VERIFICATION OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
ERM Certification & Verification Services (ERM CVS) was commissioned by Hess Corporation to undertake verification of its 2005 Environment, Health, Safety and Social Responsibility Report (the Report). This is the fourth year that ERM CVS has been engaged by Hess Corporation in this role. The objective of the verification was to establish that the information presented is a reliable representation of Hess Corporation’s performance and programs.

The verification scope included both data and representations made by Hess Corporation in the 2005 Report and relevant linked information provided by the Company at their web site. Verification of information pertaining to Hovensa, a refining joint venture has not been included in the scope of our activities. The Management of Hess Corporation is responsible for the information contained within the Report.

VERIFICATION APPROACH
ERM CVS verification procedures and methodologies have been developed with due regard to the requirements of international standards governing environmental management systems, and general principles of auditing. Our verification approach involves detailed challenge of the contents of the report, random chain of custody audits for data, selected interrogation of both source and consolidated data, and interviews with corporate and operational staff with responsibilities for data management and report content. Substantiation of a sample of statements and claims made in the Report has been undertaken and evidence sought where deemed appropriate. We did not attend, nor directly communicate with, any stakeholder groups or individuals.

Our activities included interrogation of source data at the following operations: the St Lucia Terminal, the Triton Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility in the North Sea, the Garden Banks 260 Platform and a deep water drill ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Our choice of operational sites took into account previous locations sampled by ERM CVS as well as type of activity and region. We also tested data collection and data management practices for Exploration and Production data at the Houston and Aberdeen Offices. Consolidated data practices were interrogated at both the Hess Corporation Headquarters, and the Marketing and Refining head office. This year interviews were conducted with staff regarding Hess Corporation activities associated with social programs in South East Asia – specifically Thailand. Business level and Group level data management processes, including internal assurance processes were reviewed for ability to deliver accurate and reliable data.

OPINION & RECOMMENDATIONS
In the opinion of ERM CVS, and based on the sample of data reviewed, the Report provides a reasonable level of reliability and ERM CVS is not aware of the exclusion of any material issues or misstatements made in relation to the information presented. Where ERM CVS uncovered errors in data or sought greater clarity of text we have confirmed that action has been taken to address our findings.

Our key recommendations build on those provided by ERM CVS previously and the work that Hess Corporation has accomplished this year and is committed to pursuing further. These are as follows:
• A review of waste accounting and compliance issues with the aim of enhancing the completeness and comparability of information presented in future reports.
• Development of more consistent methodologies for the collation and reporting of data related to water abstraction, use and disposal.
• The reporting of information on contractor EHS data relevant to Hess Corporation’s operations.
• The reporting of information related to stakeholder interest and concern and Hess response to these.

Continuation of efforts to develop social responsibility metrics that will make a meaningful contribution to the understanding of Hess Corporation’s activities and performance in this area.

ERM Certification and Verification Services

London, July 2006