<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001035002-17-000048.txt : 20171115
<SEC-HEADER>0001035002-17-000048.hdr.sgml : 20171115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170922142354
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001035002-17-000048
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170922

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VALERO ENERGY CORP/TX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035002
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PETROLEUM REFINING [2911]
		IRS NUMBER:				741828067
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 696000
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78269-6000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2103452000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 696000
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78269-6000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="sA208AE6E9BDE5D799F17EAF309E01A56"></a></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:16pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Michael S. Ciskowski</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:4px;text-align:right;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">September&#160;22, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Attention: Karl </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Hiller</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Re:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Valero Energy Corporation</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Form&#160;10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December&#160;31, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Filed February&#160;23, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">File No.&#160;1-13175</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Dear Mr. </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Hiller</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Set forth below is the response of Valero Energy Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) to the comments from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) that appeared in the Staff&#8217;s letter dated September&#160;14, 2017 regarding the above-referenced Annual Report on Form&#160;10-K filed by the Company on February&#160;23, 2017 (the &#8220;Form&#160;10-K&#8221;). As used in this letter, the terms &#8220;we,&#8221; &#8220;us,&#8221; or &#8220;our&#8221; also refer to the Company.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">For ease of reference, the comments are reproduced below in bold and are followed by the Company&#8217;s response to such comments.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249-1616</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Telephone (210) 345-2146 - Fax (210) 345-2497</font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="s3C81B21192DC5E0F9B3D9859DDE89F29"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Mr. Karl Hiller</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">September&#160;22, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">2</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Form&#160;10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December&#160;31, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Results of Operations, page 27</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">1.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">We note you present a non-GAAP measure titled &#8220;gross margin&#8221; for your segments. Please utilize an alternate label for this measure to comply with Item&#160;10(e)(1)(ii)(E) of Regulation&#160;S-K, which prohibits using titles for non-GAAP measures that are the same as, or confusingly similar to, titles or descriptions used for GAAP financial measures.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;">Response:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">In response to the Staff&#8217;s comment, we will revise in future filings the label of our non-GAAP measure previously titled &#8220;gross margin&#8221; to &#8220;refining margin&#8221; or &#8220;ethanol margin,&#8221; as applicable, in order to distinguish our non-GAAP financial measure(s) from the GAAP term and to comply with Item&#160;10(e)(1)(ii)(E) of Regulation&#160;S-K.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div><a name="sd0601a5277484aaeb15ea2867c4ec8fd"></a></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Financial Statements </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Consolidated Statements of Income, page 71</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">2.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Please describe for us any common characteristics of the amounts you report as cost of sales as opposed to operating expenses, and explain your rationale in making a distinction between these two categories of cost. Tell us the extent to which your operating expenses were inventoriable, based on the guidance in FASB ASC&#160;330-10-30-1 through 8, and explain why you believe these costs are not required to be included in the cost of sales measure that you report pursuant to Rule&#160;5-03.2(a) of Regulation&#160;S-X.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:232%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;">Response:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The common characteristics of our &#8220;cost of sales,&#8221; as opposed to our &#8220;operating expenses,&#8221; are that &#8220;cost of sales&#8221; primarily relate directly to materials that are a component of our products sold. These costs include (i)&#160;the direct cost of materials (such as crude oil and other refinery feedstocks, refined petroleum products and blendstocks, and ethanol feedstocks and products) that are a component of our products sold (see Form 10-K, page&#160;84, Note 4); (ii) costs directly related to the delivery (such as shipping and handling costs) of products sold (see Form 10-K, page&#160;79, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Product Shipping and Handling Costs</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">); (iii) costs directly related to our environmental credit obligations to comply with various governmental and regulatory programs (such as the cost of renewable identification numbers as required by the EPA&#8217;s Renewable Fuel Standard and emission credits under various cap-and-trade systems) (see Form&#160;10-K, page&#160;79, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Environmental Compliance Program Costs</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">, and page 131, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Environmental Compliance Program Price Risk</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">); and (iv)&#160;gains and losses on our commodity derivative instruments (see Form 10-K, page&#160;133, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Effect of Derivative Instruments on Income and </font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249-1616</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Telephone (210) 345-2146 - Fax (210) 345-2497</font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Mr. Karl Hiller</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">September&#160;22, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">3</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Other Comprehensive Income</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">). &#8220;Operating expenses&#8221; include costs to operate our refineries and ethanol plants. These costs primarily include employee-related expenses, energy and utility costs, catalysts and chemical costs, and repairs and maintenance expenses. Based on the guidance in FASB ASC 330-10-30-1, our operating expenses are inventoriable and, therefore, such costs are included in our product inventory. We believe our presentation of these two categories of costs reflects important measures of operating and financial performance of our refining and ethanol results and is consistent with industry practice.