INGAA's primary mission is to create a regulatory and legislative climate in Washington, D.C. that allows interstate natural gas pipeline companies to optimize efficient and profitable operations. To this end, INGAA has established committees to focus on legislation and regulation that affect the interstate natural gas pipeline industry and to support INGAA’s interface with the parts of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government that have a specialized interest in our industry. The committees also provide a vehicle for INGAA to maintain a liaison with other energy trade associations and stakeholders that share an interest in issues of importance to the interstate natural gas pipeline industry.
STANDING COMMITTEES
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Communications Committee works to develop consistent messaging to promote the efficient construction and safe operation of natural gas pipelines as well as the use of natural gas. The committee educates the public, regulators, legislators and other stakeholders, including first responders and safety advocates, about the critical role pipelines play in providing natural gas to consumers. The committee also promotes public awareness and safety information about pipelines through education campaigns on Dig Safe (811), first responder and public outreach, and the implementation of the Pipeline and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA).
LEGAL AND RATE COMMITTEES
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates interstate pipeline rates and other aspects of their financial affairs, as well as the construction of new interstate pipeline capacity. INGAA's Regulatory Affairs Section is responsible for administering two of INGAA’s standing committees – the Legal and Rate Committees – that focus primarily on FERC regulation. In addition, Regulatory Affairs maintains an Accounting Task Force to address issues at FERC that often require that expertise. The Legal and Rate Committees (along with the task force) are generally responsible for advising the Board on FERC issues through the Regulatory Affairs Section. The committee structure is flexible enough, however, so that Legal Committee expertise can be brought to bear on safety or environmental issues, for example, and OS&E expertise can be called on to address FERC issues.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
The Legislative Committee represents the interests of the interstate natural gas pipeline industry before Congress, and federal departments and agencies as needed. The committee advocates policies promote a positive investment climate for the interstate natural gas pipeline industry and that support the efficient construction and safe operation of natural gas pipelines. The committee members educate Members of Congress and their staffs about the need for a healthy energy industry, and explain how certain legislative proposals affect interstate pipelines’ access to capital.
OPERATIONS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
The Operations Safety and Environment (OS&E) Committee represents the interstate natural gas pipeline industry’s interests in operational, engineering, environmental, safety, security and R&D matters before federal and state agencies and other industry organizations. In addition, the committee assigns resources to assist other INGAA committees in accomplishing their goals, when specialized expertise is needed. The committee’s primary federal agency contacts are: Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior (DOI). The OS&E Committee utilizes both standing subcommittees and ad hoc task groups in addressing the breadth of issues under its auspices. The present standing subcommittees are: Pipeline Safety, Environment Safety and Health, Security and Construction.
TAX COMMITTEE
The Tax Committee is a joint INGAA/AGA committee. The committee provides a forum for sharing information on current federal and state tax audit issues, recent tax court cases and legislative and regulatory updates. The committee also develops and advocates tax initiatives that further INGAA's goal of increasing natural gas supply and encouraging new pipeline capacity.