location of existing pipelines, pipeline integrity and maintenance, and the management of idled pipelines, amongst other matters. An example of PHMSA’s rulemaking under this directive was a 2022 rule, expanding regulations for the installation of rupture mitigation valves and establishing of a minimum rupture detection standard. PHMSA also released final regulations in January 2025 related to the management of methane emissions from pipelines, but the Trump Administration subsequently withdrew these regulations before formal publication in the Federal Register, and PHMSA has not announced any intention to re-propose these or any similar rules. Separately, on July 1, 2025 and August 21, 2025, PHMSA issued final rules amending its pipeline safety regulations to incorporate updated industry standards. However, in September 2025, industry groups requested a stay of enforcement of the July 2025 final rule, and PHMSA stated it would use its enforcement discretion to allow regulated entities to operate under the outdated industry standards through January 1, 2027. We cannot predict the capital and operating expenditures related to Sunoco’s compliance with future PHMSA rulemakings, and such rulemakings may require it to incur significant costs to maintain compliance.
States are largely preempted by federal law from regulating pipeline safety for interstate lines but most are certified by the DOT to assume responsibility for enforcing federal intrastate pipeline regulations and inspection of intrastate pipelines. States may adopt stricter standards for intrastate pipelines than those imposed by the federal government for interstate lines; however, states vary considerably in their authority and capacity to address pipeline safety. State standards may include requirements for facility design and management in addition to requirements for pipelines. We do not anticipate any significant difficulty in complying with applicable state laws and regulations; however, we cannot guarantee that this will or will always be the case.
Sunoco regularly reviews all existing and proposed pipeline safety requirements and work to incorporate the new requirements into procedures and budgets. Sunoco expects to incur increasing regulatory compliance costs, based on the intensification of the regulatory environment and upcoming changes to regulations as outlined above, consistent with other similarly situated midstream companies. In addition to regulatory changes, costs may be incurred if there is an accidental release of a commodity transported by Sunoco’s system, or a regulatory inspection identifies a deficiency in its required programs and corrective action is required.
Regulation of Interstate Crude Oil and Products Pipelines
Interstate common carrier pipeline operations are subject to rate regulation by the FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act (“ICA”), the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (“EPAct of 1992”), and related rules and orders. The ICA requires that tariff rates for petroleum pipelines be “just and reasonable” and not unduly discriminatory and that such rates and terms and conditions of service be filed with the FERC. This statute also permits interested persons to challenge proposed new or changed rates. The FERC is authorized to suspend the effectiveness of such rates for up to seven months, though rates are typically not suspended for the maximum allowable period. If the FERC finds that the new or changed rate is unlawful, it may require the carrier to pay refunds for the period that the rate was in effect. The FERC also may investigate, upon complaint or on its own motion, rates that are already in effect and may order a carrier to change its rates prospectively. Upon an appropriate showing, a shipper may obtain reparations for damages sustained for a period of up to two years prior to the filing of a complaint.
The FERC generally has not investigated interstate rates on its own initiative when those rates, like those Sunoco charges, have not been the subject of a protest or a complaint by a shipper. However, the FERC could investigate Sunoco’s rates at the urging of a third party if the third party is either a current shipper or has a substantial economic interest in the tariff rate level. Although no assurance can be given that the tariff rates charged by Sunoco ultimately will be upheld if challenged, management believes that the tariff rates now in effect for Sunoco’s pipelines are within the maximum rates allowed under current FERC policies and precedents.
Sunoco is able to use various FERC-authorized rate change methodologies for its interstate pipelines, including indexed rates, cost-of-service rates, market-based rates and negotiated rates. Typically, it adjusts its rates annually in accordance with the FERC indexing methodology, which currently allows a pipeline to change its rates within prescribed ceiling levels that are tied to an inflation index. It is possible that the index may result in a negative rate adjustments in some years, or that changes in the index might not be large enough to fully reflect actual increases in our costs.
To the extent Sunoco relies on cost-of-service ratemaking to establish or support its rates, the issue of the proper allowance for federal and state income taxes could arise. In July 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in United Airlines, Inc., et al. v. FERC, finding that the FERC had failed to demonstrate that permitting an interstate petroleum products pipeline organized as a master limited partnership, or MLP, to include an income tax allowance in the cost of service underlying its rates, in addition to the discounted cash flow return on equity, would not result in the pipeline partnership owners double recovering their income taxes. The court vacated the FERC’s order and remanded to the FERC to consider mechanisms for demonstrating that there is no double recovery as a result of the income tax allowance.
