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), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior (DOI) and the National Energy Board (NEB).
Primary association contacts include: the American Gas Association (AGA), the Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Southern Gas Association (SGA), Pipeline Research Committee International (PRCI), Gas Technology Institute (GTI), North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), National Association of Corrosion Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives.
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.
Ad Hoc Task Groups are formed in response to specific, nonrecurring need and regulatory initiatives. Active task groups include the Communications Task Group, Integrity Management Meeting Task Group, Combustion MACT Task Group, R&D Task Group, NSR Task Group, NOx Control Task Group, Climate Change Task Group, Western Corridor Task Group and Operator Qualification Task Group.
The OS&E Committee generally meets three times a year. Subcommittees and task groups meet as needed.