About LEPA®

LEPA Membership

The Liquid Energy Pipeline Association® promotes responsible policies, safety excellence, and public support for liquids pipelines. We represent pipelines transporting 97 percent of all hazardous liquids barrel miles reported to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Our diverse membership includes large and small pipelines carrying crude oil, refined petroleum products, NGLs, and other liquids.

 Learn more about Liquid Energy PIpelines 

Pipeline worker crouching inside a large pipeline

Representing Liquid Pipelines   

As the only association representing liquid pipelines on federal economic regulatory issues, we advocate for responsible economic and commercial policies at the FERC and Congress. We support reasonable returns commensurate with risk and streamlined regulation appropriate for our competitive industry.    

At PHMSA and in Congress, we pursue responsible pipeline safety policies that focus on the areas of highest risk and the best use of safety dollars. Participation in LEPA enables members to learn about pipeline safety and operations and contribute to safety improvement activities of great interest to the Federal pipeline safety regulator, DOT PHMSA. We conduct safety initiatives with the American Petroleum Institute (API), highlighted by the Pipeline Safety Excellence Strategic Plan. Our members conduct Leadership Roundtables on safety culture and lessons learned, and data-driven strategic planning on performance improvement initiatives. We engage regularly with PHMSA and NTSB on these programs. We also support industry-wide pipeline safety research by the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI).

   

Experienced Staff

Our experienced staff and network of company representatives identify legislative, regulatory and legal policy risks that could affect pipeline owners and operators. We report to our members regularly and provide analysis and insights about these risks in executive and committee settings.  We provide leveraged advocacy for members on legislative, regulatory and legal issues, working with committees and teams.  

 

Education

We offer a series of employee education and training options for those employees that work on day-to-day FERC or commercial issues. We hold an Annual Business Conference with strategic discussions, learning, industry networking, and business development. LEPA facilitates development of accounting resources for its members through the regularly updated Accounting Guidelines and provides accounting education for members at the annual FERC Form 6 Workshop. Finally, our FERC Compliance Team and FERC Audits and Compliance Conference in Houston in February provide forums for pipeline company personnel to gain insights on regulatory compliance.   

 

Leadership

All of our members designate a principal representative to LEPA, and one or more alternate representatives. Individuals in this group receive invitations to three Pipeline Leadership Meetings per year, featuring discussions on topical issues among pipeline executives and leaders in legal and operational matters and lots of opportunity for networking. Pipeline Leadership also receives weekly email updates and announcements about industry committees and teams to which they may nominate personnel. 

Member Benefits

Management of Legislative, Regulatory, and Legal Risks

  • Risks and opportunities identified by experienced staff with strong relationships in Washington, and a network of company representatives gathering intelligence and collaborating in industry groups
  • Regular reporting through weekly Pipeline Update newsletter and committee communications
  • Analysis and strategy discussed in executive and committee settings
  • Leveraged advocacy by staff, other association members, and coalition partners

 

LEPA advocates for responsible:

  • Economic and Commercial Policies (FERC, Congress) - Reasonable returns commensurate with risk, and streamlined regulation for a competitive industry
  • Pipeline Safety Policies (PHMSA, Congress) - Focus on areas of highest risk and best use of safety dollars, and prevention of excavation damage
  • Capacity Expansion Policies (States, US agencies) - Fair and timely siting and permitting processes

 

Education and Training of Employees

  • Pipeline Leadership Meetings among executives, legal, and operations leaders 
  • Committee and Team discussions on Government Relations, FERC Policy, FERC Audits and Compliance, FERC Outreach, Accounting, Tariff, Legal, and Pipeline Safety Policy topics
  • Annual Business Conference strategy discussions and educational sessions on tariff, legal, accounting, and business development issues offering continuing education credits for legal/accounting personnel
  • Accounting resources for members through regularly updated AOPL Accounting Guidelines, annual AOPL FERC Form 6 and Page 700 training
  • FERC regulatory compliance insights through AOPL FERC Compliance Team discussions, AOPL FERC Audits and Compliance Workshop

 

Continuous Improvement in Pipeline Safety

  • Safety improvement teams, safety sharing meetings and events, Recommended Practice implementation workshops conducted jointly with American Petroleum Institute (API)
  • Pipeline Safety Excellence Strategic Plan initiatives with API to promote organizational excellence, improve safety through technology and innovation, and enhance emergency response preparedness
  • Research and development through Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) membership
  • Regular engagement with PHMSA staff, which shows great interest in company participation in industry-wide safety initiatives and discussions

 

Social License to Operate and Expand Pipelines

  • Communications tools for members addressing safety, environmental concerns, and benefits
  • Pipeline Communications Team discussing challenges, lessons learned, best practices, and industry-wide communications materials, video and social media efforts focusing on liquids pipelines
 
 
To discuss LEPA membership, contact Andy Black at ablack@liquidenergypipelines.org.