In March 2018, the FERC issued a Revised Policy Statement on Treatment of Income Taxes in which the FERC found that an impermissible double recovery results from granting an MLP pipeline both an income tax allowance and a return on equity pursuant to the FERC’s discounted cash flow methodology. The FERC revised its previous policy, stating that it would no longer permit an MLP pipeline to recover an income tax allowance in its cost of service. The FERC stated it will address the application of the United Airlines decision to non-MLP partnership forms as those issues arise in subsequent proceedings. In July 2018, the FERC dismissed requests for rehearing and clarification of the March 2018 Revised Policy Statement, but provided further guidance, clarifying that a pass-through entity will not be precluded in a future proceeding from arguing and providing evidentiary support that it is entitled to an income tax allowance and demonstrating that its recovery of an income tax allowance does not result in a double recovery of investors’ income tax costs. On July 31, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion upholding FERC’s March 2018 Revised Policy Statement, as clarified and revised on rehearing. In light of the rehearing order’s clarification regarding individual entities’ ability to argue in support of recovery of an income tax allowance and the court’s subsequent opinion upholding denial of an income tax allowance to a master limited partnership, the impacts the FERC’s policy on the treatment of income taxes may have on the rates an interstate pipeline held in a tax-pass-through entity can charge for the FERC regulated transportation services are unknown at this time.
Effective January 2018, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed several provisions of the federal tax code, including a reduction in the maximum corporate tax rate. With the lower tax rate, and as discussed immediately above, the tariff rates allowed by the FERC under its rate base methodology may be impacted by a lower income tax allowance component. The timing and impact to Sunoco’s pipelines of any tax-related policy change is unknown at this time and varies based on the circumstances of each pipeline.
The EPAct of 1992 required the FERC to establish a simplified and generally applicable methodology to adjust tariff rates for inflation for interstate petroleum pipelines. As a result, the FERC adopted an indexing rate methodology which, as currently in effect, allows common carriers to change their rates within prescribed ceiling levels that are tied to changes in the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods, or PPI-FG. The FERC’s indexing methodology is subject to review every five years.
The indexing methodology is applicable to existing rates, including grandfathered rates, with the exclusion of market-based rates. A pipeline is not required to raise its rates up to the index ceiling, but it is permitted to do so and rate increases made under the index are presumed to be just and reasonable unless a protesting party can demonstrate that the portion of the rate increase resulting from application of the index is substantially in excess of the pipeline’s increase in costs. Under the indexing rate methodology, in any year in which the index is negative, pipelines must file to lower their rates if those rates would otherwise be above the rate ceiling.
In December 2020, FERC issued an order setting the indexed rate at PPI-FG plus 0.78% during the five-year period commencing July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2026. The FERC received requests for rehearing of its December 17, 2020 order and on January 20, 2022, granted rehearing and modified the oil index. Specifically, for the five-year period commencing July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2026, FERC-regulated liquids pipelines charging indexed rates were permitted to adjust their indexed ceilings annually by PPI-FG minus 0.21%. FERC directed liquids pipelines to recompute their ceiling levels for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, as well as the ceiling levels for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, based on the new index level. Where an oil pipeline’s filed rates exceeded its ceiling levels, FERC ordered such oil pipelines to reduce the rate to bring it into compliance with the recomputed ceiling level to be effective March 1, 2022. Some parties sought rehearing of the January 20 order with FERC, which was denied by FERC on
May 6, 2022. Certain parties have appealed the January 20 and May 6 orders. On July 26, 2024, the D.C. Circuit ruled in LEPA v. FERC that FERC violated the Administrative Procedure Act because the January 20 order modified the index without following notice and comment. As a result, the D.C. Circuit vacated the January 20 order and on September 17, 2024, the Commission reinstated the index level established by its original December 17 order, directed pipelines to file an informational filing to show their recomputed ceiling levels reflecting the reinstated index level and stated that pipelines could file to prospectively increase their indexed rates to their recomputed levels. On October 17, 2024, FERC issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Supplemental NOPR”) that proposed a reduction to the then-currently effective index by one percent. On November 20, 2025, FERC withdrew the Supplemental NOPRand confirmed that the PPI-FG-0.78% index established in December 2020 will remain in place through June 30, 2026. On the same day, FERC approved limited relief for pipelines. Oil pipelines with index-based rates may recover applicable rate differences from March 1, 2022 to September 17, 2024, but only if such pipelines charged the maximum rate allowed under the applicable index ceiling during the relevant time period. Parties have since filed requests for clarification or rehearing, as well as court appeals, to determine whether pipelines may recover rate differences in other scenarios.