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We also believe the presentation of our statement of income appropriately reflects the components that comprise cost of goods sold as indicated by Rule&#160;5-03.2(a) of Regulation&#160;S-X. However, based on the information described above and our review of the disclosure requirements of Rule&#160;5-03.2(a), we propose that our line item label for &#8220;cost of sales&#8221; be revised and presented as &#8220;cost of materials and other&#8221; in our future filings. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We also propose to include additional disclosures in our future filings to more clearly describe our cost classifications, which consist of &#8220;cost of materials and other&#8221; and &#8220;operating expenses,&#8221; presented in our statement of income as follows: </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8220;Cost of materials and other primarily relate directly to materials that are a component of our products sold. These costs include (i)&#160;the direct cost of materials (such as crude oil and other refinery feedstocks, refined petroleum products and blendstocks, and ethanol feedstocks and products) that are a component of our products sold; (ii)&#160;costs related to the delivery (such as shipping and handling costs) of products sold; (iii)&#160;costs related to our environmental credit obligations to comply with various governmental and regulatory programs (such as the cost of renewable identification numbers as required by the EPA&#8217;s Renewable Fuel Standard and emission credits under various cap-and-trade systems); and (iv)&#160;gains and losses on our commodity derivative instruments.&#8221;</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8220;Operating expenses include costs to operate our refineries and ethanol plants, excluding depreciation and amortization expense. These costs primarily include employee-related expenses, energy and utility costs, catalysts and chemical costs, and repairs and maintenance expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense is separately presented in our statement of income and disclosed by reportable segment in Note 16.&#8221;</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249-1616</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Telephone (210) 345-2146 - Fax (210) 345-2497</font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="s07a10b32b57f411fa92507c61516ef19"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Mr. Karl Hiller</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">September&#160;22, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">4</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">3.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Clarify for us the extent to which the amounts included in your line item, Depreciation and amortization expense, are attributable to your cost of sales. If you rely upon the accommodation outlined in SAB Topic&#160;11.B, in excluding depreciation and amortization from certain cost and expense categories, you should separately report depreciation and amortization that is attributable to each line item from which it has been excluded.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;">Response:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Approximately 97&#160;percent (or $1.8&#160;billion) of our &#8220;depreciation and amortization expense&#8221; for the year ended December&#160;31, 2016 relates to &#8220;operating expenses&#8221; (a component of cost of goods sold) for our refining and ethanol reportable segments, and the remaining 3&#160;percent (or $48&#160;million) relates to our &#8220;general and administrative expenses&#8221; for our corporate category as disclosed in Note 16 &#8220;Segment Information,&#8221; on page 120 of the Form&#160;10-K.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">In order to clarify our reliance on the accommodation outlined in SAB Topic&#160;11.B to exclude &#8220;depreciation and amortization expense&#8221; from our &#8220;operating expenses&#8221; and &#8220;general and administrative expenses,&#8221; we propose presenting these line item labels in the statement of income in our future filings as &#8220;operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)&#8221; and &#8220;general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense),&#8221; respectively. 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style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:31%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Operating revenues</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:#cceeff;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;background-color:#cceeff;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">75,659</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;background-color:#cceeff;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Costs and expenses:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Cost of materials and other (excluding the lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">65,962</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(747</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-right:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">4,207</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">General and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">715</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Depreciation and amortization expense</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">1,894</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:12px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Asset impairment loss</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">56</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:36px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Total costs and expenses</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;background-color:#cceeff;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">72,087</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;text-indent:-12px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Operating income</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">3,572</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249-1616</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Telephone (210) 345-2146 - Fax (210) 345-2497</font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sFBBB38F9E54E5E12BAE37BA9D3B4A83D"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Mr. Karl Hiller</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">September&#160;22, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">5</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Should you have any questions or comments regarding the foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (210)&#160;345-2146.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:82.47863247863248%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:26%;"></td><td style="width:22%;"></td><td style="width:52%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Very truly yours,</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">/s/ Michael S. Ciskowski</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Michael S. Ciskowski</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Executive Vice President and</font></div><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:12px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">cc:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Jay D. Browning</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Lawrence M. Schmeltekopf</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249-1616</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Telephone (210) 345-2146 - Fax (210) 345-2497</font></div></div>	</body>
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