The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) is a trade organization that advocates regulatory and legislative positions of importance to the natural gas pipeline industry in North America.
INGAA represents virtually all of the interstate natural gas transmission pipeline companies operating in the U.S., as well as comparable companies in Canada and Mexico. Its members transport over 95 percent of the nation's natural gas through a network of 200,000 miles of pipelines.
The interstate natural gas pipeline industry has two principal federal regulators: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for the economic regulation of pipelines, while the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Pipeline Safety oversees the industry's safety efforts.
INGAA COMMITTEES
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
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.
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.
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.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AFFILIATED WITH INGAA
The INGAA FOUNDATION, INC.
The INGAA Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1990 by INGAA to advance the use of natural gas for the benefit of the environment and the consuming public. The Foundation works to facilitate the efficient construction and safe, reliable operation of the North American natural gas pipeline system. It also promotes natural gas infrastructure development worldwide. Membership in the INGAA Foundation is open to natural gas pipelines and companies that provide goods and services to pipelines worldwide. Today, the Foundation has more than 120 members representing natural gas pipeline companies, construction companies, engineering firms, pipe and compressor manufacturers, accounting firms, companies providing information technology services and other suppliers of goods and services to the pipeline industry. The Foundation funds reports and studies, and sponsors forums on technical and economic issues that are of interest to its members.
Some 200,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipelines quietly, reliably and efficiently deliver natural gas throughout North America that consumers use for heating, cooking and other uses.