In addition to terminating the Supplemental NOPR proceeding, on November 20, 2025, FERC issued an Order Denying Rehearing of the Reinstatement Order and Granting Remedial Relief (“Remedial Relief Order”), which granted remedial relief to liquids pipelines for the locked-in period of March 1, 2022 to September 17, 2024, when the lower index was effective under the order vacated by the D.C. Circuit in LEPA v. FERC.
Also on November 20, 2025, the FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the 2026 Five-Year Oil Pipeline Index (“2026 Index NOPR”), proposing to use the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods (PPI-FG) minus 1.42% as the index level beginning July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. The 2026 Index NOPR is currently in the midst of the standard notice and comment period.
On December 18, 2025, the Commission issued an Order Denying Petition for Emergency Relief (“Emergency Relief Order Denial”), which denied a petition requesting emergency relief from invoices issued by a liquid pipeline company to recover amounts of indexed rates for the period from March 1, 2022, to September 17, 2024 (Locked-In Period) and explained that, consistent with the Remedial Relief Order, pipelines that charged the maximum rates permitted under the Commission’s now-vacated January 2022 rehearing order during the Locked-In Period may invoice shippers to recover the amounts that would have been chargeable under the December 2020 order.
In January 2026, multiple shippers have filed petitions for review at the D.C. Circuit of the (i) Remedial Relief Order, (ii) Order Terminating Supplemental NOPR, and (iii) Emergency Relief Order Denial. These appeals are pending.
On December 15, 2022, the FERC issued a Proposed Policy Statement on Oil Pipeline Affiliate Committed Service, which addresses whether a contract for committed transportation service complies with the ICA where the only shipper to obtain the committed service is an affiliate of the regulated entity. If adopted, the proposed policy statement would create a rebuttable presumption that affiliate contracts are unduly discriminatory and not just and reasonable in certain circumstances and require a pipeline to produce additional evidentiary support for affiliate contracts rates and terms. This follows a trend of increased scrutiny by FERC on affiliated contracts across all industries regulated by the FERC. The FERC has taken no further action on the proposed policy statement.
Regulation of Intrastate Crude Oil and Products Pipelines
In addition to federally regulated body oversight, various states, including Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Texas, maintain commissions focused on the rates and practices of common carrier pipelines offering services within their borders. Although the applicable state statutes and regulations vary, they generally require that intrastate pipelines publish tariffs setting forth all rates, rules and regulations applying to intrastate service, and generally require that pipeline rates and practices be just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
Shippers may challenge tariff rates, rules and regulations on our pipelines. In most instances, state commissions have not initiated investigations of the rates or practices of pipelines in the absence of shipper complaints. There are no pending challenges or complaints regarding our tariffs or tariff rates.
In addition, as noted above, the rates, terms and conditions for shipments of crude oil or petroleum products on Sunoco’s pipelines could be subject to regulation by the FERC under the ICA and the EPAct of 1992 if the crude oil or petroleum products are transported in interstate or foreign commerce whether by its pipelines or other means of transportation. Since Sunoco does not control the entire transportation path of all crude oil or petroleum products shipped on our pipelines, FERC regulation could be triggered by our customers’ transportation decisions.
Regulation of Interstate Ammonia Pipelines
Our ammonia pipeline is subject to regulation by the Surface Transportation Board (the “STB”) pursuant to the ICA applicable to such pipelines (which differs from the ICA applicable to interstate liquids pipelines). Under that regulation, the ammonia pipeline’s rates, classifications, rules and practices related to the interstate transportation of anhydrous ammonia must be reasonable and, in providing interstate transportation, the ammonia pipeline may not subject a person, place, port or type of traffic to unreasonable discrimination. Similar to the crude and refined products pipelines, the rates for transportation services on the ammonia pipeline are required to be in a tariff which is posted publicly on Sunoco’s website, however, that tariff is not required to be on file with the STB. The STB does not prescribe an indexing approach similar to the EP Act but rates under the STB must be reasonable and the pipeline may not subject a person, place, port or type of traffic to unreasonable discrimination.
Other Government Regulation
The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (the “PMPA”) is a federal law that governs the relationship between a refiner and a distributor, as well as between a distributor and branded dealer, pursuant to which the refiner or distributor permits a distributor or dealer to use a trademark in connection with the sale or distribution of motor fuel. Under the PMPA, Sunoco may not terminate or fail to renew a branded distributor contract, unless certain enumerated preconditions or grounds for termination or non-renewal are met and it also complies with the prescribed notice requirements. Additionally, Sunoco is subject to state petroleum franchise laws as well as laws specific to gasoline retailers and dealers, including state laws that regulate its relationships with third parties to whom it leases sites and supplies motor fuels. Sunoco’s operations at the Burnaby Refinery are also subject to reporting obligations under the Fuel Price Transparency Act. Finally, Sunoco is subject to laws regarding fuel standards. For more information, see “Sunoco is subject to federal laws related to the RFS” and “Sunoco is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern the product quality specifications of refined petroleum products it purchases, stores, transports, and sells to its distribution customers” in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Employee Safety
Sunoco is subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, OSHA’s hazard communication standards require that information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We believe that Sunoco is in substantive compliance with the applicable OSHA requirements.
Sunoco is also subject to the BC Worker’s Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation with respect to the Burnaby Refinery. We believe Sunoco is in substantial compliance with these requirements.
Store Operations
Sunoco’s remaining retail locations are subject to regulation by federal agencies and to licensing and regulations by state and local health, sanitation, safety, fire and other departments relating to the development and operation of convenience stores, including regulations related to zoning and building requirements and the preparation and sale of food.
Sunoco’s operations are also subject to federal and state laws governing such matters as wage rates, overtime, working conditions and citizenship requirements. At the federal level, there are proposals under consideration from time to time to increase minimum wage rates.
Human Capital Management
As of December 31, 2025, Sunoco employed an aggregate of 8,910 employees, 628 of which are represented by labor unions. We and our subsidiaries believe that our relations with our employees are good.
In order to accomplish our objectives, Sunoco must continue to attract and retain top talent. It seeks to accomplish this by fostering a culture that is guided by its ethics and principles, that respects all people and cultures, and that focuses on health and safety.
Ethics and Principles. We are committed to operating our business in a manner that honors and respects all people and the communities in which we do business. We recognize that people are our most valued resource, and we are committed to hiring and investing in employees who strive for excellence and live by our core values: working safely, corporate stewardship, ethics and integrity, entrepreneurial mindset, supporting our people, excellence and results, and social responsibility. We value our employees for what they bring to our organization by embracing those from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We also believe that the keys to our success have been the cultivation of an atmosphere of belonging and respect within our family of partnerships and sustaining organizations that promote and support all of the communities in which we do business. These are the principles upon which we build and strengthen relationships among our people, our stakeholders, and those within the communities we support.
Respecting All People and All Cultures. We believe strict adherence to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is not only right, but is in the best interest of the Partnership, its unitholders, its customers, and the industry in general. The Partnership's policies require that business be conducted in a lawful and ethical manner at all times. Every employee acting on behalf of the Partnership must adhere to these policies. Please refer to “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for additional information on our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Commitment to Health and Safety. Sunoco’s goal is operational excellence, which means an injury and incident-free workplace. To achieve this, we strive to hire and maintain a qualified and dedicated workforce and encourage safety and safety accountability throughout our daily operations.
Sunoco’s environmental, health and safety professionals provide environmental and safety training to our field representatives. This group also assists others throughout the organization in identifying continuous training for personnel, including the training that is required by applicable laws, regulations, standards, and permit conditions. Sunoco’s safety standards and expectations are clearly communicated to all employees and contractors with the expectation that each individual has the obligation to make safety the highest priority. Its safety culture promotes an open environment for discovering, resolving, and sharing safety challenges. Sunoco strives to eliminate unwanted safety events through a comprehensive process that promotes leadership, employee involvement, communication, and personal responsibility to comply with standard operating procedures and regulatory requirements, effective risk reduction processes, maintaining clean facilities, contractor safety, and personal wellness.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.